Cambridge United’s four game unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two was brought to an end with a 1-0 defeat against Accrington Stanley, despite an excellent display at the Wham Stadium.
The U’s created a number of great opportunities throughout the game, but it was a second half goal from the host’s Kayden Jackson, which included a contentious push on George Taft in the build-up, which settled the result of the fixture.
United named an unchanged line-up from the team that defeated Notts County earlier in the week.
Full of confidence from three consecutive wins, they hit the woodwork inside ten minutes when Liam O’Neil cleverly flicked Brad Halliday’s cross over Accrington’s Aaron Chapman with his head, but the keeper managed to get a fingertip to direct it onto the top of the cross bar.
Joe Dunne’s men continued to knock on the door and came close through Jevani Brown when the U’s maestro hared onto a pass from Uche Ikpeazu inside the Accrington area, before Chapman again showed quick reactions to save with his feet midway through the half.
They then spurned a clear opening for O’Neil on 28 minutes with Billy Waters not quite able to pick a pass to release the midfielder after a another United counter attack.
David Forde’s only save of the half came a minute before the break when the U’s shot stopper palmed Sean McConville’s half volley away from danger, completing a fine first half performance for United.
The second half began with a glorious opportunity for United, with Waters harrying the Accrington defence forcing a poor pass back from Janoi Donacien into the path of Uche Ikpeazu, but the striker was denied one on one by Chapman.
The hosts then broke the deadlock against the run of play. Kayden Jackson dispossessing George Taft following an awkward long ball up field which the centre back struggled to deal with following what looked a clear push in the back from the Stanley man, who slipped the ball underneath David Forde.
The U’s were undeterred and continued to move forward positively though, Waters slamming a shot goal wards on 67 minutes which again Chapman was equal to with a save at his near post.
Substitute Paul Lewis quickly shifted play into the path of the onrushing Halliday 15 minutes before time, where the right back fizzed a shot come cross across the face of goal and agonisingly wide, which proved to be the U’s final opening.
Accrington Stanley: Chapman, Dunne, Hughes, Donacien, Jackson, McConville, Johnson, Conneely, Kee
Cambridge United: Forde, Halliday, Taylor, Taft, Dunk, O’Neil (Amoo, 81 mins), Deegan, Elito (Lewis 71 mins), Brown, Waters (Ibehre, 85 mins), Ikpeazu