Uche ends the wait as Us turn the tables
UCHE Ikpeazu ended Cambridge United’s goal drought with a late header against Stevenage to earn the U’s a vital three points.
Cambridge had failed to find the net in League Two for 459 minutes, since Ikpeazu’s winner against Chesterfield on October 21, and it was the big striker who proved the difference between the teams again this time when he glanced in substitute Jevani Brown’s cross three minutes from time.
It had been a poor match, with chances few and far between, but Cambridge boss Shaun Derry was delighted with the result, which came a week after his team suffered a 7-0 defeat at Luton.
“The reaction from the players has been excellent, and though it wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing display, it takes some recovery to come back from a 7-0 defeat,” he said.
“It was a destructive loss, but it’s only one game and now we’re three points off the play-offs.”
“Our substitutes made an impact, and I felt the second half we were more like our normal selves. There weren’t too many clear cut chances, but it was a closely-contested derby and I’m delighted with the win.”
Cambridge were indebted to goalkeeper David Forde, who pulled off a string of fine saves in the second half after an opening period which produced no efforts on target for either side.
The veteran stopper made a sprawling save from Danny Newton’s long-range effort, then just before Ikpeazu’s winner pulled off a treble stop, first blocking Chris Whelpdale’s shot, then parrying the same player’s header from the resulting corner. Stevenage kept the ball alive, and when it came back into the box Forde again had to be alert to foil Alex Samuel from close range.
Stevenage boss Darren Sarll was unhappy with the officials, and felt Cambridge’s Paul Lewis should’ve been sent off in the first half for a high tackle on Jonathan Smith which only earned him a yellow card.
“I feel like someone’s mugged me, it’s hugely frustrating to come away with nothing after that performance,” said Sarll.
“We won all our duels all over the pitch, created eleven good chances away from home to a bigger club, and a combination of poor finishing and poor officiating has cost us.
“I spent the whole game angry with the officials, they were amateur. The tackle on Jonathan Smith was ridiculous.”