Cambridge United gathered another home point to extend their unbeaten run at the Abbey to six games with a goalless draw against Crewe Alexandra in Sky Bet League Two.
With Brad Halliday missing out due to a knock from United’s previous encounter with Oldham Athletic, Colin Calderwood brought in Leon Davies at right back as the U’s only change to the starting eleven.
Both sides produced an entertaining and high tempo to their performance during the opening stages of the game. United looked hungry to get at their visitors who themselves looked dangerous on the counter attack.
However the U’ bright opening seemed to fade and Crewe grew into the game. Paul Green and Chris Porter got away early attempts at the U’s goal but neither threatened to beat U’s keeper Dimitar Mitov.
David Amoo cleverly swivelled in possession 18 yards ten minutes before the break and caught a volley sweetly which forced Ben Garrett into his only action of the first half.
Harrison Dunk hared into a promising position at one end of the pitch but his cross deflected away from the path of Jevani Brown, before Crewe counter attacked with Porter unable to hit the U’s target and the score line remained unblemished going into half time.
The U’s never gathered any real momentum offensively after the break, only the introduction of Hayden Coulson provided Colin Calderwood’s men with any flair moving forward.
It was the visitors who created and missed the best openings of the game during the final six minutes. Chris Porter found himself through on goal but failed to find the target, dragging his shot from ten yards wide. And moments later a cross by substitute Tommy Lowery flew across the face of goal and looked to be heading goal bound until a miraculous goal line clearance from Dunk prevented the U’s from dropping a point.
Cambridge United: Mitov, Davies, Taylor, Taft, Dunk, Amoo (Coulson, 58 mins), Deegan, Maris, Lambe (Jones, 82 mins), Brown, Ibehre (Hepburn-Murphy, 58 mins)
Bookings: Taft
Crewe Alexandra: Garrett, Ng, Pickering, Ray, Porter, Jones (Lowery, 62 mins), Miller (Bowery, 76 mins), Ainley, Nolan, Wintle, Green (Finney, 79 mins)
Bookings: Pickering. Ray, Green
Attendance: 3,448 (123)
Man of the Match: Gary Deegan