Cambridge United extended their incredible unbeaten run in the Sky Bet EFL League Two to 13 matches, making it 5 successive wins (8 total), after a dramatic 1-0 win over Shrewsbury Town.
Unchanged from their comeback victory at home to Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, Neil Harris' promotion chasers rose up to third after Ben Knight struck in stoppage time once again, converting a late penalty, to condemn relegation threatened (21st) Shrewsbury Town to what was arguably a harsh defeat.
The visitors beat the U's in one of their 4 prior league successes this season in October, and arguably should've returned home with a point, though the Shrews struggled to test one the meaniest league defences in the country - certainly in the EFL conceding just 22 in 27 games, the side in Amber struggled to find a clinical touch in the final third, hitting the majority of their shots on target low and straight at Brentford loanee Matthew Cox.
At the break, you could sense the frustration around the ground, and even with Harris' half-time alterations giving the U's a much needed lift it wasn't until referee Abigail Byrne pointed to the penalty spot for a 90th minute handball that they were able to break down the stubborn visiting defence, who looked to have travelled with the sole aim of at least returning home with a point.
Shrewsbury (1') wrapped a smart through-ball towards Trey Ogunsuyi driving down the left, which was intercepted by the alert Mo Jobe. The visitors then sent a long ball forward in search of Ogunsuyi, forcing Jake Eastwood off his line to pluck it out of the night sky.
An excellent stop from Matthew Cox (6') thwarted a brilliant move.
James Brophy Fed Louis Appere just in the visitors' half who turned neatly to thread Sullay Kaikai driving down the right centre of the Salop half, into the area, where Cox advanced smartly to meet him, diving low to parry away his lobbed attempt.
Eastwood was then required to parry away Shrewsbury's (8') dangerous left wing corner at the edge of a packed six yard box, which Josh Ruffels pounced to shoot but had his effort blocked by Kell Watts, stood crucially just ahead of the goal line.
Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (9') saw a low tame strike from the left-hand edge of the box comfortably held by Cox at his near post, after crisp quick passing saw the U's break down the left with a byline cutback cleared to the U's 17.
Liam Bennett (12') was picked out by a pinpoint cross-field ball, only to skew his right wing cross over the crossbar.
Iwan Morgan (20') broke through on the right wing courtesy of a great defence splitting pass, whose dangerous low squared ball was slammed behind by Kell Watts, but the whistle went for a foul on George Hoddle.
Appere (26') was fed into space just outside the area to spin well and open up the angle to shoot, but hit his low strike straight at Cox.
With points very much at stake for both sides, it was a rather scrappy affair - though it was 4th v 21st, as Morgan's 27th minute right wing corner was expertly claimed by Jake Eastwood, once more rhrough a crowd of bodies but this time at his far post.
Cox (34'), who bizarrely went down to stop play for the free-kick, claimed Brophy's 35-yard free-kick from the left at his far post.
James Gibbons' (37') dart down the left wing produced a great clipped cross which just evaded the towering Ben Knight free at close range, as the U's began to control proceedings, albeit lacking the final touch.
Sullay Kaikai (45'+2') smartly controlled a header from Eastwood's clearance, he threaded Ben Knight surging forward, weaving through players into the area and close to goal but shot straight at the keeper, a golden chance.
Good play from Neil Harris' side (50') saw patient passing play lead to Sullay Kaikai driving towards the area to slip Ben Knight down the right-hand side whose cutback on the byline fleas met by Appere at the near post at point blank range, whose flick was blocked behind the near post by Cox.
Mo Jobe (51') met James Brophy's right wing corner at the far post, but could only head wide as the hosts again looked the more likely to find a breakthrough.
Ruffels (55') stabbed wide from the loose ball, following a partially cleared left wing corner, in what for large parts was a very frustrating evening for the Ambers.
Louis Appere was cautioned (59') for a late sliding challenge on Sam Clucas, stretching for the ball after a heavy touch.
Shane Lavery (63') was played through onto the right-hand side of the box but couldn't keep the ball under control to shoot as Cox gathered possession.
Taylor Perry (70') scuffed his shot just off target which Eastwood gathered, while Shame Lavery (77') latched onto a flick on down the left wing to smash dangerously back to the edge of the box where Ben Knight's low effort was held by Cox, diving just to his left.
Loanee George Nevitt (79') saw a half-volley blocked following Gibbons' great right wing ball was headed dangerously back across from the far post, as Cambridge were awarded a 90th minute penalty for handball.
Ben Knight (91') duly dispatched from the spot, expertly firing into the bottom right-hand corner.
Sang (98') curled a dangerous free-kick over as the final whistle blew.
Cambridge United:- 1 Jake Eastwood, 2 Liam Bennett (HT' Purrington), 6 Kell Watts, 7 James Brophy (62' Lavery), 9 Louis Appere (62' Nevitt), 11 Sullay Kaikai, 14 Ben Knight, 17 Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (74' McLoughlin), 23 Mamadaou Jobe, 26 James Gibbons (c), 38 George Hoddle (HT' Ball). Subs: 25 Ben Hughes, 3 Ben Purrington, 4 Dom Ball, 16 Zeno Ibsen Rossi, 19 Shayne Lavery, 21 Shane McLoughlin, 24 Elliott Nevitt.
Shrewsbury Town:- 1 Matthew Cox, 2 Luca Hoole, 4 Tom Anderson, 5 Will Boyle (c), 6 Sam Clucas, 10 Tom Sang, 14 Taylor Perry, 19 Iwan Morgan (73' Kabia), 21 Trey Ogunsuyi (54' Lloyd), 22 Temple Ojinnaka (74' Marquis), 25 Josh Ruffels. Subs: 12 Will Brook, 9 George Lloyd, 11 Anthony Scully, 16 Nick Freeman, 20 Ismeal Kabia, 23 Lee Isaac, 27 John Marquis.
Booked: Louis Appere (59'), George Lloyd (91').
Goal: Ben Knight (90'+1'pen)
Att: 5,347 (168)
My MOTM:- Ben Knight or Kell Watts
Sponsors MOTM:-
