Cambridge United slipped to a first defeat in three Sky Bet League One matches as Stevenage came away from the Cledara Abbey Stadium with a professional 0-1 win on Tuesday evening…
The first shot on target of the evening proved to be the difference on the hour mark when Jamie Reid nestled home from distance to ensure the points went back to Hertfordshire, with the U’s unable to make ground in the battle for safety.
In fine fettle and optimistic following back-to-back victories for the first time since October, Neil Harris named two changes from the XI that defeated Crawley Town 0-2 three days earlier. The enforced swap saw Jubril Okedina replace the suspended James Gibbons, whereas Jordan Cousins (illness) dropped out for Ben Stevenson.
A battling start to proceedings saw both sides fight for scraps in committed fashion, happy to bide their time while retaining their shape. The visitors had kept 15 clean sheets so far in 2024/25 – only Birmingham City had secured more – so naturally looked watertight and limited the U’s, whose back four cleared their lines every time they were called upon.
Remarkably, an uneventful opening half concluded with no shots whatsoever for each team, with very little action to report on.
Happy with how they’d nullified Boro, but adamant to step things up a gear following the break, a change was implemented as Ryan Loft replaced the returning Dan Nlundulu up top.
A flurry of chances fell the way of Alex Revell’s side moments in, with United having to dig in to fend off the opener. First, Jordan Roberts wriggled his way down the left to skip past his man and keep the ball in play, with his strike into the six-yard box claimed by a diving Nathan Bishop. Seconds later, Reid cut back to loanee Brandon Hanlan from a matter of yards out, but with everyone rooted the striker tapped the post.
Deadlock was broken on the 63rd minute when the ball fell kindly to Reid out wide, who cut into the middle with pace and took a touch to set himself up before striking a 20-yard curler into the top corner.
Eager to capitalise on the momentum, the visitors went close six minutes later when Eli King drilled an inch-perfect shot towards the far bottom corner from just outside the area, which forced an excellent stretched save from Bishop.
Time was running out for the U’s, who were yet to impose themselves. Nonetheless, they orchestrated a good chance on 78 when Josh Stokes did ever so well to skip past his man and pick out a cross from the right, but Elias Kachunga couldn’t connect with a volley as it just evaded him.
Straight up the other end, Stevenage scampered away on the counter and almost stretched their lead when Roberts was found sprinting into the area, but the winger was off balance as he pulled the trigger, allowing Bishop to block.
During the four minutes of additional time, United got plenty of men forward to try to force an equaliser, with Liam Bennett’s dangerous cross into the mixer requiring just a boot to potentially force it home. As a result, this made them susceptible at the back, with Hanlan being released in a one-on-one position at the death but he dragged his shot inches wide.
It was to be the final action of the night for Cambridge, who suffered defeat for the first time since Harris was handed the reins.
Up next, the U’s travel north of the country on Saturday (8th March) to take on Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium.
Cambridge United: Bishop, Bennett, Morrison, Watts, Okedina (Ballard, 67’), Digby, Stevenson, Brophy, Stokes, Kachunga (Barton, 81’), Loft (Nlundulu, 46’)
Subs Not Used: Stevens, Njoku, Hoddle, Longelo
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Loft, Stevenson
Stevenage: Cooper, Freeman, Sweeney, Piergianni, Butler, King (White, 80’), Thompson, Phillips, Reid (Young, 90+2’), Roberts, Hanlan
Subs Not Used: Ashby-Hammond, Kemp, Goode, Freestone, Edwards
Goalscorers: Reid (63’)
Bookings: Sweeney, Phillips
Referee: Scott Jackson
Attendance: 6338 (739 away fans)