Cambridge United were denied a return to winning ways in Sky Bet League One at the very death as Barnsley rescued a 1-1 draw at a drizzly Oakwell…
The U’s made the most of their early opportunity as James Brophy slotted home the opener eight minutes in. From here, the visitors plugged away and looked good value for maximum points, but substitute Jonathan Lewis punished with seconds remaining to secure a point apiece.
Eager to return to winning ways, Neil Harris named two changes from the side that succumbed to derby day defeat against Peterborough United, with the Head Coach handing starts to Ben Stevenson and Elias Kachunga.
A lively start to proceedings saw the hosts build up play well and look creative in possession, but it was at the other end where the early breakthrough was claimed much to the delight of the visiting 266 faithful.
On the counter, Dom Ballard did incredibly well to nick the ball and tee up Brophy on a plate down the left, who marauded into the box and drilled under Kieren Flavell, capping his 40th start of the season with his first league strike since October 2021.
In response, the hosts – who had only won five home matches all season – carved out their first shot on goal thanks to some quick, incisive one-touch passes, with Max Watters looking to apply the finishing strike but a recovering Kell Watts took the power off it as Nathan Bishop claimed.
The U’s were wondering how they hadn’t doubled their advantage on the 16th minute when they turned defence into attack rapidly to provide them space to scamper in the area. Ballard flicked across the face of goal, with Davis Keillor-Dunn clearing to allow both Brophy and Paul Digby to slice at it near the back post, but they couldn’t force the golden moment home.
Overall, the flat home atmosphere had suited United, who were excellent value for their lead thanks in particular to their wide play.
Game management was important now for the remainder of the half, with a big opportunity evading Barnsley on 36. Watters met a pinpoint cross by cushioning a header to top scorer Keillor-Dunn from a matter of yards out, but with the goal at his mercy he lashed inches wide of the post.
As the conditions worsened, the first 45 petered out. There had been moments for both sides, with Conor Hourihane’s men dominating the possession, but despite that the U’s were truly in the ascendency.
Eager to keep it that way after the break as they looked for that element of control by keeping things tight, the game plan was working for Harris’ men.
It took until the 58th minute for the Tykes to cause a scare, but again that lack of composure cost them as another good chance went begging. A long ball was nodded down by the head of Watters, flicking it back to onrushing midfielder Adam Phillips, who shanked his shot from inside the box past Bishop’s left post.
Changes were imminent from here for the hosts, who combined to make instant impacts with their energy. First, Kelechi Nwakali was teed up from 25 yards, with his sliding shot across the floor caught with assurance by Bishop, before the goalkeeper did the same a minute later to deny Stephen Humphrys.
Ten minutes from time, the U’s almost made sure of the points when Sullay Kaikai cut into the middle and released Kachunga down the left, whose venomous strike towards the near top corner was forced behind by Flavell.
From here, Barnsley went for the jugular and camped the visitors back, with their endeavour rewarded two minutes into injury time as Lewis bundled home at the back post to rescue a point and frustrate Cambridge.
Up next, the U’s return to CB5 next weekend (29th March) as Northampton Town make the short journey – be sure to back the boys.
Barnsley: Flavell, de Gevigney, Pines (Russell, 61’), McCarthy, Benson (Bland, 18’), Nwakali, Connell (Jalo, 61’), O’Keeffe, Keillor-Dunn, Phillips (Lewis, 76’), Watters (Humphrys, 61’)
Subs Not Used: Hayton, Rodrigues
Goalscorers: Lewis (90+2’)
Bookings: de Gevigney, Nwakali, Russell
Cambridge United: Bishop, Gibbons, Morrison, Watts, Malone, Digby, Stevenson, Brophy, Stokes (Nlundulu, 78’), Kachunga, Ballard (Kaikai, 65’)
Subs Not Used: Stevens, Bennett, Okedina, Loft, Hoddle
Goalscorers: Brophy (8’)
Bookings: Malone, Stevenson, Gibbons, Morrison
Referee: Richard Eley
Attendance: 10,790 (266 away fans)