Ben Garrity's strike was cancelled out by Fejiri Okenabirhie's second half header as the Valiants are forced to settle for a point in Cambridgeshire.
The hosts started the game well as they kept hold of possession in their own half. Their first opportunity came on 12 minutes following a set piece. The ball was played low to the front post before being played back to the edge of the area, but Sullay Kaikai’s effort was not the best as it almost went out of play for a throw.
But it was the Valiants that took the lead seven minutes later. A beautiful ball from Ethan Chislett cut through the U’s defence and found Ben Garrity who placed the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
It took until the 29th minute for Cambridge to try and answer back. It was Kaikai with the effort again, this time a header following a cross from the left but Connor Ripley produced a wonderful save from point blank range to deny the hosts an equaliser as the ball rolled out for a corner.
We almost added to our lead in unconventional circumstances four minutes later when James Wilson chased down Cambridge keeper Will Mannion and blocked his clearance but the ball just went over the bar for a goal kick.
The hosts continued to try and find a way to get back on level terms. An audacious effort from Liam Bennett as he cut in from the right but his strike was always sailing high over the bar.
A quiet start to the second half but it quickly sparked into life after the hour mark. Danny Andrew first hit the post with a powerful shot from the left. But then substitute Fejiri Okenabirhie headed the ball past Ripley at the back post to level the score on 65 minutes.
A huge opportunity presented itself to substitute Gavin Massey when a poor defensive back pass landed at his feet but a great save from Mannion prevented the Valiants regaining the lead. Chislett’s follow up effort was then deflected wide.
Huge drama with one minute left of normal time. A penalty was awarded to the hosts after a foul from Nathan Smith. The goalscorer Okenabirhie stepped up but Ripley, the big man in between the sticks for the Valiants, came up with the big save to keep the game at 1-1.
Cambridge United | Will Mannion, Liam Bennett, Danny Andrew, Paul Digby, Michael Morrison, Ryan Bennett, James Brophy, George Thomas (83’ Adam May), Sullay Kaikai (60’ John-Kymani Gordon), Elias Kachunga (60’ Jack Lankester), Gassan Ahadme (60’ Fejiri Okenabirhie)
Unused Subs | James Holden, Zeno Ibsen Rossi, Lewis Simper
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Kofi Balmer (46’ Lewis Cass), Nathan Smith, Mitch Clark (46’ Tom Sang), Ben Garrity, Ethan Chislett (73’ Alfie Devine), Funso Ojo, Alex Iacovitti, Ollie Arblaster, James Plant (85’ James Plant), James Wilson (55’ Gavin Massey)
Unused Subs | Jayson Leutwiler, Jason Lowe