Cambridge United 1-1 Harrogate Town match report: Louis Appere’s opener pegged back by Stephen Duke-McKenna’s equaliser as U’s drop points in League Two encounter at Abbey Stadium

Cambridge United dropped two points during this afternoon’s 1-1 draw at home with Harrogate Town.

The hosting U’s controlled the first half and deservedly took the lead through Louis Appere’s third goal for the club.

But the failure to convert more of their chances came back to bite them when Stephen Duke-McKenna smartly drew Harrogate level after the restart to ensure that the spoils were shared at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.

Cambridge signalled their attacking intent with just 26 seconds on the clock. Liam Bennett’s throw-in found the feet of Appere, who laid the ball off for Shane McCloughlin to shoot narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

The neat passages of play continued and United finally got their reward in the 18th minute. Sullay Kaikai’s inswinging free-kick from the right was met by a towering Kell Watts header at the back post. Harrogate goalkeeper James Belshaw got down well to his left to make the stop, but Appere was on hand to turn the ball in from a not too dissimilar position to the one where he opened his account for the club a fortnight earlier.

In the 32nd minute the energetic McLoughlin’s rising effort was tipped over by Belshaw, while 60 seconds later Appere’s near-post flick from Kaikai’s low cross just skidded wide of the target.

There was then a long stoppage in play while United captain Michael Morrison received treatment following a nasty-looking collision with his own goalkeeper Jake Eastwood. The veteran defender was unable to continue, but he was able to walk off the pitch for further assessment.

Without their skipper, United got back on the front foot quickly and went close to adding a second goal in the 41st minute. Appere showed some good footwork to open up the space for a shot, which was well saved by Belshaw. The ball came back to the striker, but his low pass from the right hand side of the six-yard box was agonisingly behind Kaikai, who was off balance and could not apply the finishing touch.

It appeared that Cambridge’s domination was going to continue in the second half, but six minutes after the restart the visitors levelled up the scoreline with their first attempt of the game. Stephen Duke-McKenna got ahead of Liam Bennett to meet Lewis Cass’ right-wing cross and his volley kept low to get the better of Eastwood.

Harrogate’s equaliser flicked a switch in Cambridge. Up until that point there had been umpteen passages of neat, intricate passing that had prised open the away side’s backline, but with parity restored their composure in possession evaporated.

The game became more frantic, lacking in quality and so the chances at both ends started to dry up. Cambridge’s best to claim all three points came in the 77th minute when Ben Purrington’s left-wing cross found James Gibbons at the back post, but the substitute’s effort on the bounce was always rising.

Cambridge United: Eastwood, Bennett (Gibbons 74’), Watts, Morrison (Jobe 40’), Purrington, Ball, McLoughlin (Mpanzu 74’), Brophy, Knight, Kaikai (Kachunga 66’), Appere

Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Cass, O’Connor, Bradbury, Burrell, Morris, Evans (Fox 86’), Taylor, Smith (McAleny 78’), Duke-McKenna (Muldoon), McCoulsky

Attendance: 5,737