City 6 - 0 Saffron Walden

Saffron Walden Town were hit for six by Cambridge City on a sunny and warm afternoon in the latest pre-season fixture for both sides.

City were coming back off an impressive showing against their inter-city rivals Cambridge United last weekend, despite losing to the League Two side, 3-1. On the other hand, Saffron Walden were playing in their fourth friendly of the season, their last match was on Tuesday when they despatched their reserve side by 3 goals to 2.

And it didn't take long for City to take the initiative. Solomon Ofori latched on to a long ball and found Alex Warman arriving into the penalty area. Warman's shot was heading goalwards when Kojo Apenteng got a head to it and the ball dropped just wide.

Jeff Cobblah and Toheeb Elegushi teamed up nicely for the visitors, Elegushi's shot was tipped over by Philp. The resulting corner very nearly gave the Essex side a surprise lead as Joe Atori's header struck the post and then Philp before being hoisted over the bar.

Again, City looked for the opener when Alfie Mason hooked a long ball up to Ofori. The number 9 lost the ball but Jack Thompson won the ball back, found Warman with a searching pass, then Warman picked out Apenteng, who's shot forced George Coton into a low save.

After 15 minutes, City got their first goal of the match. A free-kick was sent in and Samrai Gebrai, who was making his first start of the season, sent a header towards goal which Coton parried away. Then, as Saffron Walden thought they had got away with the attack, Thompson came in to recycle possession, he then clipped a ball up to Apenteng and the winger's cross gave Warman the chance to acrobatically score the opening goal.

Five minutes later and the lead was doubled. Thompson was working his magic in the midfield and fired a driven pass to Ofori. The striker weaved his way through but was brought down by Coton. Gebrai coolly chipped in onto the bar and it dropped the correct side of the line for 2-0.

Robbie Allen showed some class when he sent Elegushi through again, but Philp thwarted the Bloods striker from reducing the deficit.

City then had the ball in the net for the third time in the match when Thompson's free-kick was turned home by Ryan King but the referee had given Saffron Walden a free-kick after Jayden Randell had barged into Coton.

The next few minutes saw Saffron Walden turn up and have a couple of chances of their own. Firstly, Allen latched onto a through ball but sent his shot high and wide. Then Kieron Owusu swivelled nicely in the penalty area but the number 11, much like his teammate earlier, shot high over the bar. In the middle of all this, Joe Atori lost possession when he gave the ball to Ofori, but Warman missed his kick when offered the chance for 3-0.

But, just one minute later, it was 3-0. Apenteng beat the Walden defence and then calmly slotted past Coton as City started to run away with the scoreline.

Owusu and captain Finn Barden worked well to crate a chance for the visitors, but Owusu's shot was high over the bar.

Randell then had a chance from a free-kick but his shot was saved after the captain had won the ball from Thompson's delivery. Then, after Owusu flashed a dangerous cross wide, Ofori scored what will probably be the easiest goal he will ever score when a long ball caught out Coton, the goalkeeper miss-timing his header which handed Ofori the simplest of tap-ins for 4-0.

The second half started and it then didn't take long for City to get a fifth goal when Jayden Randell thumped home after a corner landed beautifully at his feet.

The second half didn't have as many chances as the first half, but after one of Saffron Walden's trialists had sent an overhead kick above the crossbar, Ofori was sent through again, Warman then missing the chance after being played through.

Alfie Mason and Ofori both worked well on the wing, and it was those two who lobbed over a cross to give Warman another chance, the midfielder shooting wide on this occasion.

Thompson and substitute Micky Cipriani worked well with each other, Cipriani rolling it just wide after Thompson's pass.

Sam Deering for the Walden had a chance for a consolation towards the end of the match, his free-kick swinging wide of substitute City keeper Anderson's post.

City had a couple more chances in the final few minutes. The first came when Thompson found Ofori, Coton had to perform a sliding challenge to stop the number nine from bearing down on goal. Then the second one yielded the sixth goal. Once again Ofori was played through by Cipriani, and Ofori wasted no time in emphatically firing into the top right corner and scoring his 2^nd goal of the match and City's 6^th.

There was enough time for Kaius Genovesi to collect a long ball and then lob an effort just wide before the referee put Saffron Walden out of their misery and blew the full-time whistle.

City move on to the next pre-season game which will be at home to Royston Town FC on Tuesday 15th July at 7:45.