Preview: Cambridge United

29 April 2022

Cheltenham Town take to the pitch one last time in the 2021/22 season on Saturday with a visit to Cambridge United (kick-off: 12.30pm).

It's an earlier kick-off time for the game at the Abbey Stadium as the League One calendar comes to an end.

The return to this level for the first time since 2009 has been a successful one for the Robins who are fighting to try and finish as high as 13th and already in the knowledge that the club have secured a record finish this campaign.

Cambridge themselves have made the step up from League Two successfully and will be keen to finish above Michael Duff's side as they play their final game too in front of their own supporters.

Team news

Matty Blair (pictured) won't be available against his former club as he's still out injured. Ben Williams has been back in training and could return to the squad if deemed fit.

Media talk

There has been praise from Michael Duff before the game for Cambridge for what a fellow team who earned promotion from League Two last season have achieved in the current campaign.

"It's a tough game. The challenge is we can finish above them but we have to beat them," he said when speaking on iFollow.

"They've had a brilliant season. They've had their ups and downs, as have we, but I think us and them along with Morecambe would have been most people's favourites to fill three of the bottom four and then one other from the others.

"I think Mark (Bonner) has done a brilliant job, built on last year, solid foundations. There's goal scorers in Joe Ironside and Sam Smith who we know really. They're never out of games."

Opposition

Cambridge go into the final game of the season knowing they can finish anywhere from 12th to 15th in the division.

Promoted automatically into the League this season after finishing the 2020/21 campaign in the second automatic promotion spot in League Two, they've performed well in the third tier this term.

Of late they've beaten promotion candidates Wigan Athletic, though they go into Saturday's match after back-to-back losses against Charlton Athletic and Sunderland.

Former Robins loanee Lloyd Jones was sent off in their loss at the Stadium of Light, however the decision has been overturned and he's available for this weekend's fixture.

They've retained many of the players who helped them achieve promotion last season including goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, defender Jack Iredale, central midfield man Paul Digby and front man Joe Ironside who leads their attacking line.

Also offering a threat at the top of the pitch is Sam Smith who spent the second half of last season loan at Cheltenham, while youth product Harvey Knibbs and former Norwich City great Wes Hoolahan, who is now 39, are other options in the search for goals.

Midfield energy is provided by the likes of former Portsmouth man Adam May. Shilow Tracey is a former Tottenham Hotspur youngster who is an option in midfield too with James Brophy a possible pick.

At the back the imposing presence of the before mentioned Jones provides physicality while Jubril Okedina is another talented young pick up from Spurs along with former MK Dons man George Williams.

The manager: Mark Bonner

Mark Bonner continues to keep moving forward in his role as U's boss. It's his first in senior football after progressing through the club as an academy coach and last season he helped them achieve promotion to League One when in charge.

This time around he's led them to a solid mid-table finish while having the experienced former QPR manager Gary Waddock alongside him as assistant.

Tickets & travel

The initial allocation sent to the club sold out on Thursday, however it is still possible to buy tickets for the game by buying on the day at Cambridge.

On the day prices are as follows:

Adults £24
Seniors (64+) £19
Full Time Student £19
Young Adult (18-23) £19
Armed Forces discount £19
Under 18 £12
Under 12 £7
Under 5 Free

Fans who have booked onto the Travel Club coaches making the journey are advised they depart from the car park at the stadium at 8am.

Coverage

Social media: Track the game on Twitter by following @CTFCofficial. You can also keep an eye on the latest score on the club's Facebook page and Instagram account.

Website: After the game you can read a match report online. There will also be reaction from the manager to the result.

Listen: You can buy an audio match pass online for £2.50 to tune into full match commentary on iFollow. If you are in Gloucestershire you can tune in on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Highlights: You'll be able to watch extended highlights on iFollow. Shorter highlights will also be shown on YouTube, iFollow, Sky Sports and Quest.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Cambridge United 2-2 Robins

30 April 2022

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Cambridge United v Cheltenham Town - Extended highlights - Sat 30th April 2022

Extended highlights of Cambridge United v Cheltenham Town, Sat 30th April 2022 in the Sky Bet League One

Ten-man Cheltenham Town salvaged a final point of a historic campaign at Cambridge United this afternoon.

They weren't at their best but their place in the club's records is assured after taking their tally for the season to 56 points and securing 15th position in the process.

Both of these sides have once again exceeded expectations and were guaranteed midtable finishes weeks ago, but they jostled here for the higher ground in League One.

Unlike 12 months ago, it was Cambridge that came out on top to take the bragging rights.

The achievements of the two clubs are one in the eye for football's plutocracy, proving that money is not the be all and end all in the game.

Perhaps unsurprisingly the first half was a low-key affair with little to write home about until Sam Smith opened the scoring, hitting the 20-goal milestone after 22 minutes.

Alfie May – who else? – responded immediately, levelling within a minute.

Smith added a sensational second early in the second half which looked to consign Michael Duff's men to defeat but May's late leveller, his 26th in all competitions this term, earned a share of the spoils.

It means the popular striker has now become the club's second highest goalscorer in the league, just one behind Julian Alsop's return of 39.

Duff was unhappy with the performance but pleased with the point afterwards.

"I thought we deserved the equaliser, based on the number of chances we created," he said.

"But they were better than us box to box. Alfie missed a sitter so I don't think we should go out after losing three in a row."

He made once change to his side, bringing in Charlie Raglan for Kion Etete who was unwell and missed out. Young striker Zac Guinan – son of Steve – was named on the bench for the first time in the league.

Former loanee Smith and May had early chances to open the scoring but their goals, separated by 60 seconds, injected some much needed life into the game.

First Smith beat Scott Flinders with a fine finish, finding the inside of the right post from 20 yards to notch his 20th of the season. At the other end, May rounded goalkeeper Will Mannion to calmly roll home his 25th in all competitions.

George Lloyd had a couple of sighters as the first period drew to a close, although Mannion was untested.

Smith doubled his account with the goal of the game, reminicest of his finish for Duff's men in Scunthorpe last term. He met Jack Ireldale's delivery form the left with the sweetest of vollies to give Flinders no chance.

Shilow Tracey and Harvey Knibbs could – and perhaps should – have each grabbed a goal but Scott Flinders and Will Boyle came to the rescue, denying certain goals.

Wright went close at the other end, rolling one tantalising wide from 18 yards. Then Lloyd smashed one wide while May fashioned a great chance, doing the hard work to cut inside Lloyd Jones, another former loanee, only to stab his effort wide.

Will Boyle was given his marching orders in the closing stages after picking up his second yellow after the break and that looked to be that, but May took advantage of some hesitation at the back and notching his 26th strike of his and the club's fantastic campaign.

CAMBRIDGE UNITED (4-5-1): Mannion; Bennett, Okedina, Jones, Iredale; Tracey (Ironside 76), O'Neil (May 62), Hoolahan (Yeam 88), Simper, Knibbs; Smith. Subs not used: Mitov (Gk), Brophy, Lankester, Worman.

CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-5-2): Flinders; Raglan, Pollock, Boyle (c); Long (Brown 62), Wright, Bonds (Ramsey 68), Sercombe, Freestone (B Williams 68); May, Lloyd. Subs not used: Evans (Gk), Chapman, Hutchinson, Ramsey, Guinan.

REFEREE: T Reeves

ATTENDANCE: 5,880 (392 from Cheltenham)

Ticket News

Tickets & travel: Cambridge United

13 April 2022

Tickets and away travel for the final match of the 2021/22 League One season at Cambridge United are now on sale.

Get behind the team one final time as they see out the campaign at the Abbey Stadium with an earlier kick-off time of 12.30pm.

The ticket allocation for the game has now sold out however you can still buy on the day at these prices:

Adults £24
Seniors (64+) £19
Full Time Student £19
Young Adult (18-23) £19
Armed Forces discount £19
Under 18 £12
Under 12 £7
Under 5 Free

Wheelchair users pay £15 plus carer free, please book directly with Cambridge United on 01223 566500.

Remember when buying tickets through Cheltenham it means that 5% of the income from tickets goes back to the Robins.

Any tickets not picked up before matchday will be available from Cambridge at the away ticket office.

The Travel Club coach taking supporters to the game will depart from the car park at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium at 8am.

A seat on the coach is £18/£16 for non-members, £16/£14 for members and £7 for Junior Robins.

To buy away travel head online. It's also possible to buy from the ticket office at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium during opening hours.