A much changed Town team defeated title contenders Cambridge United in a nine goal thriller on a wet evening at the CNG Stadium.
For Town, only Joe Cracknell, Will Smith and George Thomson survived from last week’s starting line up at Carlisle.
After Luke Hannant had forced an early save from Cracknell, Town raced into a three goal lead in the first twenty minutes.
On seven minutes, good link up play between Thomson and Ryan Fallowfield, saw Brendan Kiernan sidefoot in the latter’s low cross.
Six minutes later, Mark Beck made it two when he slid in another Fallowfield centre when Kiernan’s back heel found him on the overlap.
Next William Hondermarck sliced wide of Callum Burton’s goal when he looked odds on to score, but Town soon made it three when Burton brought down Kiernan in the area and the striker took the spot kick himself to make it three nil.
Like a wounded tiger, Cambridge hit back with a vengeance and two goals in three minutes from Wes Houlihan and Hannant reduced the arrears to a single goal.
But within two minutes, Kiernan completed his hat-trick and restored Town’s two goal advantage when he netted from close range after Burton had spilled Thomson’s well struck shot.
After the break, The U’s Joe Ironside spurned a good chance when he shot across Town’s goal, but on the hour, Paul Mullin tapped in from close range to make it 4-3.
Town almost scored again when Hondermarck’s through ball found Ed Francis,but Burton blocked his effort from point-blank range.
However, Cambridge’s pressure paid off and Mullin equalised from the penalty spot after he had been upended by Jay Williams.
As the clock wound down both sides had chances,but it was Town who came out victorious.
On eighty-four minutes,the U’s failed to clear a Thomson corner and Kevin Lokko sealed victory when he drove in from just inside the area.
Town,
Cracknell,Fallowfield,Smith,Lokko,Roberts(Burrell 67),Thomson,Hondermarck,Francis,Kiernan,Beck.
Unused subs,Belshaw,Falkingham,MuldoonMcPake,Andrews.
Scorers,Kiernan,(7,20,31),Beck(12),Lokko(84). Booked,Williams(73).
Cambridge United,
Burton,Kynole,Iredale(Dunk 46),Digby(Tracey 89),Taylor,Drysdale(Okedina 45),Hannant,Mullin,Houlahan,Ironside,Boeteng(May 83).
Unused subs,O’Neil,McKenzie-Lyle,Alese,
Scorers,Houlahan(26),Hannant (29),Mullin(60,73).
Booked,Burton,(20).
Ref,Ollie Yates,
By John Harrison.
