Cambridge United won 3-0 at Braintree Town on Friday evening in the first of two away friendlies this weekend…
Amaru Kaunda scored two goals within the space of just a few second half minutes, before Danny Andrew applied the final finish late in the game, as United put in a professional performance to see off the National League outfit.
Garry Monk named a side that was predominantly made up of youngsters, but also had a sprinkling of experience throughout the team.
Stevens, Morrison, Okedina, Andrew, Gibbons, Barton, Holmes, McConnell, Digby, Kaunda and Njoku made up the side and United started the game positively, as Dan Barton made a great run up the pitch and towards the edge of the box, before being hacked down by a recovering Braintree defender.
The resulting free-kick was in the perfect position for Andrew, but his effort sailed high and wide.
Braintree had a good chance after Morrison was robbed of possession on the half-way line – the hosts making the most of the possession as they advanced the ball through the thirds before Akinde could only find the side-netting.
Njoku burst through on goal on 22 minutes after his strike partner, Kaunda backheeled the ball into his path and into the open space. He was denied by the outstretched hand of Knightbridge in goal, and it was just far away enough from the on-rushing Barton, who couldn’t get there in time to tap in.
Barton was a constant menace down the left-hand-side, taking on his man at every available opportunity and winning free-kicks at a regular rate. Despite the good work of many of the U’s youngsters in the attacking areas, there was a lack of clear-cut chances, with Njoku’s effort the closest United came to finding the net.
Just as the half was approaching a close, the Iron could have gone ahead as Blackwell struck a fierce effort towards the bottom corner from distance, but it hit the woodwork and fell safely away.
The U’s were unchanged for the second half and it was Dan Barton who dazzled again right away, taking the ball inside from the left-flank before forcing a diving save out of Knightbridge, who palmed the ball away.
Ebanks-Blake came on for Njoku on 60 minutes played and the game finally turned in the U’s favour soon after, as Kaunda scored two quick-fire goals to put Monk’s men 2-0 up.
Both goals came after good work from Barton, who provided both assists from a wide position.
The first saw Barton get to the by-line before drilling in a low cross, and after some hesitation from the Braintree trialist who failed to clear his lines, Kaunda pounced from close range.
The second saw Barton float in a well-picked out cross towards the back-post for Kaunda to head home with conviction.
A nasty challenge on Peter Holmes saw the young midfielder unable to continue and replaced by McKoy, as tempers momentarily flared between the two sides.
The icing on the cake was applied with just a few minutes left to go in the game, as Andrew gobbled up a loose ball in the six-yard box to make it 3-0.
Next up for the U's is a trip to Ebbsfleet tomorrow as the rest of the squad make the journey to Kent, with just two weeks to go until the start of the League One season.
