Cambridge United took another step towards securing Sky Bet League One survival with this afternoon’s 1-1 draw at home against Charlton Athletic.
The U’s headed into the clash at the Cledara Abbey Stadium with a five-point buffer to the relegation zone.
And that gap has now grown to six after Garry Monk’s men battled back from being a goal down at half-time to salvage a share of the spoils.
The opening exchanges were disrupted by two head injuries in quick succession for United’s James Gibbons and Zeno Ibsen Rossi. Both players were passed fit to continue after treatment, although a further stoppage was required for the latter to have his wound redressed.
However, once the game settled in a rhythm it was the visiting Addicks that were the superior of the two teams.
United goalkeeper Will Mannion had to show good reflexes to thwart efforts from Karoy Anderson and Tyreece Campbell, yet he was powerless to prevent the hosts falling behind in the 23rd minute.
Connor Wickham - making his first start in a Charlton shirt following his arrival on a short-term deal last month - sharply spun in between Mamadou Jobe and Rossi inside the box and then produced the type of finish that had seen him previously score goals in the Premier League for Sunderland and Crystal Palace.
Wickham caused United problems throughout the half - something his opposite number Gassan Ahadme was unable to replicate. March’s Player of the Month was starved of service, while his partner in attack - Macauley Bonne - headed United’s only chance straight at Harry Isted from Gibbons’ left-wing cross.
It appeared that Charlton were going to continue in the ascendancy during the second half when in the 47th minute Tyreeq Bakinson’s low shot effort from 20 yards out was turned around the post by Mannion.
But just three minutes later United restored parity with only their second shot of the contest. Elias Kachunga did well initially to keep the ball alive in Charlton territory and when it eventually broke for Bonne, his daisy cutter from 20 yards out got the better of Isted.
Charlton boss Nathan Jones reacted to seeing his side being pegged back by introducing the division’s leading goalscorer Alfie May and Chuks Aneke off the bench, yet it was a revitalised Cambridge that started to get on top.
Fresh from scoring his first goal for the club, Bonne glanced a header from Danny Andrew’s inswinging free kick straight at Isted, while Kachunga headed over from the same source.
Yet it was always going to be tough to keep a player of May’s quality quiet and so it proved in the 77th minute when he darted beyond the United back three and beat Mannion with a low shot, only for the post to come to the rescue.
Before sides had spells of pressure thereafter, yet clear cut openings were at a premium as the contest ended all square.
Cambridge United: Mannion, Jobe, Rossi (R Bennett 78’), Andrew, L Bennett, Gibbons, Digby, Cousins, Kachunga (Brophy 90’), Bonne (Okenabirhie 78’), Ahadme
Charlton Athletic: Isted, Thomas, Hector, Gillesphey, Anderson (LuaLua 78’), Coventry, Dobson, Bakinson (May 56’), Small, Wickham (Aneke 56’), Campbell (Ramsay 78’)
Attendance: 7,484 (1,469 Charlton)
