After The Noise

Everything Is Equal

Sunday 26 April 2026

Mark Johnson, Doug Shulman – Cambridge United v AFC Barrow, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire (2026)

Hard to know where to begin.

Cambridge United should be promoted by now. But, in typical Cambridge United fashion, they keep fluffing their lines.

We’ve been here before, last time in League Two. Fluffed lines (0-1 at home to Stevenage) after fluffed lines (3-6 away to Harrogate). Last match, needed to beat already-relegated Grimsby Town, which we did with ease. Speaking of Grimsby…

Another last-gasp goal at the Abbey on Tuesday meant the Mariners came away with all three points. Those five points dropped due to injury-time goals in April meant this game against struggling AFC Barrow was pretty much must-win.

The bloody annoying thing about it is that, had we not conceded those late goals, promotion would already be sealed and everyone could relax.

Only, football rarely works like that.

Today’s opponents, Barrow, are fighting for their League Two lives. A wounded animal can be a dangerous one, as MK Dons found out when they were held to a 0–0 draw not so long ago.

Thankfully, the afternoon was relatively comfortable.

Cambridge never really looked troubled. They took the lead before half-time and then got that all-important second with what must be up there with goal of the season from James Gibbons.

An absolute screamer.

With that, the match was effectively over as a contest. We could finally breathe a sigh of relief. One part of the job done, one to go.

Doug and Johnno not having kittens for once. This was the kind of no-nonsense, solid, get-the-job-done performance that’s been missing in recent matches (Notts County aside, who got thumped 4–0).

Promotion, though, has always stayed in our own hands.

And thanks to the comfortable dispatching of Barrow, who now look practically doomed to relegation to the National League, it still is.

The permutation is simple.

Win at Crewe next Saturday and automatic promotion is ours.

Of course, football is never quite that simple.

It’s a three-horse race for that final spot. Salford go to relegation-fighting Crawley Town, while Notts County host mid-table Bristol Rovers, who under Steve Evans are in strong form.

Nobody wants the lottery of the play-offs.

Crewe, meanwhile, have nothing to play for except pride and contracts. Which, depending on the day, can be just as dangerous.

Yours truly will be there, among 2,500 Cambridge United supporters hoping for a promotion party. The away allocation has, unsurprisingly, been sold out for ages.

Having sat in third for so long, it would be disappointing, to say the least, to drop into the dreaded play-offs. Not something I particularly want to dwell on.

Moments like this remind you just how much football means. There isn’t an emotion you don’t feel.

A week to prepare for the final hurdle.

Excited? Yes.
Nervous? Even more so.

More of the same like today, please.

Final Score: Cambridge United 3–0 AFC Barrow

END OF LISTENING LOG

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