Match ends, Cambridge United 1, Plymouth Argyle 0.
CambridgeCambridge United1PlymouthPlymouth Argyle0
Cambridge made a winning return to the Football League as Josh Coulson's strike was enough to beat Plymouth.
Adam Cunnington had already missed an early penalty after Carl McHugh had handled in the area.
The U's ended a nine-year exile from League Two with promotion last season and were celebrating again when Coulson converted Ryan Donaldson's corner.
Reuben Reid forced a scrambling save from U's keeper Chris Dunn but the home side comfortably held on.
Cambridge-born Coulson had never played a Football League game since making his U's debut seven years ago, and so it was fitting that it was the defender who popped up at the back post to score his side's first goal in League Two since April 2005.
It could have been a more straightforward afternoon had Luke McCormick not got down well to hold on to Cunnington's 10th-minute penalty.
But it was Argyle, with a new-look line-up containing five debutants, who controlled the pace in the first half, going close when McHugh nodded over from close range.
Despite Plymouth's possession, it was the U's who made the better chances, with Tom Bonner heading the ball into the ground and over the bar from close range, and Kwesi Appiah pulling a sharp save from McCormick in the second half, before Coulson's eventual winner.
Line-ups
Cambridge
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Dunn
- 2Tait
- 4Coulson
- 5Bonner
- 3Taylor
- 7Donaldson
- 8Champion
- 20DialloSubstituted forChadwickat 84'minutes
- 11Dunk
- 9CunningtonSubstituted forSimpsonat 45'minutes
- 21AppiahSubstituted forSam-Yorkeat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Norris
- 14Hunt
- 15Simpson
- 16Austin
- 19Sam-Yorke
- 22Chadwick
- 25Lennon
Plymouth
Formation 4-4-2
- 23McCormick
- 2Mellor
- 5Nelson
- 29Hartley
- 16McHugh
- 7AlessandraSubstituted forThomasat 82'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 4Cox
- 6NorburnSubstituted forBlizzardat 74'minutes
- 8BantonSubstituted forMorganat 70'minutes
- 9Reid
- 22Smalley
Substitutes
- 1Bittner
- 3Purrington
- 10Morgan
- 11Blizzard
- 14Harvey
- 19Thomas
- 25Bentley
- Referee:
- Graham Scott
- Attendance:
- 6,009
Match Stats
Home TeamCambridgeAway TeamPlymouth
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away10
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cambridge United 1, Plymouth Argyle 0.
Post update
Foul by Delano Sam-Yorke (Cambridge United).
Booking
Nathan Thomas (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Luke Chadwick (Cambridge United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Nathan Thomas (Plymouth Argyle).
Post update
Carl McHugh (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Harrison Dunk.
Substitution
Substitution, Cambridge United. Luke Chadwick replaces Issaga Diallo because of an injury.
Post update
Tom Champion (Cambridge United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Marvin Morgan (Plymouth Argyle).
Post update
Ryan Donaldson (Cambridge United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Marvin Morgan (Plymouth Argyle).
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Nathan Thomas replaces Lewis Alessandra.
Post update
Attempt missed. Greg Taylor (Cambridge United) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
Post update
Foul by Robbie Simpson (Cambridge United).
Post update
Lee Cox (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Cambridge United. Delano Sam-Yorke replaces Kwesi Appiah.
Post update
Attempt saved. Reuben Reid (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Dominic Blizzard replaces Oliver Norburn.
