Cambridge United exited the Vertu Trophy at the Round of 32 stage as Cheltenham Town came from behind to win 2-1 at the EV Charger Points Stadium…
The U’s capped an impressive first half with Josh Stokes’ penalty at the brink, but the game was turned on its head when quickfire goals from Matty Taylor and Arkell Jude-Boyd shortly after the break handed the hosts a lead which they showed little signs of surrendering.
In order to secure their place in the knockouts, the U’s scraped through on four points courtesy of a comfortable victory against a youthful Chelsea and a final day favour. As for the Robins, they were ruthless, securing a safe passage and home advantage after dispatching Newport County, West Ham United and Reading.
Deeming it the perfect opportunity to rotate his group, Garry Monk named eight changes to the side that thrashed Shrewsbury Town three days earlier, with Kell Watts, James Brophy and Zeno Ibsen Rossi keeping their place. Dan Barton returned to the squad following injury and was joined by a full bench of former and current Academy players.
Just as they’d done last weekend, Cambridge were on the front foot from the first whistle. Just 12 seconds in, Stokes marked his first start since September by forcing a corner following a quick move up the field which gave him space to pick out a speculative attempt.
Seeing plenty of the ball and eager to attack the game, the men in green poured forwards on the 7th minute courtesy of Emmanuel Longelo, who from deep down the left picked out a cross which proved to be goal bound. Nonetheless, goalkeeper Joe Day was on hand to paw it away from danger with the feintest of touches.
With 14 minutes on the clock, for a split second the visitors thought they’d taken the lead when Ryan Loft raced onto a threaded pass and caught the goalkeeper off his line by nestling into the corner, but the well-taken strike was cancelled out by an offside call.
The fine application continued, with the U’s accumulating the attempts. The lively Stokes, who had a real knack of finding space, touched down a pass with his chest on the edge of the area and unleashed a fine volley which generated too much height.
Well and truly on the front foot, a sensational defence-splitting pass from Stokes on 26 set Loft free, who in a one-on-one position raced into the box but with the angle tightening got his angles wrong as he blazed wide of the near post.
The Robins registered their best chance of the evening on the half hour mark when Liam Dulson showed industry to work his way into the box before twisting and turning and getting his shot away, which creeped just past the crossbar.
Straight up the other end, the first attempt on target fell to winger Longelo, who received Loft’s header with his back to goal but despite pressure drilled towards the opposite corner which Day got down low to claim.
Michael Fynn’s men caused a scare ten minutes before the break when Dulson again found space down the left, firing towards the six-yard box where Connor O’Riordan’s lunge and Jack Stevens’ reactions ensured the ball didn’t prod home.
The U’s signed off the first half in style with a deserved opener from the penalty spot after Brandon Njoku was fouled by Jude-Boyd. Stokes stepped up and dispatched with aplomb for his first Cambridge goal.
The goalscorer and Longelo were replaced at the break, aiding their returns with an eye-catching 45 minutes under their belts. Liam Bennett and Amaru Kaunda, who scored his first professional goal last time out in the EFL Trophy, were drafted in.
Eight minutes in, the Gloucestershire outfit levelled matters with a well-worked move. A short corner saw Tom Bradbury flick to the path of the experienced Taylor, who sneaked past his marker and craned a looped header over Stevens.
On the 56th minute, the match was turned on its head when the Robins roared ahead. An over-the-top ball was met by Taylor out wide, who put in an exquisite delivery which Jude-Boyd gobbled up from close range.
Remaining in the ascendency, a dangerous ball in from Bradbury was picked out faintly by the head of Dulson, who just took it a fraction away from Taylor, who was diving and ready to pounce.
United responded to the let-off by going agonisingly close on 71 when Watts picked out a long diagonal ball to Bennett, with a super header bringing it down on a plate for Loft, who unleashed a venomous 25-yard volley which cracked the crossbar.
Looking to keep their trophy hopes alive, Monk opted for another double change shortly after. Barton made a welcome return to action, whilst midfielder Peter Holmes was handed his first team debut.
Ten minutes from time, Stevens kept his side in it when substitute Jordan Thomas raced in on goal, but his last touch evaded him as the goalkeeper was brave to get down low and deny with a stern block.
As the clock ticked down, Kaunda wriggled into space and pulled the trigger from 15 yards, but it was denied by a no-nonsense block from Sam Stubbs, who helped steer his side to the last 16 and dump the U’s out.
Up next, the U’s make the trek to north Wales on Saturday afternoon (14th December) to take on newcomers Wrexham – be sure to back the boys.
Cheltenham Town: Day, Jude-Boyd (Thomas, 72’), Bakare, Payne, Stubbs, Bradbury, Archer, Kinsella, Pett, Dulson, Taylor (Bowman, 80’)
Subs Not Used: Evans, Laing, Sohna, Young, Miller
Goalscorers: Taylor (53’), Jude-Boyd (56’)
Bookings:
Cambridge United: Stevens, Okedina, Ibsen Rossi, Watts, Longelo (Bennett, 46’), Ibsen Rossi, Brophy (Holmes, 76’), Andrew, Stokes (Kaunda, 46’), Njoku (Barton, 76’), Loft
Subs Not Used: Chadwick, Munday, Crace
Goalscorers: Stokes (44’)
Bookings: Watts, Ibsen Rossi, O’Riordan
Referee: Dale Baines