Cambridge United returned to winning ways in Sky Bet League One with a thoroughly-deserved 2-0 victory over play-off occupiers Stockport County at a bumper Cledara Abbey Stadium…
Capitalising on a strong atmosphere, Josh Stokes drew first blood early on with a neat header, before the loanee secured his brace moments before the break courtesy of a long-range strike. It was a healthy lead which they showed little signs of surrendering in the second half, as the Neil Harris era got off to the perfect start.
The Head Coach’s first team selection of his second spell saw him name two changes from the XI that were defeated by Exeter City a week earlier as Liam Bennett and Paul Digby were chosen from the get-go.
The reverse fixture from the opening day started in lively fashion, with the U’s buoyed by the home support. With just seven minutes on the clock, a boisterous approach ensured deadlock was broken when Bennett’s second opportunity to cross into the mixer from the right was picked out by the head of Stokes, who planted a header into the near corner.
Three minutes later, the in-form Hatters – arriving off the back of six wins from seven – conjured up their first moment when Kell Watts battled with Kyle Wootton and headed back to goal whilst under pressure. The striker beat him for pace and looked to lob an onrushing Nathan Bishop, who jumped to make himself big and deny.
Good value for their lead in the early stages and retaining the 4-2-3-1 shape well, the hosts looked reinvigorated and were doing the basics right to nullify Stockport. Their next attempt on the eve of the half hour mark was created by Stokes’ free-kick from 25 yards out, who floated to Michael Morrison but the captain couldn’t find the target with his head from distance as it flashed wide.
Looking to find a foothold, Dave Challinor’s men turned defence into attack quickly on 40 through Tanto Olaofe, who picked out a scampering Ibou Touray down the left – the winger whipped it into dangerous territory but Watts was no-nonsense to slide and clear, with Will Collar then concluding the move by darting a header onto the roof of Bishop’s net.
At a crucial time, the U’s extended their lead when livewire Stokes touched down the ball from 20 yards out and tested his luck with a curler, helped by a wicked deflection to catch Addai out – who could only watch it nestle in.
Prior to the break, an immediate consolation was almost dished up when Macauley Southam-Hales was presented with the chance to fire a header on target at the back post, but he got his angles wrong as it flew over the bar.
Following a well-earned 15 minutes of rest, the hosts were required to dig deep in the opening proceedings of the second half. A scare occurred when Wootton glanced a header across the face of goal and looked destined to be tapped home from a matter of yards by Collar, but Elias Kachunga was on hand with a great recovery to hook away.
A triple change from the visitors was just around the corner, in addition to one at the break, with the group keen to go for the jugular – nonetheless the U’s continued to persevere.
A speculative strike from Sam Cosgrove on 63 from over 25 yards out proved no troubles for Bishop, who watched it sail past his right post, but the goalkeeper was forced into a superb stop a few minutes later. With his back to goal inside the six-yard box, Wootton twisted and fired an acrobatic shot which the Sunderland loanee showed great reactions to paw over the crossbar.
15 minutes from time, Wootton – at the heart of all of Stockport’s attacks – appeared to have pulled one back briefly when he angled in a header, but the linesman had his flag up for offside.
With the match approaching its conclusion, Harris made his first swap of the afternoon when Jubril Okedina came on for a shuffle of shape to help preserve the lead.
A goalmouth scramble on the 83rd minute resulted in Owen Moxon poking wide, before a defensive mishap from United shortly after required a crucial block from Watts and a headed clearance on the line from James Gibbons to ensure Cosgrove didn’t reduce the deficit.
Following the heart-in-mouth moment, Callum Connolly received a second yellow in the dying embers for Stockport, which ensured the hosts remained focused to make sure of a first victory in six and a valuable clean sheet.
Up next, the U’s make the journey to the outskirts of London next Saturday (1st March) to take on a Crawley Town outfit at Broadfield Stadium also vying for safety.
Cambridge United: Bishop, Bennett, Morrison, Watts, Gibbons, Digby, Cousins, Kachunga (Stevenson, 90+2), Stokes, Brophy, Loft (Okedina, 78’)
Subs Not Used: Stevens, Ballard, Barton, Hoddle, Longelo
Goalscorers: Stokes (7’, 42’)
Stockport County: Addai, Knoyle (Camps, 58’), Connolly, Hills, Southam-Hales (Rydel, 46’), Norwood (Moxon, 75’), Bate (Cosgrove, 58’), Touray (Diamond, 58’), Collar, Wootton, Olaofe
Subs Not Used: Metcalfe, Hamilton
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Connolly (RED)
Referee: Scott Oldham
Attendance: 6905 (1014 away fans)
Bookings: Digby