Nick Sandamas sees Barnet battle hard to end all square at Cambridge

The Abbey Stadium, home of Cambridge United FC, viewed from behind the bottom left corner flag — Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium – (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Barnet continued their recent good away record in the league becoming only the third side this season to avoid defeat against Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium. They took a point from a goalless draw in front of the U’s biggest attendance of the season which included a massive away following.

Dean Brennan named an unchanged side from last Saturday’s draw against MK Dons and it was his side who started the better of the two with shots, first from Adam Senior then from Idris Kanu, in the opening quarter that were comfortable for U’s keeper Jake Eastwood.

The U’s first sight on goal came in the twenty-fifth minute but Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu’s shot ended up in the home crowd behind the goal.

On the half hour mark, a great move by the home side ended with James Brophy’s attempted curler drift wide of the far post.

Kanu then gave himself space to give the Bees the lead six minutes from half time, twisting & turning before forcing Eastwood to dive full length across his goal to put the ball behind for a corner.

Then, minutes later, Ryan Glover played the ball to Danny Collinge in the area but Eastwood rushed out and to get his whole body in the way to block the shot. This save was followed by a flurry of corners for the visitors but the U’s stayed firm to ensure the game stayed goalless as the teams made their way for their half time cuppa.

Within seconds of the restart, Eastwood was again called upon to push away Senior’s effect after Mark Shelton set him up.

Lee Ndlovu was next to try and break the deadlock short of the hour, but could only find the side netting.

Then a moment of controversy on the hour in the box when Kanu appeared to have pushed Brophy in the back but the U’s strong penalty appeals were waved away.

A rare Cambridge chance then came on 64 minutes with Bees keeper Ciaran Slicker pulling off a good save to deny Adam Mayor as he tried to place the ball inside the keeper’s near post.

Despite several changes in the latter part of the match, neither team could make the breakthrough and a point ensued to keep both sides within touching distance of the play-off places although, in fairness, had the Bees been more clinical in front of goal all the points would definitely be going back to North London.

Barnet are back on the road again next Saturday taking on Gillingham in a lunchtime kick off.

Team: Slicker, Collinge, Senior, Tavares, Glover (Osadebe 80), Winterburn (Smith 68), Shelton, Ofoborh, Stead, Ndlovu (Hawkins 80), Kanu

Subs not used: Evans, Hartigan, Kensdale, Crichlow

Attendance 7572 (992 away fans)

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.