Cambridge United 1-1 Northampton Town match report: James Brophy scores direct from a corner to rescue League One point for relegation-threatened U’s

Cambridge United played out a 1-1 draw for the second weekend running in League One this afternoon.

Visiting Northampton Town took the lead heading into the break at the Cledara Abbey Stadium, but the U’s responded early in the second half of a contest that was lacking in quality.

In terms of the bigger picture little has changed for United, who are 11 points from safety with only seven matches remaining.

From a Cambridge perspective, the first half was extremely poor. They failed to register a single shot on or off target, with too many long balls being aimed in the direction of Dom Ballard and Elias Kachunga – neither of whom are known for their aerial prowess.

Northampton, meanwhile, were far from scintillating going forward but they did at least look threatening on occasions.

They eventually broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when Cambridge failed to clear Mitch Pinnock’s long throw from the right touchline and Sam Hoskins was on hand to lash the loose ball beyond the reach of Nathan Bishop for his fifth league goal of the season.

And the Cobblers had a good opportunity to double their advantage two minutes before the break when United duo Michael Morrison and Ben Stevenson got in each other’s way, leaving Cameron McGeehan to make up ground quickly. He eventually teed up Tyler Roberts inside the box, but after feinting to shoot once, the attacker then fired into the side netting.

Ballard and Scott Malone made way at the break as U’s boss Neil Harris sought to find some kind of foothold in the game. Liam Bennett and Ryan Loft entered the fray, which not only resulted in a switch to a 3-5-2 formation but it also allowed Josh Stokes – out wide during the first half – to play more centrally, from where he was able to have more of an impact on proceedings.

It was little surprise that the Bristol City loanee was involved in the build up to United’s 52nd-minute equaliser with a neat slide-rule pass for Paul Digby, who won the corner from which James Brophy’s inswinger flew straight in via a hand from Northampton goalkeeper Lee Burge.

Cambridge huffed and puffed thereafter without really testing Burge as Ben Stevenson volleyed wide and Loft saw his header from distance drift off target. At the other end, Northampton centre-half Max Dyche rose highest to meet Mitch Pinnock’s left-wing free-kick, but his 73rd-minute header bounced just the wrong side of the far post.

Cambridge United: Bishop, Gibbons, Morrison, Watts, Malone (Bennett 46’), Digby, Stevenson, Brophy, Kachunga, Stokes (Njoku 90’), Ballard (Loft 46’)

Northampton Town: Burge, McGowan (Eyoma), Dyche, Guinness-Walker, Taylor, Perry (Hondermarck 90’), Pinnock (Odimayo 79’), McGeehan, Eaves (Magloire 79’), Roberts, Hoskins,

Attendance: 7,252. Referee: Matthew Russell.