Cambridge United were consigned to a disappointing 0-1 defeat to Sky Bet League One newcomers Crawley Town at the death in their latest encounter at the Cledara Abbey stadium…
Despite chalking up an abundance of attempts during a promising hour of football, the U’s were forced to rue them as the visitors bided their time, grew into the game and stole the points minutes from time when substitute Ade Adeyemo capitalised from a tricky angle.
A free-flowing, lively 90 minutes awaited two outfits who were seen as real underdogs of the division. Following a summer of transition, the visitors had slotted into life back in the third tier seamlessly thanks to consecutive wins. It was the polar opposite for the U’s results-wise, but nonetheless optimism was shared and flowing around the ground with belief the points would soon arrive.
In reaction to the slender defeat against QPR four days prior, Garry Monk tinkered with his squad by naming five changes as Vicente Reyes, James Gibbons, Korey Smith, Sullay Kaikai and Shayne Lavery were all restored. Paul Digby captained the side, whilst Dan Barton and Connor O’Riordan were selected for their first league starts.
Early minute endeavour and enthusiasm made for an eye-catching introduction, with the Red Devils looking lively with clever runs behind the defence. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy was the recipient of one on the 3rd minute, with the former loanee initially looking free, but a great recovery from Zeno Ibsen Rossi prevented the danger.
Up the other end, United were agonisingly close to breaking deadlock with just seven minutes on the clock when James Brophy was played in deep down the left from Danny Andrew, with the winger whipping in a delicious cross that Lavery latched at with an instinctive volley. Although Jojo Wollacott denied, the ball invitingly fell back to Kaikai inside the six-yard box, who tapped goalbound but - just before it could creep in – Josh Flint raced to the line to clear.
Ten minutes later, the men in amber carved out the next opportunity when they moved from defence to attack within a matter of seconds. A lofted ball from Ibsen Rossi was touched down by Barton, who looks to cause havoc by cutting inside and teeing up Brophy, whose ambitious slice almost grazed the side netting.
What was most pleasing about the U’s confident start was the relentless pressing in the final third. Just after Gibbons did well to crane his neck and head inches past his opposite stick at the back post, Wollacott’s short pass was intercepted by Lavery and played to Brophy, who from 20 yards couldn’t dink it over as the gloveman recovered.
One-way traffic continued. On the half an hour mark, another long ball was gracefully met by a sprinting Barton, who in confident fashion cut towards the middle of the park and pulled the trigger – with Wollacott only able to watch as the attempt went wide of his left post.
After beating Wollacott to the ball in the corner of the penalty area and recycling play, the industrious Digby managed to pick out Kaikai with a floater into the box - the Sierra Leone men leapt well but couldn’t garner the correct height as it sailed over the crossbar.
Moments before the whistle, Crawley wideman Junior Quitirna was presented a loose ball with space and time in the box, but with an array of bodies ahead of him, he directed it well wide of Reyes’ post.
All in all, it had been a really strong half – all that was lacking was the opener, despite United knocking on the door throughout.
The energy was retained following the break, with a golden chance falling the hosts’ way when Lavery picked it up in the middle of the park and played in Barton, who took a touch as he ventured into the area and shot low and hard, but it was ultimately straight at Wollacott.
On the 54th minute, the woodwork was rattled when a scramble in the box invitingly found its way to Kaikai who was first denied by the post but then the offside flag.
Scott Lindsey’s men began to enjoy more freedom and fluidity from here, camping back the U’s and forcing them to remain compact. Captain Jay Williams was presented with a good chance to open the scoring when, after failing to win a header, the ball fell in his path where he powered at claimer Reyes.
On top of proceedings, a silky run from substitute Panutche Camara on 72 helped to unlock the space to poke to Ronan Darcy, who set his body to curl towards goal, but Reyes was on hand to pop up with an important stop at his corner.
Not long after he had hacked wide an inviting chance from ten yards, Adeyemo proved to be the matchwinner minutes from time when he raced onto an astute ball, rounded Reyes and squeezed into the back of the net from a tight angle.
In the seven minutes of stoppage time, the U’s were unable to salvage their share of the points, with Crawley holding out firmly to ensure Monk’s men left empty-handed.
A week of recuperation awaits, with United’s next encounter being back here at CB5 next Saturday (24th August) when Blackpool venture down from the seaside.
Cambridge United: Reyes, O’Riordan, Ibsen Rossi, Andrew, Gibbons, Smith, Digby, Brophy (Kachunga, 68’), Kaikai (Bennett, 74’), Barton (Richards, 80’), Lavery
Subs Not Used: Stevens, Watts, Morrison, Njoku
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Andrew, Kaikai, Lavery, Gibbons
Crawley Town: Wollacott, Malone (Adeyemo, 62’), Mullarkey, Mukena, Flint, Kelly, Anderson (Bragg, 62’), Williams (Baker, 90+6’), Quitirna (Camara, 62’), Darcy, Hepburn-Murphy (Roles, 74’)
Subs Not Used: Beach, Khaleel
Goalscorers: Adeyemo (86’)
Bookings: Williams, Anderson, Mullarkey, Quitirna
Referee: David Rock
Attendance: 6720 (494 away fans)
