Northampton Town were denied victory by a late Gary Deegan goal on Saturday afternoon at the PTS Academy Stadium following Kevin van Veen's double.
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday August 18th, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Kevin van Veen (58, 76 mins)
CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2
George Maris (70 mins)
Gary Deegan (87 mins)
Attendance: 5,047 (652 away)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Hakeem Odoffin, Ash Taylor (c), Aaron Pierre, David Buchanan, Sam Hoskins, Matt Crooks, Sam Foley, Daniel Powell (Dean Bowditch 81), Kevin van Veen, Andy Williams (Junior Morias 73).
Subs not used: Lewis Ward, Shay Facey, Leon Barnett, Billy Waters, John-Joe O'Toole.
Cambridge: Dimitar Mitov, Brad Halliday, Jake Carroll, George Taft, Gary Deegan, Liam O'Neil (Jevani Brown 69), Ade Azeez (Barry Corr 81), Jabo Ibehre, Harry Darling, George Maris, Reggie Lambe (David Amoo 55).
Subs not used: Kevin Pilkington, Louis John, Emmanuel Osadebe, Harrison Dunk.
Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Cambridge: Jabo Ibehre (22 mins), Jake Carroll (90mins)
5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 32 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Cambridge: none
Sendings off: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.
Returning to league action after taking on Wycombe in the Carabao Cup in midweek, Sam Foley replaced John-Joe O’Toole in the only change to the side that started against Carlisle in the previous league fixture. Former Cobblers midfielder Gary Deegan captained the U’s on a warm August afternoon at the PTS Academy Stadium.
David Cornell made a comfortable early save from Brad Halliday while Kevin van Veen was denied at close range after being set up by Sam Hoskins on the counter-attack. Hoskins himself was eyeing up the target on 19 minutes but dragged his effort wide. Jabo Ibehre then picked up a booking for a high challenge on Hakeem Odoffin.
Andy Williams drew a smart save from Dimitar Mitov in a good passage of play from the home side, van Veen, Hoskins and Foley all threatening and Matt Crooks firing just wide.
A Cambridge corner nearly resulted in the visitors taking the lead against the run of play before half-time but David Buchanan was there to clear Ibehre’s header off the line.
Hoskins got himself into a good position early in the second half but his cross just eluded a team-mate and Cambridge were able to clear the danger. Van Veen went agonisingly close with a shot that rolled just wide before a chance for Cambridge, Ibehre heading over.
The deadlock was broken following a free-flowing Cobblers counter-attack,, started by Hoskins and Foley and finished superbly by Kevin van Veen who was played in by Daniel Powell.
Ibehre failed to get his shot away as Cambridge looked for a quick equaliser before a smart save from Mitov prevented van Veen doubling his tally following a neat back-heel from strike partner Williams.
Cambridge were back on level terms on 70 minutes, George Maris calmly side-footing the ball home. Junior Morias then came on to make his home debut, Williams making way.
Kevin van Veen put the Cobblers back in front, the Dutchman taking a couple of touches before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the top corner.
Mitov saved from Crooks as the Cobblers looked to double their lead but it needed a goal line clearance from Foley and some alert defending from Aaron Pierre to preserve their lead.
Gary Deegan drew the visitors level for a second time though, his curled strike from 20-yards making it 2-2.
Ash Taylor headed over from a free-kick in stoppage time but there was to be no late winner for either side as the points were shared.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (6) 9
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (5) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
CAMBRIDGE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (3) 7
FOULS: (6) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2
SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIME(S): 57:35, 69:26, 75:53, 86:05