Cambridge United were left stunned by a late Joe Taylor double as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Huddersfield Town in League One. The U's had taken the lead through Zak Bradshaw but conceded twice in the final eight minutes at the Cledara Abbey Stadium on Saturday, 29 August.
According to a match report from htaFC.com, Martin Drury's Huddersfield side completed a dramatic comeback to take all three points. The result leaves Cambridge United fourth in the League One table with seven points from four games, having won two, drawn one and lost one. Their recent form reads WLDW, and they have scored seven goals while conceding six so far this season.
How did the match unfold?
Cambridge United started brightly and were rewarded with the opening goal. Ra’ees Bangura-Williams provided the assist for Zak Bradshaw to put the home side in front. Huddersfield Town struggled to break down a resilient Cambridge defence for large periods of the game, making a total of 11 substitutions in an attempt to change the dynamic.
Sullay Kaikai had a chance to extend Cambridge's lead from a set-piece, but his effort was saved by the Huddersfield goalkeeper. The U's made three changes of their own, but were unable to hold on to their advantage as the game entered its final stages.
What changed in the closing minutes?
The match turned completely in the space of seven minutes. Joe Taylor, who had been introduced from the bench, equalised for Huddersfield Town in the 82nd minute. He then completed his brace and secured the win for the visitors by scoring again just seven minutes later, in the 89th minute.
Martin Drury said after the game: "Our Men’s First Team came back from behind to beat Cambridge United 2-1 at the Cledara Abbey Stadium, as a late Joe Taylor brace secured all three Sky Bet League One points for Martin Drury’s Terriers." The victory moved Huddersfield three points clear at the top of League One, putting Cambridge United firmly in their shadow in the early title race.
Who made their debuts in the game?
The match saw several players make their first appearances for their new clubs. Matty Young made his first appearance for Huddersfield Town, while Archie Collins made his debut for the Terriers in the midfield. Huddersfield's team sheet included starters like Jake Eastwood, Murray Wallace, and Ashley Fletcher.
Unused substitutes for the visitors included Nik Tzanev, Lasse Sorensen, David Kasumu, and George Sebine. For Cambridge United, players like Sullay Kaikai and Ra'ees Bangura-Williams were among those listed as unused substitutes on the day.
What's next for Cambridge United?
Cambridge United must now regroup quickly after this disappointing finish. They sit three points behind league leaders Huddersfield and will look to get back to winning ways in their next fixture. The U's travel to face Burton Albion, who are currently 12th in the table, on Saturday, 5 September 2026.
You can view the full schedule for the season on our fixtures page and check the latest standings to see how the table shapes up. The squad will be looking for a positive response on the road as they aim to maintain their position in the top four.
