Two goals in the last twenty minutes saw Harrogate Town slip to a 2-1 defeat at a misty Abbey Stadium, Cambridge.
With Brendan Kiernan, Ryan Fallowfield and Aaron Martin self isolating from Covid 19,Simon Weaver handed starts to Josh March, Josh McPake and Mitch Roberts.
Once again, Town made a bright start and took the lead on ten minutes when March headed on Conner Kirby’s lobbed-pass and Jack Muldoon raced between two defenders to shoot low past Dirni Mltov.
Five minutes later, Muldoon returned the compliment when he found March, but the debutant skyed over the bar.
A move involving Muldoon, Ed Francis and George Thomson, ended with McPake shooting well wide.
As the half progressed, Cambridge began to push forward and put Town under pressure, but Town, with Francis and Warren Burrell outstanding, held firm.
After the break,the U’s,orchestrated by Wes Hoolahan,began to look dangerous and James Belshaw did well to cut out a Harvey Knibb’s cross.
Knibbs then shot over the angle and Paul Mullin tested Belshaw with an overhead kick.
As the fog thickened, Town tried to freshen things up, introducing Josh Falkingham, Lloyd Kerry and Jay Williams, but it was the U’s who struck with twenty minutes left.
Hoolahan broke down the left and crossed for U’s sub, Joe Ironside, to side foot in via the upright.
Unfortunately, on 78 minutes, Town made life difficult for themselves when Referee Carl Brooks red carded Lloyd Kerry for violent conduct against Harry Darling.
Three minutes later, Hoolahan intercepted a weak Town clearance and drove in the winner from the edge of the area.
Deep into stoppage time, Cambridge survived Town’s appeals for a penalty after Jon Stead was brought down, Referee Brook only awarding a free kick on the edge of the area.
Town,
Belshaw,Burrell,Thomson,Lawlor,Kirby(Kerry 65),Muldoon,Hall,Francis,(Falkingham 65),March(Stead 82),McPake(Hondermarck 82),Roberts(Williams 54),
Unused sub,Minter.
Booked,March,Roberts,Kerry,Burrell. Sent Off,Kerry.
Scorer,Muldoon,10.
Cambridge United,
Mitov,Knoyle,Digby,Taylor,Darling,Hannant,Mullin,Dunk,Hoolahan(Davies 93),May,Knibbs(Ironside 67).
Unused subs,Burton,Iredale,O’Neil,Okedina,Cundy.
Scorers,Ironside 71,Hoolahan 81.
Booked,Darling,Mullin.
Referee,C Brook.
By,John Harrison.
