Match Report: Cambridge City 1, Cambridge United 3

Cambridge City were welcomed back with open arms to the FWD-IP Community Stadium on a scorching Saturday afternoon. City were playing in their third friendly of the month having taken on Haverhill Rovers last weekend and Billericay Town on Tuesday night. Both fixtures resulted in wins, including a 90th minute winner against Billericay.

The visitors, Cambridge United, were making their second appearance at the FWD-IP Community Stadium, having come to City's home last season, which resulted in a 3-1 victory for the visitors.

The stadium was at full capacity when referee Alan Young got the match underway and it was the newly promoted U's who kicked-off. The first chance came in the 1st minute. Charles Brown-Bampoe managed to get a touch to Travis Dodsworth's cross but Jake Eastwood was able to claim comfortably.

It only took seven minutes for the deadlock to be broken. City had a corner on the right-hand side, and Dodsworth's cross was powerfully headed home by Jayden Randell to give the Lilywhites the lead. The lead didn't last long though, just four minutes to be precise. Liam Bennett successfully wandered down the right wing and his pinpoint cross was collected by Louis Appere, who sharply volleyed home to square the scores. Charlie Royle then worked well with Brown-Bampoe to forge another chance, Brown-Bampoe's effort thumping against the side netting.

After the drinks break midway through the first half, the game seemed to be stuck with both teams working well but not quite finding enough to pull ahead. That changed when Freddie Hockey stylishly beat three United players and then unleashed a fiercely driven shot that Eastwood was stunningly equal to. With five minutes left of the first half, United were starting to ramp up the pressure. Isaac Heath trotted down the right and laid off a pass to Tommy McDermott, whose kick was sent over the crossbar.

Just before the half time whistle blew, United's pressure finally counted as they took the lead. McDermott copied Hockey in beating three of City's defenders and he found himself on his own and bearing down on goal. He calmly rolled the ball into the back of the net to give United the lead.

The visitors lined up differently for the second half and had the better of the opening exchanges. Just four minutes into the half, Callum Stead got away from his marker after receiving a pass from Ben Knight, but James Philp tipped the dangerous strike past the post and out of danger. 63 minutes were on the clock for United's next play. A neat build-up saw McDermott play a clever dinked pass for Gassan Ahadme to latch onto and force a save from Philp, but the assistant's flag rose to deny the United striker an opportunity to score the third for his side. Three minutes later, and a misplaced pass from Charlie Lewis allowed Lohan McDougal to fire in a cross for Ahadme to get a touch to. The header was aimed wide. Jamie Morepu then found himself in some space on the left and his lofted cross was swiped away by Philp.

With ten minutes left, United got their third goal. Ahadme connected with a cross that hit the near post, which left Philp stranded when the ball rebounded into the path of Knight, who slotted home to give the League One side a two-goal advantage. Neither side managed to find any more goals in the heat of the afternoon and the score remained 3-1 in favour of Cambridge United.

Neil Harris' second visit to his former club yielded another victory for his U's side, with United next in action in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Southend United on Tuesday night, while Mickey Spillane's team will be playing on the same night as they travel to nearby Ely.