Cambridge United top Papa John's Trophy group despite defeat to Stevenage

Cambridge United have finished top of the Papa John's Trophy, Southern Group H despite a 1-0 defeat at Stevenage.

United made seven changes from the side on duty in the FA Cup draw at Northampton Town at the weekend, including first starts for the club for Lewis Simper and Kai Yearn.

The story of the first half was stubborn defences.

The first chance of the night fell to the hosts' Elliott List in the 10th minute, but U's keeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle was equal to the close-range effort.

United were enjoying plenty of possession, but were struggling to carve out many chances.

Harvey Knibbs and Yearn had chances blocked for the U's, and then the Stevenage breakthrough came in the 41st minute.

Jamie Read broke through on the right-hand side and pulled the ball back for List, who took a touch and finished into the bottom corner.

It remained 1-0 at the break, and the first chance of the second half also fell to Stevenage in the 51st minute.

An effort from 25 yards by Jake Reeves had to be pushed over the bar by McKenzie-Lyle.

The U's shot-stopper was in action again moments later, with Brad Barry hitting a powerful shot that was thwarted and then Read hit the rebound over.

Read got through in the 66th minute and chipped the advancing McKenzie-Lyle but the effort hit the outside of the post and went wide.

There was an opening for Knibbs in the 78th minute with a header from Leon Davies' cross, but Stevenage keeper Adam Smith tipped the chance behind for a corner.

United stepped up their search for an equaliser in the closing 15 minutes, but there was a scare in the 85th minute as Elliot Osborne fired in a shot from a narrow angle that called McKenzie-Lyle into action.

With no fewer opportunities for either side, it means that United top the group to get a home tie in the knockout stages by virtue of a better goal difference, but Stevenage go through as runners-up having also finished on six points.