3rd February 2018

After a stale first half the Glovers took the lead on 54 minutes with Nathan Smith recording his first league goal of the season with a smart finish from a well-worked set-piece.

The U’s searched for a way back into the match in the closing stages but couldn’t find an equaliser and soon found themselves 2-0 down.

Less than 30 seconds after coming on as a substitute, Alex Fisher slammed home his first for the club to round off the scoring as the Glovers recorded back-to-back league wins for just the second time this season. 

Impressed by the 3-0 win over Grimsby Town in midweek, Darren Way kept faith with the eleven who secured all three points.

Following a Man of the Match performance against the Mariners, Alefe Santos started a second consecutive match for just the second time in his Town career.

making just one change to the matchday 18, Jared Bird – rested on Tuesday – returned to take a seat amongst the substitutes as Connor Smith dropped from the squad. 

Looking to carry on where they left off four days ago, the Green and Whites started in confident manner and enjoyed early territory which almost resulted in an early lead.

Tom James’ long throw caused havoc in the box allowing Lewis Wing to strike goalwards, only for a deflection to carry it safely into the arms of David Forde. 

At the other end, Billy Waters ensured he would become the pantomime villain for the afternoon by being penalised for simulation after going down in the box, rounding off the action in the opening 15 minutes.

On a drizzly Somerset afternoon the boggy conditions made for a slightly scrappy affair in the first half, something which saw the U’s go slightly more direct. 

Waters angled cross picked out top scorer Uche Ikpeazu six yards out, but the striker’s header lacked the accuracy to trouble Artur Krysiak.

Looking to create some attacking spark themselves, Tom James cut in from the right before firing a left-footed shot a yard wide of the target in what was the hosts’ best effort of the half.

With a couple of treatable injuries making it a stop-start run towards the break, Waters was subject to more jeers as he squandered a good chance to open the scoring by dragging a shot wide from inside the box.

The diminutive attacker’s pulled effort proved to be the last notable action before half-time, as a largely uneventful opening 45 minutes came to an end. 

Whilst the interval saw the weather change, Shaun Derry’s side continued to be wasteful in front of goal. 

Four minutes after the restart Ikpeazu worked space inside the box and had a low shot saved well by Krysiak, only for Brad Halliday to somehow miss the target on the rebound with the goal gaping. 

Having been far from clinical in front of goal the U’s were made to pay before the hour mark when Town took the lead.

Santos’ angled free-kick was headed back across goal by Omar Sowunmi for centre-back partner Smith to volley home. 

A moment of quality in a far from pretty affair, the goal set the Glovers on their way to consecutive league victories. 

Perhaps feeling slightly aggrieved at finding themselves a goal down, United enjoyed a spell of pressure in the final quarter of the match but struggled to break down a dogged Town defence. 

Already a frustrating afternoon for the visitors, their disappointment was confirmed with five minutes left to play.

Two substitutes combined for Way’s side as Rhys Browne weaved along the byline before picking out Fisher who emphatically found the back of the net with his first touch since taking to the field to open his account in Green and White. 

In a lively final few minutes Jevani Brown clattered the bar for Cambridge, but they were to be left empty handed as Town saw out the closing stages to record that winning feeling once again.

Yeovil Town: Krysiak; James, Sowunmi, N. Smith, Dickson; Green (Browne 70′), Wing, Santos, Gray; Zoko (Fisher 84′), Surridge (Seager 61′).
Bookings: James 70′
Subs not used: Maddison, Whelan, Donnellan, Bird.

Cambridge United: Forde; Halliday, Taft, Taylor, Dunk; Brown, Deegan, O’Neil (Carroll 67′), Phillips (Maris 67′); Waters, Ikpeazu.
Bookings:
Subs not used: Mitov, Darling, Azeez, Davies, Lewis.