Harvey Knibbs on target as Cambridge United earn a point at Colchester United in Sky Bet League Two
Harvey Knibb’s goal earned Cambridge United a 1-1 draw at Colchester United in Sky Bet League Two.
The ground staff had worked wonders to get the game on at the Jobserve Community Stadium, given the snow that had hit the area.
Both teams tried to be as fluent as possible, but it was hard going.
Colchester almost took the lead in the fifth minute as Tom Eastham connected with the ball, but Mitov got it out for a corner. And from the resulting set piece, Tommy Smith’s header went wide.
United’s first real attack of purpose resulted in the opening goal. Paul Mullin went over in the area but the appeals were ignored, however, the striker was quickly back onto his feet to get onto Paul Digby’s pass.
His fierce shot was well saved by Colchester keeper Dean Gerken, but Knibbs was on hand to turn home the rebound in the 13th minute.
Colchester drew level in the 37th minute.
Cohen Bramall got in down their left and pulled a pass back from Callum Harriott, and his shot took a wicked deflection off Greg Taylor to roll into the net.
United almost had the lead at half time though, as some neat build-up play at the edge of the area between Mullin and Wes Hoolahan put in Knibbs, but after the striker took a touch, Colchester defender Omar Sowunmi made a brilliant recovery block to turn the effort over the bar.
There was no lack of trying from the two teams after the break, but as the snow melted the pitch became saturated and so it was difficult to guess the path of the ball.
Colchester’s Jevani Brown played in Eastman in the 73rd minute, and his fierce shot was well pushed out by U’s keeper Dimi Mitov, who was then called on to make a simple save from Noah Chilvers’ free kick.
Mitov then had to be alert in the 85th minute to save Harry Pell’s flicked shot from a cross from the left.
But it was then United that went up the other end to try to snatch all three points, with Mullin breaking into the box and then cutting back inside, only to curl his low shot just wide of the far post, and a draw was probably fair on both sides.
Colchester United: Gerken, Bramall, Smith, Sowunmi, Pell, Brown, Harriott, Chilvers, Eastman, Poku, Stevenson.
Substitutes: Senior (Poku, 76).
Cambridge United: Mitov, Knoyle, Taylor, Darling, Dunk, Hannant, May, Digby, Hoolahan, Knibbs, Mullin.
Substitutes: Ironside (Hannant, 64), O’Neil (May, 78), Cundy (Darling, 78).
Referee: S Martin.
Read more
Harvey Knibbs praises vital point for Cambridge United in draw at Colchester United
