U's secure second home win in a week
Cambridge United made it seven points from their first three league games following a convincing 2-0 win at home to Southport.The first half had the feel of a pre-season game for long spells as both sets of players struggled in the heat. Cambridge enjoyed long spells of possession but rarely troubled visiting goal keeper Tony McMillan.
The second half however was a different story and the U's found themselves 2-0 up within ten minutes of the restart courtesy of two Tom Elliott headers. The first came following a good cross from Robbie Willmott and the second as a result of a James Jennings corner.
Southport gave it their all as they tried to get back into the game but Cambridge were able to see the half out with reasonable ease.
16:52 FULL-TIME: Cambridge United 2-0 Southport.
16:50 Another corner now as the U's look to run down the clock.
16:49 A corner for Cambridge now over on the far side, Jarvis takes, it's short to Berry who is fouled, free kick.
16:48 A minimum of four minutes added time is shown.
16:47 Louis Barnes is booked for a foul on McAuley.
16:45 Berry wins a corner, Jennings takes, Southport just about do enough as Elliott was looming. Tom Elliott is announced as the sponsors man of the match.
16:43 A second change for the U's as wellard replaces Dunk, Moke goes to the wing and Berry goes up just behind Elliott.
16:42 Cambridge have a penalty appeal waved away following a trip on Elliott.
16:42 Akrigg heads wide from close range.
16:41 Southport are certainly giving it a go as they win another corner, this time the U's defend well.
16:37 Another Southport corner which Barnes will take, the U's defend it but at the expense of another corner which McAuley heads clear. A third corner is headed over by Akrigg.
16:36 Jez makes his first change as Adriano Moke replaces Shaw. Luke Berry has dropped back into midfield as Moke goes up along side Elliott.
16:34 Southport corner won by Barnes, who takes, good defensive header from McAuley.
16:32 Great trickery from Barnes leaves McAuley bamboozled but the cross is awful and out for a throw in.
16:29 Great defending from James Jennings to avoid a goal, he is fouled in the process and it's a United free kick.
16:28 An enforced change for Southport as Louis Barnes replaces the injured Karl Ledsham.
16:25 Southport have a free kick in an attacking position but it's drilled into the wall and then Elliott gets it away.
16:24 A good move from United involving Willmott and Jennings.
16:21 A double change for Southport as Tames and Stevenson come on in place of Bakare and Chalmers.
16:17 Today's attendance is 2,004 with 95 fans from Southport.
16:16 Southport have a corner but Hedge is out to collect that one.
16:14 Tom Elliott is looking for a hat-trick as he shoots just wide with his left foot from the edge of the area.
16:14 Southport try to reduce the defecit but Ledsham heads wide.
16:12 GOAL: Cambridge United 2-0 Southport. Blimey, Tom Elliott rises the highest at the near post to head the corner home. He is very quickly becoming a crowd favourite.
16:11 Willmott is causing the left back some problems and wins a corner.
16:09 GOAL: Cambridge United 1-0 Southport. It's that man Elliott again! Jenning's took the corner which was half cleared before being played back into the far post where Willmott lofted it back across goal for Elliott to head home from close range.
16:08 Another U's corner won by Jennings.
16:07 A quicker pace to this half, the U's win a corner but it's defended well.
16:06 Bakare shoots straight at Hedge after out pacing Coulson, that could have been 1-0.
16:02 The second half is underway and almost immediately Tom Elliott shoots from distance but it's well over.
15:46 HALF-TIME Cambridge United 0-0 Southport. A dull first half is ended. The U's enjoying the lion's share of possession but will need a bit more creativity if they are to unlock the Southport defence.
15:45 One minute of added time to be played.
15:40 Luke Berry thinks he has given Cambridge the lead as he taps home from close range after Dunk headed back across goal but the linesman's flag is up for offside.
15:37 That is better! A good run and cross from Dunk is headed by Berry but blocked and out for a corner. Jarvis takes and it's only half cleared and eventually falls to Willmott who fires a trademark shot which is only inches wide.
15:36 The fans are getting a little restless as Cambridge seem a little shy to go forward instead opting for a lot of side way passes.
15:31 A wasteful free kick from James Jennings as he crosses straight into the arms of the goalie.
15:27 Audacious volley from Bakare but i think that one is in Staples's car park.
15:25 A break in play here as the players take on some fluids.
15:24 Another Jarvis corner and this one is met by Luke Berry but his goal-bound header hits the back of a defender and hoofed clear.
15:22 The game coming to life now, Southport winning a couple of corners, the second of which the U's deal with less than convincingly but eventually hack it clear.
15:21 Well played Scott Garner, he ends a Southport counter attack following a mistake from Jarvis.
15:20 James jennings crosses into the box from a free kick which meets the head of Elliott but it's a weak header straight at McMillan.
15:18 The U's are looking a little livelier now and a clever dummy from Berry almost falls to Elliott in the box.
15:17 Cambridge win the games first corner which Jarvis takes but the keeper plucks it straight out of the air.
15:15 Steve Akrigg goes into the book for a foul on Dunk.
15:12: Great save from Hedge as he sprawls himself at the feet of Ledsham who had broke into the box, James Jennings then gets it clear.
15:10 A slow start here, I think the heat has got to the players already!. Lots of possession for Cambridge but with no real end product thus far.
15:04 Some lovely football from the U's here as they pass the ball around confidently.
15:00 Southport kick us off and they attack the Newmarket road end first half.
14:35 TEAMS: Cambridge United: Hedge, Jennings, Coulson, Garner, McAuley, Dunk, Jarvis, Shaw, Willmott, Berry, Elliott. Subs: Hudson, Wellard, Moke, Pugh, Smith. Southport: McMillan, Smith, Lever, Akrigg, Parry, Grand, Ledsham, Almond, Chalmers, Moogan, Bakare, Subs: Nemes, Barnes, Lynch, Tames, Stevenson.
14:30 Good afternoon folks and welcome along to today's game between Cambridge United and Southport. It's a scorching day and the ground is filling up nicely.