Cambridge United live to fight another day in Sky Bet League One as they made an instant return to winning ways by dramatically overcoming Huddersfield Town 1-2 at the John Smith’s Stadium…
Needing to dig in and bide their time throughout an open affair, it was midway through the second half when the encounter in West Yorkshire livened up as James Brophy unlocked the scoring with a superb curler. Josh Koroma looked to have forced a gut-wrenching draw late on, but the U’s persisted and gained a pulsating triumph in the dying embers as substitute Sullay Kaikai nestled home.
After Charlton Athletic terminated the unbeaten streak last time out with a slender 0-1 victory, Neil Harris added two fresh faces to the fold as Paul Digby and Elias Kachunga returned to the starting XI.
Although just three successes from 11 had scuppered their play-off hopes, the Terriers came out of the blocks with real determination. After forcing a corner two minutes in, head tennis ensued in the six-yard box where Jack Stevens needed to remain alert, before the goalkeeper was forced into his first save seconds later when he got down low to prevent Ruben Roosken’s drilled shot from distance.
Sitting deep and absorbing pressure, the U’s knew that would have opportunities on the counter, which was evident in the opening stages. Still, the hosts remained in control and conjured up another attempt on the 15th minute when Antony Evans twisted and turned into space, before picking his shot from under 25 yards which was always rising.
With possession dwindling, the men in green were experiencing little success on the ball but, on the contrary, it was clear Huddersfield were lacking the clinical edge they had in the first half of the campaign and particularly in the reverse.
The former Premier League outfit were almost made to pay on 26 when James Gibbons marauded down the left flank and cut back for Kachunga inside the penalty box. The forward took a touch and pulled the trigger but was denied by a big block from a recovering Matty Pearson.
Improving as the half wore on, Digby invitingly picked out Brophy with a cross down the right, but the winger couldn’t quite get his shot away under pressure. All in all, there was nothing to separate the sides in a match of little quality.
No changes at the break and as you were from United, who came out with a bit more control. Nonetheless, the dangerous Roosken was agonisingly close to opening the scoring on the 50th minute when he jinked onto his left in the area but from yards out flashed wide of the near post.
Purring, the hosts were now piling on the pressure and caused a scare on the eve of the hour as a defence-splitting pass was almost met by a sprinting Ben Wiles, but before he could get a touch Stevens was out to clear his lines.
Deeming it the perfect time for a double change, Danny Andrew and Kaikai were given the chance to impress and make their mark on what remained an open encounter.
Still in balance, Stevens was on hand to keep his clean sheet intact with a superb palm on 64 to deny Josh Ruffels, whose long-range thunderbolt had plenty of menace.
The substitutes were quick to get in on the act for the optimistic U’s, who were starting to enjoy freedom as Kaikai’s scuff was deflected for a corner, in which Andrew climbed well but couldn’t keep his header down.
The moment of magic needed was delivered by Brophy on 68 when Josh Stokes put in the hard work to progress the ball. With Jon Worthington’s men unable to clear whatsoever, the ball was left alive and picked up by the number 7, who curled a delightful strike into the top corner from just inside the penalty box to spark pandemonium in front of the travelling faithful.
A rapid response was almost dished up from the get-go, as an over-the-top ball needed Stevens to rush out, but Roosken was there first to lift it over and caress the side netting.
Desperate to cling onto their play-off aspirations, Huddersfield poured forwards and had two quickfire chances through Dion Charles’ snapshot and Joe Taylor’s off-balance effort from an angle, but both were blazed high and wide.
Deep in the afternoon, Cambridge were undone by a set piece as pinball in the box found its way to Koroma from yards out, who flicked home.
This was unfortunately a familiar tale for the U’s, who instead of feeling sorry for themselves plugged away and dramatically snatched maximum points one minute into injury time as livewire Brophy scampered down the wing and teed up an unmarked Kaikai from 12 yards out – who stroked an inch-perfect shot past a helpless Lee Nicholls.
Proceeding to shut up shop from here, Harris’ men held firm for back-to-back away wins – and their first at Huddersfield since 1977 – to keep the fight going heading into the final three.
Up next, the U’s welcome Leyton Orient to CB5 on Easter Monday (21st April) for the penultimate home match of the campaign.
Huddersfield Town: Nicholls, Kasumu (Sorensen, 76’), Balke (Miller, 32’), Pearson, Ruffels, Hogg (Taylor, 75’), Wiles, Marshall (Koroma, 55’), Evans, Roosken, Charles
Subs Not Used: Chapman, Turton, Hodge
Goalscorers: Koroma (88’)
Bookings: Evans
Cambridge United: Stevens, Bennett (Andrew, 61’), Morrison, Watts, Gibbons, Digby, Stevenson, Brophy, Stokes, Kachunga (Kaikai, 61’), Ballard (Loft, 82’)
Subs Not Used: Briggs, Barton, Hoddle, Longelo
Goalscorers: Brophy (68’), Kaikai (90+1’)
Bookings: Morrison, Digby, Stevens, Gibbons
Referee: Sam Allison