Jabo Ibehre effort inspires Cambridge United to win over Macclesfield

U's dig deep to defeat Silkmen

Jabo Ibehre grabbed the only goal of the game as Cambridge United triumphed 1-0 over Macclesfield Town in Sky Bet League Two.

The striker pounced 10 minutes from time to complete a good week for the U’s, although they were made to work hard for the win by the Silkmen

Macclesfield made the brighter start, and almost went in front inside the first three minutes.

Peter Vincenti floated in a cross that was headed towards goal by Ben Stephens, and Nathan Blissett stuck out a boot at the back post that required an instinctive, point-blank save from U’s keeper David Forde.

Reggie Lambe went closest for the hosts, hitting a whipped effort from 25 yards that Macclesfield keeper Rhys Taylor acrobatically tipped over the bar.

Macclesfield were well organised and disciplined, preventing the U’s getting into their fast passing, one-touch football and there were few clear-cut chances for either side.

Stephens had a long-range dipping volley held by Forde at the post, and Taylor was equal to George Maris’ sidefoot effort in the box.

The U’s rallied to end the half on a high, earning a succession of corners that were well dealt with by the visitors, with the closest they came in that spell being a cross from David Amoo that Keith Lowe managed well at the back post.

United made a change at half time, bringing on Brad Halliday to replace Louis John, which appeared to signal their intent to go for the game in the second half.

They had a couple of efforts from distance but nothing remotely troubled Taylor, while Forde was even more quiet at the other end, with Smith’s long-range effort that went comfortably wide the only shot of note.

That was until the 80th minute when Stephens hit a thunderous effort from 20 yards that Forde got a fingertip to as it cannoned off the bar.

The U’s broke immediately up the other end, and with a touch from the edge of the box, Ibehre then drilled a shot into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.

Gary Deegan went close to doubling the lead minutes later with a brilliant swerving effort from distance that Taylor had to save down low.

Cambridge United: Forde, Taylor, John, Taft, Carroll, Deegan, O’Neil, Maris, Lambe, Amoo, Brown.

Substitutes: Halliday (John, 45), Ibehre (Maris, 57), Azeez (Amoo, 72). Not used: Mitov, Osadebe, Darling, Lewis.

Macclesfield: Taylor, Hodgkiss, Lowe, Kelleher, Fitzpatrick, Maycock, Vincenti, Rose, Stephens, Blissett, Smith.

Substitutes: Wilson (Blissett, 84), Welch-Hayes (Vincenti, 84). Not used: O’Hara, Grimes, Marsh, Napa, Pearson.

Bookings: United – Taylor (foul, 61); Macclesfield – Smith (foul, 72).

Referee: Craig Hicks.