Matty Taylor’s second half finish proved decisive as relegation-threatened Cheltenham inflicted a first defeat for Cambridge’s since New Year’s Day.  

 

The Robins may have felt aggrieved to not be in front by half-time after George Lloyd poked home from close range, but the linesman ruled him offside. 

 

Taylor then broke the deadlock on 64 minutes, with the Us being caught out in the middle of the park and allowing the striker to drill his shot into the bottom right corner. 

 

Cambridge had the chances to take something from the game in the final 15 minutes, though deadline day signing Macauley Bonne was unable to convert either of the two golden opportunities presented to him. 

 

Neil Harris made no changes from last week’s victory away at Shrewsbury Town, as he looked to extend his side’s unbeaten run in the league to five games. Jack Lankester came in for George Thomas from the game against Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday, though, which was abandoned after eight minutes.  

 

The visitors came to the Abbey off the back of three consecutive defeats, including a 3-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday, and sat eight points from safety. However, Liam Kinsella and Taylor came in for their first starts since joining last month as Darrell Clarke looked to complete the double over Cambridge this season.  

 

The hosts dominated possession early on, with Lyle Taylor posing the biggest threat down the left-hand side. He was fed through on the quarter of an hour mark, but ‘keeper Luke Southwood set the tone for his afternoon by closing down the angle and preventing former Nottingham Forest man from opening the scoring. Taylor continued to pull the strings, though his volley was held comfortably by Southwood on 24 minutes. 

 

But Cheltenham also looked dangerous in spells, and it looked like they’d edged in front on 25 minutes. Taylor, who had signed from rivals Forest Green Rovers on deadline day, did well to hold up a floated ball into the box, turn Ryan Bennett, and set up Lloyd who tapped it into an empty net. However, his celebrations were short-lived, with the linesman adjudging Lloyd to be offside – to the bemusement of the away bench.  

 

The game was springing into life, and Cambridge could have gone into the break with a goal or two if not for the heroics of Southwood. Some poor communication at the back allowed Sullay Kaikai to drive forward and lay it off to Lankester, whose effort was saved. Elias Kachunga, Taylor, and Lankester all linked up nicely, but the latter’s effort was again kept out on 35 minutes. The former Reading ‘keeper had almost single-handedly kept the game level, and Cambridge’s dominance fizzled out as the half came to a close.  

 

Clarke’s side responded well, coming out for the second half with a renewed aggression and energy. Will Ferry fired a cross across the six-yard box which Lloyd couldn’t connect with, then Liam Sercombe saw an effort saved from the edge of the box. 

 

Lankester continued to pose a threat though, and he arguably should have given Harris’ side the lead on the hour mark. He connected with a ball over the top and took it ‘round Southwood, before opting to cut it back– but the ball didn’t find a man in amber. 

 

Four minutes later, Cheltenham got their goal. The U’s had been outfought in the middle of the park in the second half, and it proved costly when Jordan Cousins lost the ball to Ferry outside his own 18-yard box. The number 15 slipped through Taylor who fired it in off the right-hand post – sending the 207 travelling fans into raptures. 

 

Harris made four changes in a bid to rescue the game, and substitute Bonne should have levelled the game on 79 minutes. A cross from the ever-battling Lyle Taylor found the debutant, who couldn’t convert from close range.  

 

The Robins had an opportunity to double their lead two minutes later when Elliot Bonds fired wide from outside the box, but again Bonne should have had his first goal for the U’s. This time, he couldn’t get on the end of Kaikai’s begging cross, to the frustration of the home fans. 

 

Those were the last real chances of the game and, after creating very little in the six minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle was met with boos. Harris’ side had the opportunities to get something from the game, but a resilient and hard-working Cheltenham side deserved their win and moved to five points from safety. 

 

Cambridge have the opportunity to make amends on Tuesday when they travel to high-flying Pompey, before making the long journey to Carlisle next Saturday.