Cam Classico draws record crowd.

It was derby day in Sawston as inter-city rivals Cambridge City and Cambridge United took to the pitch for the first pre-season friendly of this term. A full capacity crowd was in attendance, with differing sources saying 2640

Kojo Apenteng - Photo Ali Dixon

Neil Harris returned to face his old side, the former Lilywhite's striker having taken the reins at the U's late last season in February while the team were at the bottom of League One. He was unable to steer the club to safety, United finishing in 23^rd, a full 9 points behind Burton Albion, and safety, in 20^th place.

The Lilywhites had a slightly more successful season, finishing 11^th in the Isthmian League North Division and also gaining nearly twice the amount of points from the previous season winning more than double the amount of matches, rising from 8 wins to 17.

The kick-off was delayed due to the sheer amount of people lining up to get into the ground, the new time was 1:20pm.

United had the first chance of the match when Jack Wells Morrison had the opportunity to put the U's in front, the trialist sent his shot over the crossbar after the first 3 minutes. Then Ben Knight curled a free-kick wide a few minutes later after being tripped outside the penalty area.

United controlled the ball with the majority of possession but without creating too many clear-cut chances. That was the case until the 16^th minute. James Brophy and Knight exchanged passes with Liam Bennett who was running down the right, Bennett's cross found Michael Morrison, the captain heading home to give the Football League club the lead. Bennett, who was controlling the right, then thought he had got free a few moments later, Jamie Dicks coming in with a superb challenge.

City then came forward with purpose for the first time in the match and Jack Thompson was, once again, proving magical in the midfield when he sent a pinpoint cross to Michael Salako, who's looping header flew past Ben Hughes for the equaliser.

It was then normal service resumed for the next part of the match as the U's continued to dominate the midfield. Shayne Lavery found himself on in his own and bearing down on goal, James Philp coming to the rescue to beat away the shot. Ryan Loft then beat the defence and came through to send a pass over to Lavery and again Philp thwarted the United striker.

In the 33^rd minute City had their best chance of the match when a slight mix-up in the United backline presented an opportunity for George Smith to give his side the lead, but the returning striker took too long to take the shot and his effort was comfortably blocked and then subsequently cleared away.

United then had one last chance before the half ended when a corner was sent in and Usman Adeniji was in the perfect place and the perfect time to clear the ball off the line and stop the U's from taking a half time lead.

For the 2^nd half it was wholesale changes for the U's, United coming out with a completely different 1^st eleven but the performance stayed pretty much the same. And it didn't take long for United to retake the lead. A corner on the left was sent in and Zeno Ibsen Rossi's free header found the back of the net, United's lead was restored after just six minutes played in the 2^nd half.

Elias Kachunga was given free reign on the right and his cross was aimed towards Munday but Philp came in to claim the cross. Then 3 minutes later Dom Ball ran towards a loose ball and his 30 yard piledriver only just skimmed past Philp's left hand post.

Thompson was causing trouble again and it was his pressure that forced a mistake and Solomon Ofori was determined to find the equaliser but the U's defence stood up to the task and stopped the chance from developing.

United then broke down the other end and Munday was the player with the chance for 3-1, but, as he closed down on City's goal, skied his shot over the bar, mostly to jeers from the City faithful.

Four minutes later City had another excellent chance to get a leveller when a free-kick was sent in from the midfield and into the penalty area. A goalmouth scramble ensued, followed by United's defence clearing then it coming back with City's attack constantly recycling possession to stride forward again. It all came to a head when Jayden Randell pounced on the loose ball and fired towards goal, but his effort went high and wide.

Kojo Apenteng went steaming down the wing on 68 minutes and was stopped in his tracks, but United's defence weren't expecting Thompson to latch onto the free ball and force Briggs into a decent save to keep the U's lead alive.

Then United had two chances in as many minutes when first Michael Morrison got in a cross to Munday, but City's goalkeeper kept in out again, then Kachunga turned past two defenders on his way to find the U's a 3^rd goal but his effort went wildly wide.

United then had the ball in the net for the 3^rd time but, much to the dismay to the United players, Joseph Karram had already blew for a free-kick before the goal was scored. The incoming free-kick, taken by Ben Purrington, was sent wide by the slightest of deflections. The resulting corner came to nothing.

Micky Cipriani used some clever play to find Thompson and there was a suspicion of handball from a United defender but the referee ignored it. Then, with just 3 minutes left on the clock, United had their third goal. The U's attack found the perfect cross on the right and Elias Kachunga charged to the far post to poke in his first goal of the match and United's third.

United continued to look for a fourth but were unsuccessful, Dom Ball rolled a shot just wide and then Sulaiman Kaikai flashed in a cross, which substitute keeper Josh Smith kept out.

There was just enough time for Cipriani to fire over the bar before the full-time whistle blew. The U's ran out 3-1 winners in a friendly that was played in the highest of spirits. City gave a good account for themselves and pushed United whenever they could but it was the Football League team that came away with the win.

Connor Taylor-Creek