Cambridge United

Cambridge United were in the end edged out 2-1 by a strong Plymouth Argyle in Sky Bet League Two.

Medy Elito scored ten minutes from time to peg back the Pilgrims, who took a two goal advantage through Graham Carey and Jordan Slew, which set up a tense close to the fixture.

The U’s lined up with Max Clark as the only change in place of the injured James Dunne from the side that began the game against Mansfield Town a week earlier. There was also a welcome return to the bench for Harrison Dunk following a long spell on the sidelines.

With the Pilgrims heading into the fixture on the back of a five match winning streak, it was perhaps no surprise that Derek Adam’s men were quick out of the blocks on the South Coast.

After Sonny Bradley headed over from close range moments into the fixture, the hosts took the lead on nine minutes, when Ben Purrington ran onto a through ball by former Cambridge United striker Jordan Slew before cutting the ball back to Arygle’s danger man Graham Carey who finished from eight yards out.

Had Will Norris not been sharp to react with a smart save low to his right, midway through the half, Arnold Garita would have doubled the advantage.

Shaun Derry’s men held firm though to keep themselves within touching distance of their opponents, although they were lacking an attacking edge, with only Brad Halliday’s long range strike to show for their efforts.

The early introduction of striker Adam McGurk by the U’s boss six minutes before half time, almost had an instant impact as the former Portsmouth man got on the end of Mingoia’s cross from the right, only to direct his header wide. 

The U’s continued to press in the second period and McGurk again came close when he opted to shoot from a crossing position on the left wing, which had McCormick scampering to save at his near post for the Pilgrims.

The shot stopper was called in action moments later, as he pushed away Joe Pigott’s excellent header with his right hand, which looked certain to have given United the levelling goal.

However, just as the U’s looked to be building momentum towards an equaliser, Jordan Slew tapped in Craig Tanner’s at the back post on 59 minutes to enhance the difficulty of United’s task.

The U’s pressed hard for a way back into the match and were given a lifeline when Adam McGurk’s well weighted pass was finished excellently by Medy Elito from 18 yards out with ten minutes to play.

Luke Berry came within fractions of claiming a point for the U’s, as a 30 yard free kick dipped onto the hand of McCormick who flicked the strike on to the cross bar and over. Despite a good sustained period of pressure from United, it was not to be and Plymouth held on for three points.

Plymouth: McCormick, Miller (Threlkeld, 45 mins) , Songo’o, Bulvitis, Slew (Smith, 70 mins), Carey, Bradley, Purrington, Fox (Goodwillie, 83 mins), Garita, Tanner

Goal: Carey, Slew  

Cambridge United: Norris, Halliday, Legge, Dallison, Taylor (Dunk, 61 mins), Mingoia, Clark (McGurk, 39 mins), Newton, Berry, Elito, Pigott (Ikpeazu, 61 mins)

Goal: Elito

Attendance: 7,068 (144 away)