Cambridge United showed real desire to dramatically rescue a 2-2 draw against Sky Bet League One high-fliers Wrexham at the STōK Cae Ras…
Character and guts were on display from the very first whistle in Wales, with the U’s drawing first blood through Elias Kachunga. James McClean immediately equalised for the hosts, who would go on to find the lead mid-way through the second half courtesy of the experienced Steven Fletcher. Just when the points looked sealed, Dan Nlundulu converted from 12 yards to seal a point for his side’s endeavour.
Heading into the first meeting between the sides in over a decade, it was the hosts riding the crest of a wave thanks to five consecutive wins and clean sheets in all competitions, with their unbeaten home run situating them level on points at the top of the table. Off the back of an emphatic win last time out, the U’s – one loss in five in the league – arrived eager to bridge their four-point gap from safety.
Following the comprehensive victory against Shrewsbury Town a week earlier, Garry Monk named just the one change to his XI as Jubril Okedina returned from suspension to replace Zeno Ibsen Rossi. A strong bench consisted of Sullay Kaikai, Josh Stokes and Dan Barton, who were all looking to accumulate further minutes in the tank after injury lay-offs.
It was an authoritative start to proceedings for the visitors in blue, who were first to absolutely everything. Although neither goalkeeper were tested in the opening stages, it was Mark Howard who needed to remain the most alert between the sticks, with the U’s winning plenty of corners and causing havoc.
Capitalising on their pressure with and without the ball, Cambridge took the lead in exceptional fashion on the 19th minute. A stunning run from Shayne Lavery down the left saw him twist and turn past several men, keeping the ball in play in process, and feeding back to an unmarked Kachunga 15 yards out who rifled into the bottom corner.
It took just a few minutes for United to cause their next scare – Nlundulu pounced on a slip in the middle of the park and advanced up the field before picking his spot and pulling the trigger. Howard matched it low to his right, before Lavery’s follow up from an angle was into the hands of the veteran keeper.
The Red Dragons made their know-how count on 26 when wing-backs combined to level matters. Deep down the right, Ryan Barnett delivered towards the back post where McClean rose highest in the six-yard box to head home.
Now in the ascendency, Phil Parkinson’s side were starting to tally up the passes and build possession, with Matty James rounding off a move – again started by Barnett’s cross – by swiping a volley wide from just outside the box.
On the 36th minute, Elliot Lee arrived late in a dangerous position from 20 yards, where he picked out a powerful drive on target which Vicente Reyes matched with a dive.
Overall, it had been a good contest with a scrappy edge which kept the atmosphere brewing. United had stuck to their game plan well and had frustrated the hosts, who couldn’t quite find that foothold.
Out of the blocks firing after the break, the match completed opened up in the middle of the park. Rapid when turning defence into attack, the U’s registered two strong attempts courtesy of set pieces, which had been a real threat all afternoon.
On 51, Michael Morrison kept down a corner and tapped to substitute Zeno Ibsen Rossi, whose deflected shot sailed just past the crossbar courtesy of a sea of recovering reds.
Five minutes later, the defender was handed another opportunity to crane a header goal bound from distance, which Howard gracefully caught.
Moments after former U’s man Paul Mullin and former Premier League striker Fletcher came onto the pitch, the latter almost scored when he met a cross from yards out but fired over Reyes’ bar in an offside position.
With 64 minutes on the clock, the hosts gained the lead for the first time when Ollie Rathbone capitalised on a defensive slip and marauded down the flank before squaring to the experienced Fletcher, who drilled into the corner with aplomb.
In response, Monk rolled the dice by introducing attackers Kaikai and Lavery, who had 20 minutes to impose themselves and break down a defence which were now looking to remain compact and shut up shop.
Still very much in the game, a teasing cross from Stokes on 79 was delicate and pinpoint for the physical Nlundulu on the corner of the six-yard box, whose header forced a corner which generated pinball but nobody was there to stab home.
The Welsh outfit were wondering how they hadn’t sealed the points two minutes later when a cross was almost diverted home by a U’s defender, but Reyes reacted well to ensure it only hit the post.
Up against a really persistent and dogged Wrexham, Cambridge needed to make whatever they could produce count – and that’s exactly what they did on the 87th minute. A defence-splitting pass from Okedina released Kaikai into the box, who was fouled by Lewis Brunt in a one-on-one position.
Showcasing immense composure from the spot, Nlundulu stared at his opposite man and waited for him to dive before coolly slotting down the middle to secure an extremely resolute and well-deserved point on the road.
Six days of recuperation awaits the U’s now, with their next match – and last before Christmas – coming on Friday evening (20th December) when they welcome Huddersfield Town to the Cledara Abbey.
Wrexham: Howard, Brunt, Cleworth, O’Connell, Barnett, James, Dobson (Mullin, 62’), Rathbone, McClean, Lee, Palmer (Fletcher, 62’)
Subs Not Used: Foster, Scarr, Revan, Cannon, Faal
Goalscorers: McClean (26’), Fletcher (64’)
Bookings: Lee, McClean, Brunt
Cambridge United: Reyes, Okedina, Morrison, Watts (Andrew, 83’), Bennett (Ibsen Rossi, 45’), Cousins, Smith, Brophy (Barton, 82’), Kachunga (Stokes, 69’), Lavery (Kaikai, 68’), Nlundulu
Subs Not Used: Stevens, Njoku
Goalscorers: Kachunga (19’), Nlundulu (88’)
Bookings: Kachunga, Smith
Referee: Scott Oldham
Attendance: 11,698 (813 away fans)