Cambridge United 1-1 Bolton Wanderers: Sullay Kaikai’s late header rescues a point for 10-man U’s after Jubril Okedina’s red card
Sullay Kaikai headed home in the final minute of normal time to earn 10-man Cambridge United a 1-1 draw from tonight’s League One encounter against Bolton Wanderers at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.
The U’s were more than holding their own against promotion-hunting opposition when early in the second half Jubril Okedina was red carded for an off-the-ball incident.
And it did not take long for Wanderers to make their numerical advantage count, but they did not run away with the contest like some might have anticipated and that left the door ajar for Cambridge, who gleefully accepted the invitation late in the match.
The only two efforts on target during a first half lacking in quality came inside the opening four minutes – both for Cambridge.
The first of those was carved out after some neat link up play involving the likes of Ryan Loft, James Brophy and Liam Bennett, who cut the ball back into the path of Sullay Kaikai but from 10 yards out he shot straight at Nathan Baxter. And Bennett was again the creator for Loft, who acrobatically turned the full-back’s deep cross goalwards at the far post, only for Baxter to have read his intentions.
From a Bolton perspective, a major feature of the opening 45 minutes was their animated manager Ian Evatt on the touchline. On several occasions he showed his disgust after some patient build up was scuppered by a wayward pass. For all of their 68 per cent possession throughout the half, they failed to test Vicente Reyes in the Cambridge goal.
Wanderers’ best chance came right at the end of the half when after some hesitancy between Brophy and Reyes the ball dropped invitingly for Jay Matete, but from the edge of the box the midfielder lifted his effort harmlessly over.
No doubt sent out with their manager’s words ringing in their ears, Wanderers started the second half on the front foot and registered their first shot on target of the night in the 48th minute. This time there was more purpose about the attack and it ended with Dion Charles’ stinging effort from the edge of the box being palmed over by Reyes.
And just two minutes later the game’s flashpoint happened. While waiting for a Bolton corner to be delivered, George Johnston fell to the floor clutching his face. The visiting players immediately surrounded referee Paul Howard, who wasted little time in brandishing a red card in Okedina’s direction. The centre-back, who recently made his 100th appearance for United, trudged off with very little complaint.
Head coach Garry Monk reacted by sacrificing Loft and bringing on Zeno Ibsen Rossi to fill the void left by Okedina, but the resistance lasted for just 10 minutes – and United were the makers of their own downfall, twice. Danny Andrew had enough time to clear his lines inside the U’s box but he took too long and was robbed by Charles, who prodded the ball through to his striker partner Aaron Collins. His shot was far from clean and Reyes got a good hand to it, but the ball still trickled inside the far post.
To the hosts’ credit, they defended well thereafter and as was the case in the first half, they limited Wanderers to very little in the way of goalscoring opportunities. In fact it was United that did much of the attacking in the last 10 minutes and they were eventually rewarded when Andrew’s inswinging cross from the right was glanced into the top corner by Kaikai – much to the delight of the majority of the 5,266 fans inside the Abbey.
Cambridge United: Reyes, Okedina, Morrison, Andrew, Bennett, Brophy (Watts 90’), Smith, Cousins (Kachunga 81’), Kaikai, Loft (Rossi 53’), Njoku (Lavery 46’)
Bolton Wanderers: Baxter, Johnston, Santos, Jones, Williams, Dacres-Cogley (Osei-Tutu 69’), Thomason (Lolos 69’), Sheehan, Matete, Collins (McAtee 79’), Charles (Adeboyejo 79’)
Attendance: 5,266 (549 Bolton)
