MATCH REPORT| HARTLEPOOL UNITED 0 CAMBRIDGE UNITED 5
A devastating second half performance from Cambridge United put Hartlepool United to the sword as the U’s ran out 5-0 victors at Victoria Park in Sky Bet League Two.
James Dunne’s sublime 51st minute strike opened the flood gates for the U’s with Luke Berry, Leon Legge, Uche Ikpeazu and Max Clark securing the three points emphatically in County Durham.
Conor Newton was the only change to the United side that impressively saw off Coventry City a week earlier in the Emirates FA Cup.
Despite a succession of early corners for the hosts, the first opportunity of the game fell to U’s man of the moment Luke Berry on 18 minutes when Uche Ikpeazu laid the ball off for the midfielder to take a pot shot at goal which Hartlepool keeper Trevor Carson parried away from danger.
A combination of United players did enough to block Toto Nsiala’s shot on the line when the centre back found himself in possession inside the U’s six yard box from a Hartlepool corner midway through the half.
However, the defender provided Shaun Derry’s men a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when he smashed Berry to the ground on 43 minutes with referee Carl Boyesdon awarding the U’s a spot kick. However, a strong save from Carson low to his right denied Berry once more and the score line remained unblemished.
It took the U’s just six second half minutes to find an opener though, James Dunne with a sublime strike in front of the travelling Amber Army, moments after Carson had again denied Berry.
Shaun Derry’s men wasted no time in extending the lead, when Uche Ikpeazu barrelled down the right wing before pulling the ball back for Berry to finally register his 13th of the season.
The second half onslaught continued as Legge headed home the third to wrap up the victory before Berry returned the favour by teeing up Ikpeazu for the striker to make it four on 70 minutes.
Substitute Max Clark had the final say as he cut inside on to his unfavoured right foot before scoring his first for the U’s from the edge of the 18 yard box, completing a sumptuous win for United that moved them up to ninth position.
Hartlepool United: Carson, Donnelly, Bates, Nsiala (Oates, 65 mins), Martin, Laurent, Hawkins, Featherstone (Woods, 80 mins), Deverdics (Alessandra, 59 mins), Amond, Paynter
Cambridge United: Norris, Halliday, Legge, Roberts, Taylor, Mingoia (Williamson, 82 mins), Dunne, Newton (Clark, 67 mins), Berry, Maris (Dunk, 45 mins), Ikpeazu
Attendance: 3,261 (205 away)