Cambridge United succumbed to defeat on the opening day of the 2024/25 Sky Bet League One season as newcomers Stockport County proved goodCambridge United succumbed to defeat on the opening day of the 2024/25 Sky Bet League One season as newcomers Stockport County proved good value with a 2-0 victory at Edgeley Park…
On an afternoon packed with chances, the hosts came out of the blocks firing and took an early lead through Louie Barry’s clever attempt. From here, the U’s kept the door shut against a fluid attacking department and even carved out opportunities to level matters, but Kyle Wootton put the game to bed at an important time to secure the points.
For the first time in their history, the refreshed United were ready to embark on a fourth successive season in the third tier. This time, the aim was to put behind back-to-back final day safety pursuits by kicking on and consolidating, starting in Manchester against a resurgent Hatters side well and truly high on confidence following three title wins in six years.
For his first team selection of the campaign, Garry Monk named the same XI that played out the penultimate pre-season friendly against West Bromwich Albion eight days ago. Vicente Reyes, Kell Watts, Korey Smith and Shayne Lavery all made their competitive debuts for the Club, Danny Andrew was chosen to captain the side and Taylor Richards – as well as former Academy stars Brandon Njoku and Dan Barton - made the bench.
The hosts more than embraced their first touches of the ball at this level since 2010 as, just 14 seconds in, they caused their first scare when Jack Diamond latched at a strike from outside of the area which required a delicate deflection from Jubril Okedina to force an early corner.
Four minutes on the clock, Stockport drew first blood with a well-worked move when Corey Addai’s long kick was matched by the head of striker Wootton, who gave Aston Villa Barry the initiative to take a touch and show clever instinct by delivering a lob over a scurrying Reyes.
Controlling when in the final third, the men in blue tallied up their attempts at goal again on the 14thminute when Diamond’s clever turn gave him the room to pull the trigger from 20 yards, but it was tame and ultimately meat and drink for claimer Reyes.
Three minutes later, the home rearguard was tested twice within a matter of seconds. First, maverick goalkeeper Addai looked to play out from the back, but a poor ball was met by James Brophy in a flash, who connected with the strike well, but the goalkeeper made amendments by parrying to his right. The bright spell concluded shortly after when Smith moved silkily in the box before laying off a looming Sullay Kaikai, who was aggrieved as he hit his shot high and wide.
The visitors knew that if they could maintain their high tempo application, the chances would keep falling their way. They were incredibly unlucky not to force the equaliser during this spell as lone man Lavery was presented with a double chance, where the Hatters had to block on the line.
Undoubtedly growing into the encounter ever since the shaky opener, the U’s were pressing well and causing frustration to Dave Challinor’s men, particularly when the industrious Lavery was hacked down by Ethan Pye on 25, who received a yellow card.
For now, they would need to remain alert of livewire Barry, who forced a fine stop on the 32nd minute when the 21-year-old beat two men by progressively cutting inside from his left before unleashing a curler which Reyes was at full stretch to deny.
The attempt changed the tide once more, as a flick from Will Collar towards the six-yard box was lunged at by Wootton, who was alive to the chance, but the angle denied him.
After the favour was returned, Collar assumed he had doubled the lead on 36 when he latched onto Wootton’s smart chip and nestled home from close range, but the linesman had already declared a tight offside decision before he wheeled away.
In the second of three additional minutes, cross specialist Ibou Touray delivered to Diamond inside the area, who craned his neck well to launch a header, but it was claimed by the U’s shot stopper in what was the last piece of action of a demanding 45 against a strong opponent. Most importantly, they were still in it and just needed to find their feet again and shrug off the isolated edge.
The only change during the break saw Paul Digby replace Jubril Okedina, with the former slotting deeper into the defence as the system was retained. It was the defence at the other end who were tested a minute in when an exquisite ball from Elias Kachunga set Kaikai free on goal, but just as he went to pull the trigger he was denied by an astute last ditch tackle from Fraser Horsfall.
Just shy of the hour mark, James Gibbons was brave in diverting a header behind for a corner after a teasing Lewis Bate free-kick on the outskirts of the box was heading towards the corridor of uncertainty.
A more conservative start to the second period, but Stockport remained a threat on the break and probably should have made it two on 63 when a perfect pass from Wootton nicked in Diamond down the right, who scampered forwards and slashed it wide of Reyes’ left post with the goal gaping.
The U’s tendency of their opportunities coming in clusters continued, with their latest quickfire attempts helping to set up an entertaining conclusion. Great desire from Kachunga deep down the flank saw him retain the ball and nick towards onrushing defender Watts in a promising position, but he couldn’t get his angles right. Nonetheless, Kaikai soon retrieved and played an over the top ball to Lavery who controlled it well, marauded and under pressure snatched it past Addai’s stick.
On the 75th minute, Wootton capped off a strong talisman performance as he was the recipient of Jayden Fevrier’s pinpoint cross, powering into the net with his head to put the game to bed.
Five minutes from time, substitute Barton got away fans off their seats when he embarked on a driving run towards the final third, teeing up Lavery to his left who arches and strikes towards the corner, but Addai was on hand to paw away.
It was another chance the U’s rued, who were unlucky not to have found the net on this season opener which just couldn’t fall their way.
Attention is now focused towards the First Round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening (13thAugust) when the U’s welcome Championship side QPR to the Cledara Abbey Stadium.
Stockport County: Addai, Pye, Horsfall, Touray, Collar (Gardner, 90+2’), Bate (Hughes, 90+3’), Camps, Mingi (Onyango, 72’), Diamond (Fevrier, 72’), Barry, (Bailey, 82’) Wootton
Subs Not Used: Hinchliffe, Okeke
Goalscorers: Barry (4’), Wootton (75’)
Bookings: Pye, Touray, Camps, Horsfall
Cambridge United: Reyes, Okedina (Digby, 45’), Ibsen Rossi (Bennett, 73’), Watts (Barton, 84’), Smith (Morrison, 73’), Gibbons, Brophy (Richards, 62’), Kaikai, Andrew, Kachunga, Lavery
Subs Not Used: Stevens, Njoku
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Kaikai, Ibsen Rossi
Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge
