Cambridge United were beaten 1-0 against Stevenage on Tuesday night at the Lamex Stadium...
After enduring a difficult first half where the home side were firmly on top and in the driving seat, United upped their levels after the break to push for an equaliser which ultimately, wasn’t forthcoming.
Barry Corr named three changes from the side that played at the weekend, as Bonne, Digby and May came into the team in place of Brophy, Kachunga and Thomas.
The evening started in a similar fashion to the doomed earlier date when the two sides were supposed to meet, as a 15-minute delay to kick-off due to congestion outside the stadium got the clash underway later than expected.
Stevenage started the game on the front foot, as you would expect, and looked to put pressure on United’s back-line with their trademark brand of direct attacks.
The U’s defence held strong though and Barry Corr’s team settled into the contest, although Stevenage’s Jamie Reid was the first player on the pitch to have an effort on goal, forcing Stevens into a smart save with his foot to deny the in-form striker.
After a period of relative control, the hosts came on strong again and Stevens was required to again come up with the goods as he denied Forster-Caskey with a header from point blank range.
The pressure soon told as Jordan Roberts put Stevenage ahead, as United lost the ball on the edge of their box and were duly punished.
Just on the stroke of half-time, Lankester had the golden chance to draw the U’s level, but after May clipped a perfect pass over the defence for the attacker to run onto, he failed to connect properly with his first-time finish and it was a simple save for Ashby-Hammond.
It took a while for the second half to get going, as both sides struggled to settle, but a bright move that was initiated by Lankester’s clever flick which opened up space for Digby to run into ended in a presentable chance for Andrew from the edge of the box, but his effort sailed high and wide.
Forster-Caskey could have extended Boro’s lead on the hour mark, but after cutting back inside from the left, his curled effort flew just wide of the far post.
With some momentum behind them, the U’s fans responded in voice and Corr responded by turning to the bench, bringing on Brophy, L. Bennett and Kachunga to try and inject some added impetus for the remainder of the game.
Bennett had an immediate impact – taking the ball the length of the field down the left hand side before firing in a low cross into the box, but Lankester’s improvised finish landed on the roof of the net.
He was again instrumental in setting up United’s next chance, as he found Kachunga at the back-post but once again his header was off target.
The pattern of the game had changed totally, as those in amber and black began to get on the ball and move Stevenage around, progressing up the pitch with purpose.
The hosts remained dangerous though, as demonstrated by Piergianni’s header from a corner which looked destined to hit the net, but for United’s determination to keep it out.
With time begging to run out, so did the chances, but with 83 minutes on the clock, Morrison got around the back of the Stevenage defence to connect with a deep Andrew cross, only to see his attempt hit the side netting.
Despite their best efforts to at least rescue a point, Stevenage held out to earn the win and send the 1384 visiting supporters home empty handed.
Next up, United head to Bolton on Saturday hoping to put the disappointment of the last week behind them with the final game of a particularly tough four game period.