FOUR minutes of mayhem in the Scarborough defence after 44 of near stalemate transformed a slog into a spree for Cambridge United.

If disgruntled ex-keeper Scott Barrett sees the highlights he will be telling people "I told you so about the lucky so and so's." But there was enough class and quality displayed in the second half when as skipper Paul Wanless claimed: "We could have had 10," to demonstrate the side's success is based on a lot more than good fortune.

Even without suspended play-maker Alex Russell, United chopped the disheartened home side to pieces in midfield, sliced them open on the flanks and reduced them to panic in the penalty area. They did need that double break, though, a couple of minutes before and after half time to shake themselves out of the torpor which seemed to envelope them as the first half wore on.

John Taylor's fifth minute goal might have been expected to demoralise a Scarborough side already tipped as hot favourites for the drop to the Conference. But they got the lift of a goal from their first real attack, in the 17th minute, and began to match United in the midfield battle, where most of the play took place for almost half an hour.

The only action to grab the interest of a crowd just slightly bigger than the one at the Abbey reserve match in midweek was off the pitch. A spectator at the United end was pulled out and marched by stewards and police to the gate where he suddenly tried to take on five people at once.

It was as one-sided as the football in the second half which he was not to see. But just when the teams looked like going in all square at the break, a situation all but the blindly biased would have thought perfectly fair, John Taylor made a vital run. He was pulled down inches outside the box, giving Martin Butler the chance of a free kick which hit a boot in the defensive wall and took a huge deflection past the helpless keeper.

After two minutes of injury time, and another two at the start of the second half, Mark Goodlad was picking the ball out of the net again and the outcome was as good as decided. Ian Ashbee swung his right foot, missed, had a go with his left as the defence hesitated, and saw the ball skid past a keeper unsighted by a pack of players.

If he had not kept his nerve to make a string of saves after that, Nottingham Forest might have had two keepers conceding eight goals on the same afternoon. He was making his debut on loan from the Premiership strugglers.

When Ashbee added a carbon copy goal to make it 4-1 as early as the 54th minute, United's record away score (seven at Cardiff five seasons ago) looked well within reach. But somehow total dominance could not produce another goal until seven minutes from time.

Trevor Benjamin, shaken out of his first half slumber by a half-time rocket from the manager, blazed over the bar, then set up a tap-in for Butler who over-ran the pass and ended up making an accidental clearance from a yard out.

The keeper pulled off excellent saves to deflect a Butler header and a Wanless 30-yarder. Then, after Butler chose to shoot instead of feeding the unmarked Richard Walker, he pushed the ball into the path of Michael Kyd, who hit the post from close range.

The man in the stand continually shouting, "Call this top-of-the-table football" at United throughout the first half, watched in sheepish silence until Butler got the fifth in the 83rd minute, then he got up and headed for the exit with most of the forlorn home fans.

"I felt a bit sorry for them," said Wanless. "It was a rout in the second half. We were able to play the game exactly how we wanted to, and they are bottom now."

By Mike Berry

ANTON Johnson's pre-season pledge that he "wanted to see Scarborough in the Premier League" was about as ill-advised as some of Glenn Hoddle's recent ramblings. Unless, of course, he was referring to the Unibond Northern Premier League.

Like Hoddle, Johnson has been ousted, the former Rotherham and Southend chairman's short spell at Scarborough terminated when he allegedly reneged on a deal to buy John Russell's controlling interest. Russell is back at the helm, but Scarborough, beaten in the play-offs last season, are a club in crisis. They are managerless, virtually penniless and after their second 5-1 defeat since Mick Wadsworth left for Colchester, bottom of the League.

Scarborough settled a £64,000 debt to the Professional Footballers' Association last week, which lifted a ban on new signings. Among three newcomers on Saturday was Mark Goodlad, a 19-year-old loan goalkeeper from Nottingham Forest. His fallibility at crosses cost two goals, including John Taylor's opener, but Goodlad's shot-stopping prevented half-a-dozen more.

Chris Tate equalised, but Martin Butler's free-kick punctured the home side's brittle spirit. Ian Ashbee twice drove home and Butler added a fifth for Cambridge, who should be in a different division to Scarborough next season, if not a different league.

'Pulsating' would be one, with perhaps 'stunning' and 'magnificent' among various others. Ultimately though, using adjectives to descriptively analyse this victory is not going to be easy. It's significance is surely more powerful than any grouping of letters could ever indicate.

True, the opposition were not of the highest quality, but neither were many of those who in the past three seasons have found Cambridge United a soft touch, and so easy to overtake in the race for promotion. This team however, this wonderful product of shoestring budgeting and inspirational leadership, is characteristically unlike any other I can ever remember. Today at Scarborough, they quite implicitly set out their aims for this season and the future, whilst also displaying the ability to see this dream carried out to the full.

The McCain Stadium was, similarly to Field Mill, a ground on which United had never recorded a league victory, until this season of course. The way in which the Scarborough team were shocked, frozen and then shattered by a ruthless display of attacking football will surely add another line to the growing list of reasons why Cambridge United are only heading in one direction.

The game itself began with United in rampant mood. Referee Mr B. Coddington (that name rings a bell) had to wait only six minutes before awarding the first goal of the afternoon. Veteran striker John Taylor capitalised on poor defending to head home a Marc Joseph cross at the far post, his 11th of the season. Then began a spell where the game should have been finished as a contest. Martin Butler looked as though he might have opened up a two goal margin just moments after Taylor's goal, but he watched his shot from just outside the area whistle inches over the bar. Trevor Benjamin then looked odds on to score, but a fine save from the Scarborough 'keeper denied him on the quarter hour mark.

Then came the unlikely equaliser, against the general run of play, but coming after a spell of brief yet seemingly purposeless possession by the home team. Chris Tait rose unmarked in the United box to squeeze a headed attempt between Arjan Van Heusden and his post on 16 minutes. The Dutchman managed to get his fingertips to the ball, and will be disappointed he was unable to prevent it from rippling the net to draw Scarborough level.

The lead should have been reclaimed within the space of a minute. Trevor Benjamin cracked a blistering shot against the post, and Martin Butler watched as the ball fell awkwardly before being cleared to safety by the Scarborough defence. The game then disintegrated into a rather uninspiring midfield battle, which was keenly fought by both sides. United's chances were being reduced in numbers as a Scarborough team, fighting for their league lives, began to show signs they were coming out on top. They did not however possess enough creation or vision when entering the final third to worry an experienced and accomplished United back line. Indeed the next clear chance of the game fell to United, but Trevor Benjamin flashed a header just past the post on 27 minutes, as once again he was left unmarked in the box. There were few, if any chances for the home team during the first period. They looked a side who were lacking a play maker. They were waiting for things to happen, and hadn't got a player who looked capable of forcing an opening.

On 35 minutes Martin Butler and the Scarborough goalkeeper has a race for the ball, which the 'keeper won, only to carry the ball outside his penalty area. He refused to drop it, and a free kick was awarded to United. Interestingly Mr Coddington chose to take no action against the goalkeeper, when it appeared a yellow card was deserving at the very least. Overall though Mr Coddington had a fine game, which despite being a bit picky at times allowed the game to flow freely. The resulting free kick was wasted, and United continued to look the most likely side to score. The pivotal point in the match came shortly before the interval. John Taylor latched onto a Neil Mustoe pass before twisting past the Scarborough defenders and onto the edge of the penalty area. His fine run was brought to an end when he was fouled on the 18-yard line. Martin Butler took the responsibility from the absent Alex Russell and watched his 44th minute free kick take a wicked deflection to guide it past the wrong-footed Goodlad in the Scarborough goal.

The second half of the match belonged to the players of Cambridge United, and was probably the most pulsating display of attacking football they have dished up all season. It took only 3 minutes before the first away victory for over three months was effectively sealed. Ian Ashbee miss-hit a shot on the edge of the box, but remarkably the ball was allowed to bounce once again and he made no mistake the second time, dispatching his shot low into the bottom left hand corner of the net. The same player then produced a replica of this goal just 6 minutes later, but this time he only needed one attempt to fire the ball home, and add a gloss to the already certain victory.

United continued to look irresistible for the next 10 minutes, with countless chances and opportunities. Ben Chenery burst into the box and had the ball robbed from his feet at the very last second, which triggered a succession of corners for United. John Taylor then rasped in a shot from 35 yards, which Goodlad did well to push over, an action which summed up his Scarborough team quite accurately. The home side then had two very good opportunities to reduce the deficit, perhaps their only two real chances of the entire second half. Arjan Van Heusden was delighted to watch Hoyland blaze over from just 3 yards, and even more so to see the linesman's flag rule out an 81st minute effort from Steve Brodie.

In the meantime, Richard Walker had replaced John Taylor on 68 minutes and sparked United back into life. Ian Ashbee, Martin Butler and Trevor Benjamin combined exquisitely in and around the box on 70 minutes, and the ball finished in the back of the net. It would have been one of the best goals of the season, but unfortunately the goal was disallowed for offside.

Ashbee continued to be the main playmaker, and his stunning performance will give Roy McFarland a selection headache when Alex Russell returns from suspension next week. On the 18-yard box he back heeled the ball into the path of Trevor Benjamin, whose final shot flew over the bar at astonishing speed. Benjamin then went on a trademark surging run down the left side, and delivered the ball on a plate for Martin Butler in the six-yard box. The striker somehow managed to direct his shot back towards Benjamin, when it looked easier to score.

The inform striker would not have to wait very long however to avenge this bad miss. On 83 minutes he rose well in the box to meet another accurate Ben Chenery cross, looping the ball over Goodlad in the Scarborough goal to score his third in two matches.

United then looked as though they would run up a cricket score in the last few minutes. Michael Kyd entered the fray, and looked as though he had scored his first goal for nearly a year. Another fine pass from Ashbee had sent Martin Butler free of the home team's defence. He unselfishly presented Trevor Benjamin with the opportunity to shoot, but his shot was blocked and rebounded back into play. Michael Kyd was following up and struck the ball against the angle of post and bar at alarming speed, and if you listen very carefully you might still be able to hear it rattling.

That was the last chance of the match, a match that extends Cambridge United's winning run to six games. It was the largest victory for nearly four years, and could easily have been far more emphatic. With Cardiff dropping points at Plymouth, along with every other team in the top four losing, Cambridge United are now six points clear inside the automatic promotion zone, with a game in hand. Next week we play Scunthorpe in probably one of the most important matches in the club's history. We must use this dazzling performance and result as a platform to leap out of Division 3 during the tail end of the season.

Man of the match: Ian Ashbee played a game, during which he looked to be in a different class. Inspirational passing, superb work-rate, unbelievable vision in the final third, and of course the two goals, makes this one of the easiest decisions of the season.

United avoided the infamous Manager of the Month 'jinx' and instead ended a three month run without an away win. This five goal blitz and a first win at the McCain Stadium opened up a gap on the chasing teams, and in the process handed Scarborough their second 5-1 defeat in a week.

There was one change to the starting line-up, with Ian Ashbee thrown back into action straight after resuming training to replace the suspended Alex Russell. Paul Wanless was included despite having missed two day's training with a bug, while Scarborough gave debuts to their two new faces Mark Goodlad and Darren Roberts.

But the big surprise before the game was the identity of the referee: Brian Coddington, the referee of the notorious FA Cup replay at Stevenage two seasons ago. After that game Cambridge United wrote to the FA and requested that he was never put in charge of one of our games again, a request that the FA said they could not guarantee to fulfil. This was the first United game he had taken charge of since then, and he was loudly asked if he knew the rules by the away support!

United got off to a bright start and after just 30 seconds McNaughton narrowly denied Martin Butler a one-on-one with keeper Goodlad. Then in the sixth minute a long throw from Marc Joseph was not cleared, Neil Mustoe played the ball back to Joseph whose excellent cross was missed by Goodlad allowing John Taylor to score with a free header from just six yards.

In the seventh minute Mustoe fed Butler who fired a rising shot over the bar. United, who have not won at Scarborough in the last six visits and only scored twice, continued to look the more likely side but after seventeen minutes Scarborough equalised. Chris Tate made the most of some slack marking and was left unmarked to meet Jason Lydiate's cross, and his close-range header went in despite being palmed onto the post by Arjan Van Heusden.

A minute later Trevor Benjamin met a Jamie Campbell freekick on the half-volley, but his shot hit the post and bounced away. United's next real chance came in the 27th minute when Paul Wanless crossed for Benjamin but his stooping, glancing header failed to find either the goal or the lurking Martin Butler. United were showing plenty of effort and passion and had control of the game, without looking like creating goalscoring chances. Mr Coddington was noticeably picky and stopped the game from flowing while Wanless seemed to be labouring in midfield, presumably suffering the effects of the bug that prevented him training on Thursday and Friday.

In the 44th minute home debutant Darren Roberts rose above the United defence forcing Marc Joseph to head the ball behind - only for Mr Coddington to give a goal-kick! Then the game changed thanks to John Taylor when the veteran striker went on a mazy run and baboozled the Scarborough defence until he was brought down inches outside the box. No-one was booked for the challenge. Normally it would have been a perfect situation for the deadball skills of Alex Russell but in his absence Martin Butler stepped up. His firmly struck freekick went straight through the wall of players, taking a deflection that fooled Goodlad and ended in the back of the net. Pleasingly it was Butler's second league goal in two games after a three month drought. (Half-time 1-2)

United started the second half as they finished the first, in the ascendancy, and in the 48th minute Butler neatly chested the ball down into the path of Taylor whose shot was tipped round the post by Goodlad at full-stretch. Jamie Campbell took the corner which was cleared as far as Ian Ashbee on the edge of the area. Bizarrely the midfielder sliced the ball into the air with one foot but had time to connect with the other and fired home his second goal of the season.

Two minutes later Butler met Mustoe's low cross with a deft flick towards the bottom corner, but it was brilliantly saved by Goodlad at full-stretch. By now Scarborough were looking edgy and faced the prospect of going bottom of the table if results stayed as they were, while Mr Coddington continued to disrupt the game with his picky decisions.

In the 54th minute United went further ahead, again thanks to Ian Ashbee on his comeback. Campbell's corner came straight to him in a central position on the edge of the area and Ash volleyed it home. A minute later Ben Chenery burst into the box and had the ball robbed of his toe at full-stretch, then a couple of minutes afterwards a scramble in our goalmouth saw Van Heusden block an initial shot which rebounded to Hoyland, but his shot from just four yards flew well over the bar. On the hour John Taylor found acres of space to fire a shot at goal, but it went for a corner which was taken by Campbell and was flicked on and over for another corner. This one was taken by Ashbee and after a big goalmouth scramble the chance fell to Mustoe but his shot was over the bar.

Richard Walker replaced Taylor after 68 minutes, then in the 74th minute Paul Wanless' 30 yard dipping volley was tipped over by Goodlad. Moments later Trevor Benjamin had a shot disallowed after good work from Ian Ashbee, and shortly after that Benjamin burst into the box before crossing to Butler, but the striker put his chance well wide from close range. In the 81st minute Van Heusden went missing and Steve Brodie put the ball in the net for Scarborough, but that was ruled out for offside.

Then in the 83rd minute United completed the goal rout when Ben Chenery's pin-point cross was met by the advancing Martin Butler with a stooping header, and he flicked the ball past the keeper who was nowhere. The tired Wanless made way for an eager Michael Kyd with five minutes left and United had one final chance in the closing moments. In the 89th minute Mustoe fed Butler who jinked inside a defender before seeing his shot well-saved, but the ball fell to Kyd whose thunderous shot well and truly rattled the post.

Many fans have been saying that sooner or later this season, United were going to give someone a real 'thumping'. Today was was a fitting occasion to produce such a result and make sure of a first ever win at the McCain Stadium, and it was ironic that the last six trips to this ground have only yielded two points and two goals. Cardiff could only draw at Plymouth, allowing the U's to close the gap to three points with a game in hand, but sorry Scarborough hit the bottom when Hull managed an unlikely win at Brentford.

Mark Johnson's man of the match: "Ian Ashbee - just a goal machine!"

The cameras from Nationwide League Extra were at today's game filming for a feature on troubled clubs, and their coverage should include a short interview with Roy McFarland.