MATCH REPORT | CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2-1 BARNET FC

Two goals in quick succession for Cambridge United was enough to send the Bees home empty-handed from the Cledara Abbey Stadium, with the result bringing Barnet’s Carabao Cup journey to an end at the first round.

Dean Brennan’s first starting XI of the campaign featured four of our summer signings, with Matthew Cox in net from minute one and Zac Williams, Charlie Lakin and Oisin Gallagher outfield.

Williams was joined at the back by familiar faces Danny Collinge, Nik Tavares and the returning Myles Kenlock.

Lakin and Gallagher linked up with Nnamdi Ofoborh in the middle, while Idris Kanu operated on the left flank and Adam Senior on the right, further forward than his usual position.

 Kabongo Tshimanga completed the line-up, leading the line at the front.

The Bees’ first chance of the first-half came five minutes after kick-off. The ball fell nicely to Oisin Gallagher on the edge of the area and his effort on goal was deflected out for Barnet’s first corner of the afternoon, which was taken short Nnamdi Ofoborh and amounted to nothing.

Cambridge then tested Matthew Cox on a couple of occasions, but along with the Bees’ backline, he stood strong and was able to collect the ball comfortably on a couple of occasions.

Danny Collinge found the back of the net after ten minutes, but the linesman’s flag was up for offside in the build-up.

With a quarter of the game gone, Barnet had their best chance yet, with Charlie Lakin delivering a free-kick to the back post, but Nik Tavares was unable to send the ball into the back of the net when making the connection.

The hosts’ best opportunity of the half came through Ben Knight, who only had Cox to beat, but his final ball was into the gloves of the Bees’ shot-stopper.

A mix-up in the Cambridge defence then allowed Barnet a great opportunity to take the lead, with Idris Kanu the player to take aim, but his curling effort deflected wide of the left post.

Up the other end, Knight had plenty of space on the edge of the Barnet box, but he sent his effort soaring over the bar and shortly after, Cox was called into action to deny Glenn McConnell from inside the area.

The Bees came agonisingly close as half-time loomed. A brilliant move was almost finished off by Lakin inside the area, but U’s goalkeeper Jake Eastwood stuck his leg out to deny our number eight and we headed into the break with the deadlock yet to be broken.

Half-time: Cambridge United 0-0 Barnet FC

The Bees found themselves ahead following the restart and it was none other than Kabongo Tshimanga who slotted the ball home to give us the advantage, after Senior and Kanu had both had efforts cleared off the line.

The lead only lasted three minutes, with Knight netting the equaliser, before Isaac Heath scored Cambridge’s second to give the hosts the upper hand.

Myles Kenlock made way for Tom Knowles in our first change of the afternoon on 64 minutes.

Cox stood strong to deny U’s substitute Kelly Ruddock Mpanzu from close-range as the clock ticked over to the final 20 minutes.

Knowles stood over a free-kick with just over ten minutes left to play, forcing Eastwood to get low and stop the ball from crossing the line for an equaliser.

Will Wright and Kane Smith entered the action for the closing stages of the game, replacing Nik Tavares and Nnamdi Ofoborh.

The Bees had the ball in the back of the net in added time of the second-half, but the referee blew for a foul in the build-up and that was the last of the action as Cambridge secured their place in the second round of the competition.

Full-time: Cambridge United 2-1 Barnet FC

Line-up: Cox, Collinge, Senior, Williams, Lakin, Ofoborh (Wright, 83’), Kanu, Tshimanga, Gallagher, Tavares (Smith, 83’), Kenlock (Knowles, 64’)

Goals: Kabongo Tshimanga (49′)