Cambridge United celebrated a second straight win over the Easter Weekend as they saw off Wigan Athletic at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
Gassan Ahadme was back in the goals again, as his double put the U’s in command on the hour mark. Wigan responded with a goal of their own, but the revitalised U’s made sure of the win thanks to a tremendous Danny Andrew free-kick, to give their survival hopes a further boost.
Garry Monk made one change from the team that beat Barnsley on Friday, bringing Gassan Ahadme into the starting XI in place of the injured Lyle Taylor.
That call paid immediate dividends, as Ahadme scored for the second game in a row on 10 minutes, expertly converting Brophy’s cross into the centre-forward. It was just the start that the U’s needed as they hunted successive wins for the first time since December.
United remained in control of the contest throughout much of the first half, as Wigan struggled to create any chances of note, and Monk’s men came close to doubling their lead on the half hour mark, after a smartly taken free-kick opened up the shot for Andrew, which flew just wide of the near-post.
A few minutes later, it was looking like the U’s would rue their misfortune as Wigan were awarded a penalty following a messy altercation between Cousins and Magnenis, but it wouldn’t matter as Will Mannion stepped up to make a crucial spot-kick stop and keep the U’s ahead going into the half.
The visitors made a couple of changes at the break, eager to turn the tide in the contest and although they came out applying good pressure on the United defence, showing improvement, the U’s were able to keep the opposition at bay.
Their best chance fell to substitute Kelman, who couldn’t keep his shot down when meeting a loose ball in the box on the volley.
With Wigan on top, United needed a response and they got just that on 58 minutes, as Ahadme nodded in his second of the game to give the U’s breathing space in the game. It was the first real attack of note for those in Amber, but Ahadme made it count as he converted Kaikai’s pin-point cross.
Just as home fans were beginning to feel comfortable, the Latics hit back through Martial Godo, who raced onto a long pass forward for the attacker before finishing under Mannion.
The U’s dealt with the adversity well though, as they kept the visitors in check and managed the final stages of the game with a calm assurance and confidence. The icing on the cake came with just five minutes to go, as Danny Andrew curled in a wonderous free-kick to make sure of the points. The result moves United six points clear of the relegation zone with six games to play.
