Cambridge United showcased their Sky Bet League Two promotion credentials as they stormed to a comprehensive 5-0 victory against Gillingham at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
Starting as they meant to go on, a lightning introduction to the afternoon saw Dom Ball bag the opener in the first minute, before Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu concluded a dominant first half by stretching the lead 10 minutes prior to the break. Remaining in the ascendency, the match was soon put to bed as an own goal and Sullay Kaikai dinked effort allowed the U’s to control proceedings until the end, where Shayne Lavery’s delightful strike capped a five-star display and opened up a four-point gap inside the top three of the table.
A week on from picking up a point against a valiant Accrington Stanley side, Neil Harris opted with two changes to his starting XI as the ineligible Elliott Nevitt and Shane McLoughlin made way for Kaikai and Appere. There was also a welcome return to the matchday squad for Kylian Kouassi, appearing for the first time since picking up a hamstring injury in mid-November.
Back at CB5 after a fortnight away, the U’s headed into the meeting six unbeaten but were out to recapture that winning formula and tighten their grip in the automatics after drawing three of their previous four. As for the Gills, a sticky patch of four defeats from six – including a 1-5 thumping against MK Dons in midweek - had seen them drop to 16th in the table and in need of a spark.
Starting off with excellent intensity and a desire to attack the visitors, United took the lead with just one minute on the clock when Kaikai’s free-kick was flicked back to the 12-yard spot where captain Ball was on hand to fire an assured strike into the top corner for the perfect introduction.
Gareth Ainsworth’s side looked very open, with the U’s exploiting relentlessly. A matter of minutes later they should have doubled their lead when Appere was invitingly released in a one-on-one position – the forward raced in on goal but couldn’t pull the trigger with conviction as Glenn Morris got down low to stop.
The veteran goalkeeper was called into action once more on the 6th minute when Ben Knight roamed into space in the final third and teed up Liam Bennett to his right, whose speculative effort from an angle towards the far post was denied by a stern dive.
One-way traffic continued as Appere did well to beat the offside trap on 18 and pull it back to Ball from 20 yards out – the opportunity was more ambitious this time, as it sailed over the crossbar.
Pressing to add a second, the hosts carved out a neat move when Kaikai’s cross found a roaming Bennett in the centre of the area, the header was destined for goal but hacked away by Lenni Cirino near the line.
Enjoying an array of corners in and around the half hour mark, Mamadou Jobe got his head on the end of one but the angles were wrong, before a deadly James Brophy delivery found James Gibbons at the back post, with his effort turned behind.
Cambridge’s set-piece prowess would soon come to fruition as they stretched the advantage on the 35th minute when Kell Watts flicked back to Mpanzu from close-range, whose half-volley couldn’t be kept out by Morris as it trickled in.
A commanding first half was almost wrapped up in style on 43 as Appere slipped in Knight, who brushed past the defence and raced towards goal, but with just Morris to beat he just grazed the post.
Nonetheless, it was as you were after the break for the U’s, who grabbed their third of the afternoon four minutes in when Knight jinked into the box and saw his attempt cleared, only to the path of Kaikai whose strike from an impossible angle was diverted into his own goal by Cirino.
Determined not to rest on their laurels, United had the game out of sight on the 53rd minute – and there was no doubt about this one being awarded to Kaikai. Played in by Ball’s deft pass, the winger raced in and dinked over the goalkeeper for his 11th of the campaign.
It was changes aplenty on the hour as the Gills introduced experience in Bradley Dack, Armani Little and Omar Beckles, whereas Harris introduced Lavery, Korey Smith and Ben Purrington to help maintain the control.
A long throw into the box was flicked at by the head of Knight and fell kindly to Ball from 10 yards out on the 66th minute, but the midfielder couldn’t slot in his brace as he drilled it wide of Morris’ right post.
Remaining in cruise control, the visitors from Kent had not been able to break down the settled and stubborn U’s backline, who had not surrendered even a single shot on target. At the other end, Kouassi was welcomed back to the pitch for the final 10 minutes and received a rapturous applause.
A sublime way to cap off a five-star performance, on the stroke of six additional minutes Knight danced into the danger area and picked out substitute Lavery, who unleashed into the bottom corner with the outside of his boot for the final action of a rampant United victory as they made it seven unbeaten.
It’s a quick turnaround now for the U’s, who travel to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on Tuesday evening (17 March) to pit their wits against Walsall – be sure to back the boys.
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons (Raggett, 72’), Jobe, Watts, Bennett, Ball (Kouassi, 79’), Mpanzu, Brophy (Purrington, 65’), Knight, Kaikai (Smith, 65’), Appere (Lavery, 65’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, McConnell
Goalscorers: Ball (01’), Mpanzu (35’), OG (49’), Kaikai (53’), Lavery (90’)
Bookings:
Gillingham: Morris, Akomeah, Smith, Clark, Rowe (McCleary, 76’), Khumbeni (Vokes, 46’), Waldock, Williams (Little, 60’), Cirino (Beckles, 60’), Palmer-Houlden (Dack, 60’), Hale
Subs Not Used: Turner, Hutton
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Cirino, Smith, Dack
Referee: Michael Barlow
Attendance: 7490 (1034 away fans)
