Cambridge United moved back into the League Two automatic promotion places with a 4-0 drubbing of Notts County at a sold out Cledara Abbey Stadium this afternoon.
Back-to-back 1-1 draws with Swindon Town and Cheltenham Town had seen the U’s drop down to fourth, with their slot in the top three being nabbed by today’s visitors.
But Neil Harris’ charges, who had to play more than a half with 10 men, emphatically wrestled back third spot with just four fixtures left to play.
Cambridge United players celebrate one of their goals against Notts County. Picture: Simon Lankester
Having scored three goals without reply, United should have been heading into the break with more than a modicum of comfort. However, the dismissal of their goalkeeper Jake Eastwood certainly muddied the water at the interval.
Before the red card, the U’s showed the type of clinical touch that had proven to be frustratingly elusive over Easter.
It took them just two minutes to break the deadlock when Eastwood’s free-kick on halfway was kept alive towards the far side of the penalty box by James Gibbons, who pulled the ball back to his defensive partner Kell Watts. The centre-half chopped back on to his weaker right foot, but his subsequent cross caused panic inside the County area and while goalkeeper James Belshaw did well to keep out Shayne Lavery initially, Dom Ball reacted quickest to head in the rebound from close range.
Shayne Lavery celebrates scoring for Cambridge United against Notts County. Picture: Simon Lankester
With Lavery spearheading the attack for the first time from the start of a game since the 2-0 defeat to County back in late October, United looked a threat every time they went forward.
The second goal eventually arrived in the 28th minute, and it was no surprise to see the lively Lavery get his name on the scoresheet. The County backline failed to clear Adam Mayor’s long throw from the left and while everyone else in the box stood and watched, Lavery was on the move and he duly swept home his seventh goal of the campaign.
Lavery worked Belshaw again just 60 seconds later with a curling effort, but the County goalkeeper was powerless to prevent United’s third goal in the 33rd minute. Gibbons did brilliantly to take Kaikai’s inswinging free-kick in his stride and then with his second touch he lashed the bouncing ball into the roof of Belshaw’s net.
All seemed rosy in the Cambridge garden at this point, but the situation changed seven minutes later. Some miscommunication between Mayor and Eastwood resulted in the latter clearly handling the ball outside of his box and while it took referee Benjamin Speedie some time, he eventually reached the correct decision and sent off Cambridge’s number one.
James Gibbons celebrates after scoring Cambridge United's third goal against Notts County. Picture: Simon Lankester
Twenty-two-year-old goalie Ben Hughes was summoned from the bench to make his Football League debut, with Ben Knight the player sacrificed. And it was understandably a nervy final few minutes of the half for the youngster, who struggled to kick into the wind and also saw Lee Ndlovu cannon a header against his crossbar.
Crucially, the clean sheet remained in tact – and even more important was the fact that it was Cambridge who scored the game’s next goal 10 minutes after the restart. It was another fine finish from Gibbons, who on this occasion stooped at the back post to send a diving header from Mayor’s right-wing free kick into the roof of the net.
After that, such was the solidity and organisation in which Cambridge defended and the threat that they still posed on the break, you would not have known that they were playing with a man light.
It took County until the 87th minute to register their first attempt on target – and what a moment it proved to be for United’s deputy goalkeeper Hughes. It looked for all the world that Ndlovu’s downward header was destined for the bottom corner, but the Welshman flicked out a left hand to turn the ball on to the post.
It capped a memorable afternoon for Cambridge, who will now head to leaders Bromley on Thursday night with some renewed vigour.
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Bennett, Ball, Mpanzu, Mayor (Smith 83’), Knight (Hughes 43’), Kaikai (Purrington 83’), Lavery (Appere 64’)
Notts County: Belshaw, Macari (Luker 46’), Ness, Bedeau (Browne 58’), Kauhyar (Enoru 58’), Norburn (Hall 65’), Palmer, Bennetts, Grant (Dennis 46’), Iorpenda, Ndlovu
Referee: Benjamin Speedie
Attendance: 7,983