Cambridge United held to frustrating Sky Bet League One draw by fellow strugglers Morecambe

Not for the first time this season Cambridge United failed to take full advantage of results elsewhere going their way as they played out a 1-1 draw with fellow Sky Bet League One strugglers Morecambe at the Abbey Stadium this evening.

United went into the contest facing a team with the lowest points return in the league on their travels to this term. Morecambe have won just once away from home all season and that was against bottom-of-the-table Forest Green Rovers in September, yet they battled hard for their point and remain above their hosts in the fight for survival.

The home side started like a side with something to prove and they could have gone in front within the opening two minutes. James Brophy sprayed a pass out wide to the right for his fellow wing-back Liam Bennett, who took one touch before standing up a cross for Sam Smith. The forward got up well eight yards out, but he could not direct his header on target.

United continued to probe and they were rewarded with a deadlock-breaking goal in the 14th minute. After breaking forward with purpose it appeared that the move had stalled with Paul Digby on the edge of the box, only for the skipper to produce a perfectly-weighted through pasl for Jack Lankester and he showed good composure to slot the ball beyond Connor Ripley.

Lankester also scored in the reverse fixture and it was his third goal of the campaign, as well as being his first since the 3-2 win at Wycombe Wanderers in late October.

Cambridge defenders Lloyd Jones and Michael Morrison then tried their luck with shots from distance that Ripley saved with ease before Morecambe fired a warning shot in the 28th minute when former U’s midfielder Jensen Weir strode into the box unopposed and drew a low save from Dimitar Mitov.

After that the visitors started to gain a foothold on proceedings without posing too much of a threat, although United could have halted their momentum in the 40th minute when Brophy darted beyond two challenges out on the left and crossed in low for Liam Bennett, but after opening up his body, the 21-year-old lifted the ball over the top.

However, just when it looked as though United were going to get to the break a goal to the good, Morecambe struck back. It was careless play from United forward Smith as he gifted possession to the opposition inside his own half. The ball was worked out wide to the left for Ash Hunter and while his cross could not find a team-mate, Ryan Bennett’s headed clearance only found Weir on the edge of the area and his bouncing shot was flicked over Mitov and into the net by an alert Carl Stockton. It was Morecambe’s first goal away from home in more than eight hours of football - a run that dated back to December 17

And it could have got even worse for Cambridge seconds before the whistle when Weir ran deep into United territory, but he hesitated over the shot and by the time that he pulled the trigger the ball drifted wide.

The first chance of the second half also went the way of Morecambe and Hunter in the 47th minute, but the angle was always narrowing and he shot straight at Mitov.

It was a far less assured start from United compared to the first half, although they went some way to easing themselves back into the contest with headed efforts in quick succession around the hour mark from Smith and Morrison. The former headed straight at Ripley while the latter powered his attempt over from Conor McGrandles’ right-wing corner.

United head coach Bonner turned to his bench in the 65th minute, bringing on Liam O’Neil, Shilow Tracey and Steve Seddon in a triple change. And it was Oxford United loanee Seddon that went close to restoring the home team’s lead with a free kick from 30 yards out that forced Ripley to scamper across his line and tip the ball over. The clearance from the resultant corner was collected by Lankester, who saw his effort deflected just off target.

The substitutions breathed some new life into the United performance. They started enjoy longer spells in possession inside the Morecambe and forced a handful of corners, yet the game’s next big opening was created by the away team in the 79th minute. The United defence parted for Liam Shaw, but after cutting inside on his left foot, from 20 yards out he shot harmlessly over.

After that United tried to force the issue but despite good moments – including a very inviting cross from Seddon that nobody gambled on – the crucial winning goal was not forthcoming.

And while the gap to safety has been cut to four points following news of Accrington Stanley’s defeat to Ipswich Town, the overwhelming feeling at the full time whistle was that of another missed opportunity.

Cambridge United: Mitov, R Bennett, Morrison, Jones, L Bennett, Brophy (Seddon 65’), Digby, McGrandles (O’Neil 65’), Lankester (Yearn 82’), Smith, Ironside (Tracey 65’)

Morecambe: Ripley, Love, Rawson, Simeu, Melbourne (Mayor 30’), Gibson, Shaw, Weir, Crowley (Watts 74’), Hunter (Austerfield 90’), Stockton (Duffus 90’)

Referee: Paul Howard

Attendance: 5,225 (122 away)