Cambridge United produced a strong opening performance to their pre-season schedule, with a 1-7 victory over St Neots Town at the Premier Plus Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
United fielded two sides in each half of the game as almost every member of Joe Dunne’s first team squad were given a run out on day one of pre-season.
The U’s were into an early lead when a cleverly taken quick free kick from Paul Lewis 20 yards out, saw the midfielder receive the ball back from Emmanuel Osadebe before lifting a great shot over the Saints keeper.
New signing Reggie Lambe grew into the game and tested the keeper midway through the half after quick feet worked space for an effort inside St Neots’ 18 yard box, but was denied at the near post by a smart save.
Barry Corr doubled United’s lead when tapping in from close range minutes before the break, however an excellent strike from the host’s James Peter which rifled past Dimitar Mitov made it 1—2 at half time.
The U’s took control of the second half early on with Liam O’Neil prodding in a left-footed volley to make it three soon after the restart.
Finlay Iron then denied St Neots the chance to pull a goal back from the penalty spot before David Amoo carried the ball away on the counter attack, crossed to Ade Azeez at the far post to register at the other end of the field. A moment reminiscent of the famous David Seaman penalty save and Paul Gascoigne goal against Scotland in Euro 96, with England very much on the mind of supporters ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final.
Brad Halliday was the next to score for United, as the right back finished off a sweeping move from Azeez and Amoo. And George Maris completed the scoring for Joe Dunne’s men with a quick fire brace, the first a great individual effort in which the midfielder had carried the ball past a number of St Neots players before picking out the bottom corner.
UNITED XI FIRST HALF | Mitov, Carroll, Taylor, Darling, Davies, Lambe, Osadebe, Lewis, Brown, Deegan, Corr
UNITED XI SECOND HALF | Iron, Halliday, Taft, John, Dunk, Norville-Williams, O'Neil, Amoo, Maris, Azeez, Ibehre