Cambridge United’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy hopes were left hanging by a thread after they suffered a 1-2 defeat against Charlton Athletic at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
Quickfire goals from Tayo Edun and Matt Godden raced the visitors into a healthy lead, but Dan Nlundulu restored parity from 12 yards prior to the break. The match opened up as the evening progressed, but ultimately the U’s couldn’t capitalise against an Addicks side who finished with ten men.
In response to the slender defeat at Mansfield Town three days prior, Garry Monk rotated his group by naming six changes. Michael Morrison, Connor O’Riordan, Jubril Okedina and Sullay Kaikai were all drafted back into the XI, whilst Jordan Cousins made his first start of the season and Nlundulu was handed his full debut.
A lively and fast-paced start to proceedings saw United claim the first attempt at goal after just two minutes when Cousins twisted and turned in the final third before delivering a pinpoint cross into the six-yard box. Nlundulu was there to rise highest and power a header, but it was straight at Ashley Maynard-Brewer, who gracefully caught.
The Addicks, who had switched their whole side from the victory at Shrewsbury Town, needed time to find their feet, with their only chance of note coming on the 7th minute when quick passes resulted in Terry Taylor having two bites at the apple from range, with the latter dipping just over Vicente Reyes’ crossbar.
Ten minutes later, a well-worked foray down the right saw Nlundulu unleash Kaikai, who had the angle to pull the trigger, but delayed it before forcing a corner. From here, Dan Barton helped recycle, with a close-range shot from the U’s almost grazing the side-netting.
Nathan Jones’ men drew first blood on 23 when Rarmani Edmonds-Green switched play to Edun on the edge of the area who, with acres of space, touched it down before astutely firing into the far bottom corner.
Applying heaps of pressure, Reyes was forced into a smart stop with his legs a few minutes later when Tennai Watson struck in a one-on-one position, with the rebound falling to Godden who couldn’t fire past a sea of recovering amber.
The advantage was doubled on the brink of the half an hour mark when Daniel Kanu scampered down the left and slotted into the path of Godden, who made no mistake from a matter of yards as he slid and fired under Reyes.
Just when the first period looked like it had petered out, the U’s were awarded a penalty by referee Carl Brook after Korey Smith was wiped out inside the box just as he went to cut back. Up stepped Nlundulu, who capped his first Abbey appearance with a powerful and accurate strike to bring his side back into the encounter.
It proved to be the striker’s last kick of the evening, who was replaced by Brandon Njoku at half-time, with Paul Digby and James Brophy also receiving minutes in the tank.
Racing into life shortly before the hour, a cross from Edun required a last-ditch tackle from Okedina to see out likely danger, whilst Kanu was free to test his luck from a tight angle, which he couldn’t direct goal bound.
At the other end, the U’s enjoyed a spell where they tallied a plethora of shots from distance, but each and every single time they were blocked by a stubborn backline.
The Addicks’ persistence was agonisingly close to paying off, with Godden’s header forcing smart reflexes from the home goalkeeper to paw wide, with the resulting Edmonds-Green strike from the corner straight down Reyes’ throat – some big stops at an important moment in the match.
On the 69th minute, Njoku was required to dig in deep with some defensive work on the line to head clear a venomous Godden volley – the talisman was looking to kill the game off but still United remained firm.
With ten minutes left to play, Terry Taylor whipped in a free-kick towards Macauley Gillesphey at the back post, with the substitute brushing his header just past Reyes’ left post.
Monk’s side were handed a lifeline and a chance to finish in the ascendency on 84 when Karoy Anderson was dismissed following a second booking after a mistimed tackle on Brophy.
This definitely helped their hopes of a comeback as they enjoyed more of the possession in the final third - with Kaikai connecting a header at Maynard-Brewer two minutes into the additional seven – but it was the only opportunity they could dish up as their winless run to the campaign was extended.
The U’s return to league action this Saturday (21st September) as they make the trip to Adams Park to take on Wycombe Wanderers – be sure to back the boys.
Cambridge United: Reyes, O’Riordan, Morrison, Okedina, Bennett, Cousins (Brophy, 45’), Smith (Digby, 45’), Longelo, Kaikai, Barton (Ibsen Rossi, 70’), Nlundulu (Njoku, 45’)
Subs Not Used: Chadwick, Hoddle, Holmes
Goalscorers: Nlundulu (43’)
Bookings: O’Riordan, Longelo, Digby
Charlton Athletic: Maynard-Brewer, Edmonds-Green, Mitchell (Asiimwe, 51’), Potts (Gillesphey, 66’), Watson, Taylor, (T. Campbell, 88’), Anderson, A. Campbell (Edwards, 66’), Edun, Godden (Nwamba, 88’), Kanu
Subs Not Used: Reid, Dixon
Goalscorers: Edun (23’), Godden (29’)
Bookings: Edun, Godden, Anderson (Red)
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 1028 (213 away fans)