Cambridge City’s excellent early season form continued as they hit 5 goals to demolish Swindon Supermarine at a sun drenched Milton Road.

City made two changes to the starting line-up that beat Banbury in midweek, with Laurie Stewart coming in for the unavailable Dave Theobald. The other change saw Pat Bexfield moving to the bench and making way for Scott Neilson who was back at Milton Road after his trial at League 2 side Bradford City.

Swindon arrived in Cambridge after a midweek defeat against Bashley, but City had to be aware of their strike duo of Mark Barnes and Alan Griffin who contributed to their opening day victory over Rugby.

City had the better of the opening exchanges during the first 10 minutes, and won a succession of corners that didn’t really test the visiting keeper, Matthew Bulman, but none of the opening action gave any real indication of what was to follow.

City mount another attack

With City showing plenty of hunger and desire, and with the midfield partnership of Cambridge and Nightingale working well, coupled with Laurie Stewart proving to be more than an adequate replacement for Theobald, they didn’t create any meaningful efforts to trouble Bulman.

The home crowd had to wait for a moment of magic on 26 minutes to open the door. Neil Midgley received the ball on the edge of the penalty box and in space turned and curled an un-stoppable shot into the top corner past a stranded Bulman. Another class goal for the home crowd to enjoy following Matt Haniver’s effort against Banbury on Monday night.

With that acting as a springboard, City came close again 10 minutes later when good link-up play between Nightingale and Fuller resulted in a fierce shot from the City winger being parried by Bulman.

Fuller was again involved minutes later when Gentle laid a ball off to him, and a timely interception from a Swindon defender prevented him from teeing up a shot on goal.

City went into the break in front, and the question being asked was whether or not they could add to their advantage, or could Swindon make it a game of two halves. Fortunately, the City faithful only had to wait 8 minutes after the resumption for the Lilywhites to extend their lead. This time a cross came in and Bulman failed to make a clean take. The ball broke loose and found its way back to Chaffey who fired a shot past Bulman to put City further in front.

Swindon were visibly rocking, and soon after the re-start the game was all but decided as City netted their third. This time the ball found Midgley in space in the penalty area, who unleashed a shot that beat Bulman at the near post and smashed into the roof of the net.

A typical mazy run from Scott Neilson followed in the Lilywhites next attack, but his effort was saved by Bulman.

On 64 minutes, Steve Gentle, who scored with a long range effort against Banbury on Monday night, tried a similar effort that kept low, and this time Bulman saved comfortably.

Swindon had no real answer to City’s domination, and their task was hampered further when they were reduced to 10 men with Leigh Henry collecting a second yellow card for a foul on substitute John Frendo. Swindon were further punished from the resulting free kick, as Frendo dusted himself down and smashed an un-stoppable right footed effort past Bulman into the top corner.

Swindon were awarded a free kick late on, but wasted their opportunity which summed up their afternoon. An afternoon which got even worse when in injury time, Cambridge threaded an inch-perfect pass through to Frendo who chipped the advancing Bulman and his effort nestled in the back of the net to complete a highly satisfying day at the office for Gary Roberts’ men.

An impromptu fire drill prevented the City fans from cheering the team off the pitch, but they went home safe in the knowledge that the Lilywhites top the table on goal difference ahead of Farnborough, and go to Halesowen in midweek full of confidence after getting maximum return from their first 3 games of the campaign.