A controversial last-minute penalty snatched a point for Milton Keynes Dons against Cambridge United on Saturday in a crucial fixture for promotion to League One. After a cagey first-half, Shayne Lavery struck in the 75th minute, but his close-range strike ultimately proved not to be the winner, as substitute Aaron Collins converted to keep both sides in the automatic promotion places in League Two.
Cambridge entered this lunchtime Saturday kick-off placed second in the fourth division, with the Dons trailing them in third, and just two points between them amongst a congested five-way chase for promotion. This set the tone for a feisty affair as the wind howled around the over 7,500 fans packed into the Abbey Stadium, as the amber and black of the Us met the striking pink shirts of the Dons.
The match got off to a lively start, but the tone was set for a cagey tussle between the sides in the first half. Both teams made numerous mistakes in possession, and the referee disrupted any possible flow for every possible foul. However, the Dons had the first chance, capitalising on centre-back Jobe’s hesitation in dealing with a long ball. This allowed a short ball to be played through him for Mellish, whose shot from the left was saved well by keeper Jake Eastwood.
“It set the tone for a feisty affair as the wind howled around the 7,500 packed into the Abbey”
The U’s reacted quickly though with pace down the right and dangerous long throws into the box, but two half-chances did not trouble the keeper. As the sun fought to come out from the clouds, there was not too much quality to brighten up the crowd in the first 30 minutes.
Nevertheless, MK would have the best chance of the half, as a poor Cambridge pass was intercepted by Dons captain Gilbey to play a 40-yard through ball for striker Hepburn-Murphy. Despite time and space, he could not beat the keeper one-on-one and sent his effort wide. It was a huge let off for Cambridge, but they saw out the rest of a physical, tense and relatively even half safely level. Cambridge head coach Neil Harris said post-match that he “put away the tactics board,” and told the players it was all about belief and fight in the second half in order to break the tension in the match.
The players clearly listened to him, and within two seconds an audacious strike from the halfway line forced the keeper into a good save, setting the tone for a dominant start. After some brilliant hold up play from Mpanzu, a former Luton midfielder in the Premier League, centre-back Watts got the ball out wide and swung a beauty of a cross for fellow defender Gibbons to power a header towards goal – but a great save from the Dons stopper kept the game all square. The back and forth between the fans soon became deafened by the Newmarket Road singers, as Cambridge roared into life.
“Harris told the players it was all about belief and the fight in the second half. The players clearly listened to him.”
The Us fashioned another fantastic opportunity, starting from a wonderful cross-field pass from Sully Kaikai, the U’s’ top scorer who had also equalised beautifully in the reverse fixture. It found Cambridge-born Ben Knight, who made a wonderful run from the wing to the penalty spot, but a fantastic block from the experienced MK defence denied him, and striker Louis Appere fired over from the rebound. It was to be both Appere’s and Kaikai’s final involvements, as Neil Harris rolled the dice on 65 minutes with three attacking substitutions, and it would not be long before they paid off.
As the Dons continued to be stifled in the second half, a rare throw-in opportunity sparked a brilliant counter attack. A headed clearance found Ben Knight, who stormed up the pitch, before threading a wonderful ball past three defenders to substitute Elliott Nevitt on the right side of the six yard box. His shot from the narrow angle was pushed out into the box, as Knight ran onto it to force a goal-line clearance from experienced defender Nelson. This could only delay the inevitable however, as substitute Shayne Lavery reacted quickest to smash in from three yards out and send The Abbey ballistic. It was a fifth goal of the season for the Northern Irishman, who has struggled for consistent fitness since his move from Blackpool in 2024, but came up with a crucial goal in the 75th minute.
Cambridge were denied a chance to double their lead minutes later, when another long mazey run from Knight was halted by a brilliant tackle from defender Ekpiteta close to goal. Harris soon made the defensive changes, taking Knight off for defender Raggett; MK brought on their record signing Aaron Collins, who had just returned from an injury lay-off and made the difference.
“Lavery reacted quickest to smash in from three yards out, and sent The Abbey ballistic”
The Dons sprang into life in the last ten minutes, and bombarded the U’s’ box with some fantastic deliveries. While Cambridge packed the centre, a fantastic cross found Collins at the back post. His low shot was stopped brilliantly by Eastwood, who got down so quickly to push the effort past onrushing Dons players to safety. Moments later, another great delivery found its way to former Cardiff defender Nelson who, again face-to-face with Eastwood, couldn’t lift it over him and the keeper smothered his shot from yards out. A remarkable string of saves, alongside that stop in the first half, which earned him a well-deserved man of the match award.
Some fantastic game management from the Us sucked the life out of the game after that. With just seconds remaining, it looked like an enormous three points was heading their way, sending them to the top of the table, even if only until league leaders Bromley played later on. In a shocking turn of events, it was not to be.
What appeared to be barely a nudge from defender Raggett was adjudged to be a foul, a gut-wrenching decision right at the death, and one that all around were in utter disbelief to see awarded. Collins showed no fear with a draw in his hands, and coolly sent Eastwood the wrong way before leaping into a positively euphoric Dons away end. The limbs were indisputably impressive. There was no time for a response, and the whistle was blown to leave Cambridge two points lighter than hoped.
While it was just a point and another game without victory over the Dons, Cambridge remained second at the end of the matchweek. A long away trip to Accrington Stanley awaits the Us next, before they host Gillingham in two weeks. With six home games remaining, they need all the support they can get, so there is no better time to head down to the Abbey to get behind this superb team.
