Cambridge United returned to winning ways in Sky Bet League One with a scintillating 4-1 triumph against Shrewsbury Town at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
Tricky weather conditions did not dampen the U’s spirits, who were fast out of the blocks to open the scoring just 46 seconds in through Shayne Lavery. The striker finished off a clinical counter on half an hour for his brace, before Dan Nlundulu and Elias Kachunga made sure of the victory after the break. John Marquis pulled a goal back from the spot, but it proved to be just a consolation on an impressive afternoon for the hosts.
On the weekend of Storm Darragh, a big six-pointer was poised for the sides desperate to recapture form. The hosts were winless in five in the league, with Gareth Ainsworth’s side two points and two places below courtesy of five defeats from their previous six.
Determined to witness an instant reaction from the midweek defeat at Reading, Head Coach Garry Monk named one change to his XI as Kell Watts was restored to the defence, with Danny Andrew dropping to the bench. He was joined by Josh Stokes, who was included in the matchday squad for the first time since mid-September.
A ferocious start saw the U’s draw first blood straight from kick-off to send the Newmarket Road End into raptures. Jordan Cousins played in Elias Kachunga down the right, whose cross into the danger zone was only parried by Toby Savin, pawing into the path of Lavery who gobbled home from close range.
Looking for an immediate reaction, the Shrews were starting to capitalise on the heavy wind, with corners in particular proving a pretty useful asset. Following an important intervention from Cousins inside the box to see out Tom Bloxhams’s cutback, a clever corner routine resulted in George Nurse firing low at Vicente Reyes for his first claim.
On the 16th minute, Jordan Shipley picked out an ambitious 25-yard strike which, assisted by the unpredictable weather, almost landed in the top corner. Fortunately for United, it nestled onto the roof of the net and the scare was over.
Knocking on the door, the ball floated invitingly to Tommi O’Reilly inside the area on 21, who had the time and space to wriggle and then pull the trigger, but a crucial match by Reyes ensured the lead remained intact.
United’s next foray forwards on the half hour mark was one of sheer class, rounding off a rapid counter-attack by doubling their advantage. The physical presence of Nlundulu was too much to handle, who protected the ball in the middle of the park, outsmuscling his opponents and teeing up Lavery to his left, who smelt blood. Driving forwards, the Northern Irishman created an angle for himself and arrowed towards the opposite post with an expert strike to seal his brace.
On top and oozing confidence, Monk’s men looked like scoring whenever they poured into the final third as they forced Shrewsbury to dig deep and clear their lines continuously. First, Zeno Ibsen Rossi flashed a header wide of the post, before a fluid move saw Korey Smith progress into the path of Kachunga, who leaned back and drilled from 12 yards which Savin firmly stopped.
All in all, it had been a superb first half for the U’s, whose application had been superb and that clinical edge had been unlocked. In spite of the conditions, they had adapted well and remained firmly in control in all areas.
More of the same was the half-time message – and that’s exactly what was on show as another rapid start saw Cambridge come out of the blocks firing by registering a third. Watts ventured into a handy position deep down the left and supplied a cross inside the six-yard box, with a leak claim pounced at by Nlundulu who tapped home.
The scintillating U’s were not done here. On 52, the game was put to bed as a delivery from Nlundulu was flicked at by Watts and into the path of Kachunga, who used his experience to direct a header into the top corner to get in on the action.
In charge of proceedings and happy to slow things down as the rain continued to teem on the CB5 pitch, the opportunities died down until midway through the second period, where Shrewsbury made a triple change and the U’s brought on Ryan Loft and Andrew.
On the 68th minute, the side from Shropshire reduced the deficit from the spot after George Lloyd was played in by Shipley, who was wiped out by Reyes. Up stepped Marquis, who showed composure to send the Chilean the wrong way.
Ten minutes later, Stokes’ first move back on the field saw him advance to Loft, who from over 20 yards out blazed wide of Savin’s crossbar. Despite the consolation, it was the U’s who were concluding in the ascendency.
The hosts were extremely close to grabbing a fifth on 84 when Stokes picked the ball up in the middle of the park and breezed into space before finding Loft on the right. The striker drilled towards the near post but it just evaded it.
All in all, an applaudable 90 minutes for Cambridge, who tasted victory in the third tier for the first time since late October to reduce their gap from safety to just three points.
Attention now turns towards the Vertu Trophy Round of 32 on Tuesday night (10th December) as the U’s take on Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road.
Cambridge United: Reyes, Ibsen Rossi, Morrison, Watts, Bennett, Smith, Cousins, Brophy (Andrew, 66’), Kachunga (Stokes, 76’), Nlundulu (Loft, 66’), Lavery (Njoku, 76’)
Subs Not Used: Stevens, O’Riordan, Longelo
Goalscorers: Lavery (01’, 29’), Nlundulu (46’), Kachunga (52’)
Bookings: Reyes, Loft
Shrewsbury Town: Savin, Hoole, Feeney, Nurse, Gilliead (Castledine, 65’), Winchester (Rossiter, 64’), Ojo, Shipley, O’Reilly (Sagoe Jr, 76’), Bloxham (Lloyd, 65’), Marquis
Subs Not Used: Young, J. Feeney, Perry
Goalscorers: Marquis (69’)
Bookings: Shipley
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Attendance: 6167 (433 away fans)
Man of the Match: Lavery
