Match report: Cambridge City 7-0 Little Oakley

Cambridge City were in seventh heaven as they took on Little Oakley for the first time ever, with the Lilywhites claiming a resounding 7-0 victory in the latest Isthmian League North fixture. City were looking for a third win on the bounce at home, as the team had come back from East London with an impressive 3-1 win away at early pacesetters Redbridge.

Little Oakley, who had won the Essex Senior League the season before, were coming into the match having not lost any of their last four matches. The Essex side had won three of those four, the last of which was a 2-1 win at home to Grays Athletic.

Little Oakley were appearing in the eighth tier for the first time in their history but it was the hosts who got the first goal, after just two minutes. Charlie Royle had just won a corner after receiving the ball from Fletcher Toll. The corner was taken short and the following cross was poked in at the far post by Alex Warman, his third goal of the league season.

Just two minutes later the lead was doubled. A long throw was headed home by Freddie Hockey after the forward had reacted quickly to the deflected throw. City then had a third after 12 minutes. Travis Dodsworth collected the ball on the left-hand side from a throw, the left-back then powered in a cross which Royle did well to take a touch and spin expertly to slot in his seventh league goal of the season.

After 18 minutes, the visitors got their first shot of the day. An Oakley free-kick was looped into the box which then resulted in a short goal-mouth scramble. At the end of it all, Jordi Papple eventually fired in a shot which was defended comfortably.

City had a free-kick after 23 minutes, which had been won by Charlie Norman. Jaiden Babalola reached the cross at the far post but his header just cleared the bar. But three minutes later, it was four. Norman was excellent down the wing, and he fed Jack Thompson through, with the latter then allowing Royle to send in a cross which was duly tapped home by Fletcher Toll for 4-0. The goal was Toll's sixth out of the first nine league games.

It could've been five a few minutes later when Will Hayes, in an attempt to clear Hockey's cross away, almost sliced the ball into the back of his own net. James Askew spared the defender any blushes by picking up the loose clearance.

After 32 minutes, City were in again. Reece Harris played a neat pass up to Warman and the former received the ball back to send in a cross only for Warman to volley wide. The first half ended with City in total control, leading by four goals to nil.

City continued in the same vein in the second half. After 51 minutes, Thompson sent in a cross from which Askew did well to parry Jayden Randell's header away for a second corner. This time the corner led to a looping Thompson cross which Randell connected with again to send a towering header which was stunningly tipped over the crossbar by Askew.

Just after the hour, City did indeed make it five. Norman found Royle with a throw on the right-hand side and the latter found Hockey in the 18-yard area to slot home for his second of the match.

Josh Mcfaull then had a shot after 67 minutes, after latching onto a pass from Papple. However, Mcfaull couldn't net his fourth goal of the season when his pot shot flew harmlessly wide.

Little Oakley had another effort after 78 minutes. Papple and Kieran Williams combined well together to allow Luke Mayhew to get to Papple's cross. Gene Ghag made the save to keep the clean sheet going.

With just ten minutes to go, City had their sixth. Warman had picked out Sam Cheney and the substitute sent through Zachary Head on the right-hand side, the no. 18 then rolled the ball in the direction of Hockey, who tapped home to complete his hat-trick and score City's 30th league goal of the season.

City fans didn't have to wait long for the next goal, which came from an old favourite. Samrai Gebrai had replaced Royle after 75 minutes and the returning Lilywhite had got into the thick of the action pretty soon, when he followed on from Ryan King's pass. Gebrai wandered into the penalty area and was tripped by a late challenge. After winning the penalty, Gebrai got up to take it and he calmly scored to give City a 7-0 lead.

The final whistle was blown a few minutes later and the game ended with City winning by seven goals to nil. It was City's seventh win of the campaign and their third home win on the spin. City will now welcome more Essex opposition in the form of Buckhurst Hill on Tuesday night, and this latest clean-sheet means that City's nine goals conceded is the joint best in the league, level with both Gorleston and Hashtag United.

Thanks to Connor Taylor-Creek for the excellent match report and Iain Walker for the photo.