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Cambridge’s superb performance against Colchester saw them earn a 2-1 win to take them back into the playoff places in League Two.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the story that made the headlines. Instead, focus turned to the actions of a vocal minority of Cambridge supporters who booed when the players took the knee ahead of kickoff at the Abbey Stadium on Tuesday night.
Thankfully, the negative reaction was largely drowned out by the loud cheers and applause from the Newmarket Road End terrace. However, the cameras above the Habbin Stand picked up very clear audio of numerous fans booing as players from both sides stood against racial inequality.
Unsurprisingly, national media outlets picked up on the incident and senior members of the club have voiced their disgust at the events that took place before the start of the match. This included Cambridge manager Mark Bonner, who dubbed it as “embarrassing” and “unacceptable” in a strongly worded post-match interview.
However, the unsavoury scenes before the game shouldn’t take anything away from his side’s performance, as Cambridge earned a 2-1 win against Colchester United to end their barren run of three consecutive defeats in League Two.
Since fans returned to the Abbey Stadium, the U’s saw their undefeated home record shattered by losing 1-0 to Mansfield and 2-1 to Oldham. Their 2-0 win against Gillingham in the Papa John’s Trophy showed glimpses of the Cambridge United we’re all used to from earlier this season, but their subsequent defeat away at Forest Green Rovers sent them crashing all the way down to ninth place in League Two.
So picking up three points was absolutely crucial for Mark Bonner’s side, who’ve spent much of the season in the top three after an exceptional start to the campaign. A loss could’ve seen them drop out of the top half of the table all together, but the win sees them climb back up into the playoff places.
It was a much improved performance from what we’ve seen recently from the U’s. The energy and tempo that they missed against Mansfield, Oldham and Forest Green was finally back. Their continuous intensive press saw them win the ball in advanced areas of the pitch, while their crisp passes and slick transitions cut through Colchester’s defence throughout the game.
Cambridge’s pressure late in the first half wasn’t enough to see them ahead going into the break, but it took just five minutes of the second half for the U’s to score the opener. Luke Hannant’s free kick was met by Paul Mullin’s diving header, with the League Two top scorer giving his side the lead.
Just 15 minutes later, Mullin doubled his and Cambridge’s tally for the evening by getting on the end of Harvey Knibbs shot to tap the ball past Dean Gerken. That takes his current total to an astonishing 16 goals in just 17 games.
Steve Ball was unsurprisingly furious with his side’s performance, which lacked any real energy or attacking intent. Despite picking up the League Two player of the month award for November, Jevani Brown was benched on his return to The Abbey, and it looked as if Colchester really missed his presence up-front.
Just six minutes after coming on, Brown played a through ball that found Michael Folivi, who was brought down by Harry Darling for a Colchester penalty. The 22-year-old comfortably slotted his spot-kick past Callum Burton, but his side couldn’t find an equaliser in the remaining 25 minutes of the game.
It was a real shock to see Colchester play with such a lack of urgency, especially when they were 2-1 down. Coming into the game, Ball’s side had picked up ten points from a possible 12 in their last four games. A trip to The Abbey was a step too far, but they keep their place in the playoff positions despite suffering defeat in Cambridgeshire.
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