Cambridge United start Garry Monk’s tenure as head coach with 1-1 draw in Sky Bet League One clash against Northampton Town

A late equalising goal denied Garry Monk a winning start to life as Cambridge United head coach.

Monk, who was appointed the new U’s boss on Monday, watched on as Elias Kachunga gave the hosts a 1-0 lead heading into the break during this afternoon’s home Sky Bet League One clash against Northampton Town at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.

But with time ticking away the mid-table Cobblers scored the equalising that their second-half domination had deserved – and it was they that looked the more likely to secure all three points before the final whistle sounded.

The opening exchanges were tentative as the two sides – seemingly keen not to commit any early errors – largely cancelled each other out.

The contest’s first meaningful opening, which came with 13 minutes on the referee’s watch, went the way of the visitors when playmaker Marc Leonard whipped in a dangerous corner from the left. The ball appeared to strike Patrick Brough rather than the defender initiating contact, and so the ball looped up awkwardly and skimmed the outside of the post on its way wide.

United, meanwhile, had offered very little in an attacking sense up until that point but that changed in the 16th minute with the first goal of the Monk era. Liam Bennett and Jack Lankester were the architects as the Suffolk-raised duo linked well down the right before the latter sent in a low cross that Elias Kachunga neatly swept home from eight yards out.

That proved to be the only shot on target of the first half at either end of the pitch, although Kachunga will feel that he should have at the very least worked Louie Moulden in the Northampton goal on the stroke of half-time with a close-range volley that he skewed wide.

Much of the attacking and probing throughout the second half was done by Northampton, who enjoyed long spells in U’s territory.

Ben Fox, who won a plethora of second balls in front of his back four, dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box in the 53rd minute, while 20 minutes later substitute Louis Appere’s glancing header from Leonard’s set-piece was comfortably gathered by Stevens.

However, the United goalkeeper was heavily involved in the away side’s equalising goal eight minutes from time. Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Leonard sent in yet another pinpoint cross – this time from the left – which tempted Stevens off his line, only for Jon Guthrie to get there first and power a header into an unguarded net.

After that it was largely one-way traffic with Northampton sensing that there was still a winning goal left in the encounter for them.

But as it was, Cambridge held firm to ensure that their gap to the relegation zone extended to five points ahead of away trips to Lincoln City on Tuesday and fellow strugglers Reading next weekend.

Cambridge United: Stevens, L Bennett, R Bennett, Morrison, Andrew, Digby, Cousins, Brophy, Lankester (Kaikai 62’), Kachunga (Bonne 70’), Taylor

Northampton Town: Moulden, Brough, Moore, Guthrie, Lintott (Dyche 85’), Sowerby (Hondermarck 85’), Fox (McWilliams 70’), Simpson (Appere 64’), Leonard, Hoskins (Sprigett 70’), Bowie