Andre Dozzell put Town ahead with seven minutes remaining having come off the bench but Cambridge’s Jo Pigott netted an equaliser on 89 as the Blues’ pre-season friendly at the Abbey Stadium ended 1-1.
Adam Webster made his first start in a Town shirt and Daryl Murphy his first start of pre-season, while David McGoldrick was on the bench having recovered from the hip injury which has kept him out of the previous three friendlies.
Manager Mick McCarthy named a team largely made up of the players who came on for the final half hour or so at Colchester on Wednesday.
Keeper Dean Gerken missed out with a hamstring injury and Michael Crowe took his place on the bench.
Second-year scholar Flynn Downes and first-year Tristan Nydam, both midfielders, were also included as cover with the U21s having been in action at Coggeshall on Friday night.
Town had most of the ball in the early stages without creating a significant opportunity, aside from two corners.
In sweltering conditions it was Cambridge who hit the game’s first shot in the 10th minute but George Maris’s low drive failed to significantly test Bartosz Bialkowski.
The Blues had the ball in the net in the 15th minute but with the linesman’s flag having been raised.
James Blanchfield, playing wide on the left with Teddy Bishop again on the right, fed right-back Josh Emmanuel, who chipped over a cross which Murphy headed goalwards. Cambridge keeper Will Norris palmed the ball away and Shane McLoughlin tapped in from close range but having strayed offside.
Town continued to have most of the ball but without creating many further chances. On 22 Murphy hit a shot on the turn just past Norris’s left post.
Four minutes later Luke Hyam required treatment after twisting his knee as he fell and after briefly carrying on was replaced by Nydam, making his first appearance for the first team.
Just prior to the first-year scholar’s introduction Cambridge weren’t far away from going in front. Joe Pigott beat Christophe Berra in the air and nodded down to Maris, who shot just past Bialkowski’s right post.
The U’s should have gone in front in the 44th minute when Emmanuel lost the ball in the Cambridge half and a long Greg Clarke ball sent Maris in on goal on the left. The striker took the ball round the advancing Bialkowski stroked it against the outside of the post.
That was the final action of a first half in which the Blues probably should have been behind with Maris having failed to take two decent chances with the one before the break easier to score than miss.
Town had kept the ball well at times but without creating many opportunities. Murphy’s header prior to McLoughlin’s disallowed effort having been their best chance.
Both sides stuck with their starting XIs at the beginning of a second half in which the home side hit the first shot, Max Clark’s volley from the edge of the box flying wide.
On 50 Jonas Knudsen cut in and hit a deflected shot wide. Soon after, Murphy made a mazy run into the area before being crowded out with the Blues starting to look more threatening.
Eight minutes later, the Irish international brought the ball in from the right before hitting a shot which was deflected wide.
McGoldrick was introduced for McLoughlin in the 59th minute, while Freddie Sears took over from Blanchfield.
On 67 both sides made eight substitutions. For the Blues Myles Kenlock and Luke Chambers took over from Knudsen and Emmanuel, while Tommy Smith and Paul Digby came in for Berra and Webster.
In midfield, Dozzell came on on the right for Bishop, Kevin Bru and Jonathan Douglas took over from Nydam - who never looked out of place during his cameo - in the centre. Up front, Brett Pitman came on for Murphy.
Smith wasn’t too far away from a goal in the 73rd minute when he flicked a looping near-post header from Dozzell’s right-sided corner only just past the far post.
Cambridge threatened two minutes later when Mark Roberts headed the ball down to Josh Coulson, who was unable to keep his shot down.
The Blues should have gone in front in the 79th minute when McGoldrick played Sears in one-on-one with Cambridge keeper Norris, who did well to block.
But the travelling army of Town fans behind the goal didn’t have to wait too long for a goal.
Dozzell brought the ball forward from deep and it eventually reached Sears on the right, who crossed low to the England U17 international, who hit a low, left-foot shot on the turn from eight yards, which beat Norris.
However, Town’s lead wasn’t to last for long. With a minute of scheduled time remaining, the Blues lost possession in the middle of the field and Conor Newton fed Pigott, who beat the advancing Bialkowski. Referee Andy Woolmer blew the final whistle soon afterwards.
The Blues would have deserved the win had they hung on for the final couple of minutes having been on top for most of the second half. However, Cambridge will feel they ought to have been ahead after the first. Town are next in action at Charlton on Tuesday.
Town: Bialkowski, Emmanuel (Chambers 67), Knudsen (Kenlock 67), Hyam (Nydam 34 (Bru 67)), Webster (Digby 67), Berra (c) (Smith 67), Bishop (Dozzell 67), Skuse (Douglas 67), Murphy Pitman 67), McLoughlin (McGoldrick 59), Blanchfield (Sears 59). Unused: Crowe, Stewart, Malarczyk, Downes.