Cambridge United 2-0 Wigan Athletic: Elias Kachunga and a Sam Tickle own goal earn U’s first League One victory of the season

There was a point during the first half when the Newmarket Road End goaded Wigan Athletic with chants of ‘can we play you every week?’.

And it is little wonder that they were in such mischievous mood given that the Latics were the last team that Cambridge United beat way back on 1 April. A total of 201 days and 18 games have since passed, but that long and arduous wait came to an end this afternoon as the U’s ran out 2-0 winners at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.

Visiting Wigan arrived in Cambridgeshire with an enviable defensive record. They had not conceded a goal in more than 600 minutes – a run that dated back to 3 September.

However, it took United just five minutes to break the deadlock – and in doing so they took the lead for the first time in a league game this term. Ryan Loft robbed James Carragher of possession near the left byline and then picked out Elias Kachunga inside the box. Kachunga, in turn, laid the ball off for Dan Nlundulu to shoot and his scuffed effort was diverted into the net by the player that had set up the chance. When you are down on your luck at the bottom of the league, it was the sort of good fortune that you crave.

Now with something to protect, it was a collective effort from the men in yellow. From Dan Nlundulu and Ryan Loft up front to Vicente Reyes between the posts, they worked as a unit to keep the visitors at bay.

And they also continued to pose a threat going forward, so much so that it was 2-0 in the 22nd minute. Danny Andrew and James Brophy linked up neatly down the left flank and when the ball was eventually cleared to Smith 20 yards from goal, he unleashed a driven effort that cannoned against the post. But once again Lady Luck intervened, with the ball rebounding off Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle and crossing the line.

With Loft tiring early in the second half, youngster Brandon Njoku entered the fray and took on the workload admirably – continuing the tone that had been established during the opening 45 minutes.

Inevitably there was the odd nervy moment as Wigan, whose manager Shaun Maloney made three changes at the break, searched for a route back into the contest. Theo Aasgaard went particularly close with an effort that flashed no more than a yard wide, but in the main the United rearguard and Reyes dealt with what was thrown at them.

They also had opportunities to extend their lead further – most notably when Jubril Okedina rattled the crossbar with a header. The defender’s wait for a first goal in senior football goes on.

The final whistle was greeted with a mixture of delight and relief. And while this was not an afternoon packed with free-flowing, easy-on-the-eye football – it was a spirited and committed display that got its rewards. Boy was it needed! The victory actually lifted United off the foot of the table, ahead of Burton Albion – who visit the Abbey next weekend – on goal difference.

A trip to Stevenage comes before that on Tuesday. It is a journey Garry Monk’s men will make with renewed optimism.

Cambridge United: Reyes, Bennett, Morrison, Okedina, Andrew, Digby, Smith, Kachunga (Cousins 89’), Brophy (Gibbons 80’), Loft (Njoku 63’), Nlundulu (Kaikai 80’)

Wigan Athletic: Tickle, Carragher (Stones 46’), Kerr, Amison, Ramsey (Miller 46’), M Smith (Francois 63’), Thomas, Olakigbe (Rankine 46’), S Smith, Weir (Aasgaard 20’), Taylor

Attendance: 7,000