Cambridge United lose 1-0 at Peterborough United in first Cambridgeshire Derby league meeting in 21 years

Cambridge United were beaten 1-0 at Peterborough United in the first Cambridgeshire Derby of the season in Sky Bet League One on Saturday.

The first league meeting between the two sides for 21 years produced a solitary goal, with U’s defender Lloyd Jones inadvertently heading into his own net on 18 minutes.

Cambridge’s two best chances for an equaliser both fell to Harvey Knibbs, who headed over from close range late on in the first half, before being denied by Lucas Bergström after the break.

Head coach Mark Bonner made one change to his U’s line up from Tuesday’s rot-stopping 3-2 win away at Wycombe Wanderers, as Jack Lankester was handed a start in place of the injured Fejiri Okenabirhie, while Greg Taylor returned to the bench.

Peterborough named an unchanged side from their 3-1 midweek home victory over Accrington Stanley, as the two rivals were greeted to a raucous atmosphere inside a near sellout Weston Homes Stadium.

With both sets of fans in fine voice, it was no surprise that referee Scott Oldham was blowing his whistle for the game’s first foul with barely 30 seconds on the clock.

The recalled Lankester created an early opening for the U’s with a ball into the box inside the first 10 minutes, but the Peterborough defence were quick to close down Joe Ironside before he could get a shot away.

On 15 minutes, Ephron Mason-Clark’s low cross found Harrison Burrows, who dragged his effort wide of the Cambridge goal, but the hosts did not have to wait much longer for the breakthrough.

Three minutes later, Burrows’ corner hit the back of Jones and flew past Will Mannion, the U’s goalkeeper, and into the back of his own net to give Peterborough a 1-0 lead.

For the rest of the first half it was the home side who enjoyed more of the ball and chances, with Grant McCann’s men going into the interval having had 68 per cent of the possession.

The tricky Kwame Poku teed up Mason-Clark for a low strike which went wide of the far post, before left back Dan Butler’s effort from long range was pushed away by Mannion.

Cambridge spurned an inviting opportunity to get back on level terms on 36 minutes when James Brophy’s in-swinging cross found Knibbs in front of goal, but his header went past Bergström and over the crossbar.

Mannion was called into action again before the break to deny Peterborough captain Jonson Clarke-Harris, while Poku’s curling effort went narrowly wide of the top corner as Cambridge went into half time only trailing by one goal.

The hosts continued to threaten a second goal after the interval as Mason-Clark twice went close, with Mannion tipping an effort over the bar before the Posh striker fired wide from close range moments later.

Cambridge boss Bonner made a triple change on 67 minutes as he searched for a way back into the contest, with Sam Smith, Liam O’Neil and Shilow Tracey all entering the fray.

Four minutes later the U’s carved out their best chance of the second half, as Knibbs won back possession on the left and charged towards goal and into the box, but Bergström got a hand to his strike to deny him.

With two minutes left Peterborough substitute Jack Marriott saw a curling effort crash back off the post and, after five minutes of added time had elapsed, it was only an own goal which separated the two rivals in the first Cambridgeshire Derby of the season.

The U’s now turn their attention away from League One and to the Emirates FA Cup, with a trip to Curzon Ashton, of the Vanarama National League North, in the first round a week tomorrow (Sunday, November 6, 2pm).

Peterborough United: Bergström, Butler (Knight 90’), Edwards, Kent, Fuchs, Taylor, Clarke-Harris (c) (Marriott 86’), Mason-Clark (Watts 89’), Poku (Jones 73’), N Thompson, Burrows (Kyprianou 85’). Subs not used: Blackmore (gk), B Thompson. Booked: Kent.

Cambridge United: Mannion, Williams, Digby (c), Jones, Brophy (Tracey 66’), Ironside, Lankester (Smith 65’), Okedina, Rossi, Simper (O’Neil 65’), Knibbs. Subs not used: Holden (gk), Taylor, Janneh, Worman. Booked: Simper, Williams, O’Neil.

Referee: S Oldham. Attendance: 12,756.