Cambridge United chalk up four-goal pre-season friendly victory over Gillingham at the Abbey Stadium

Cambridge United’s unbeaten run of form in pre-season continued this afternoon with a 4-0 win over Gillingham in a behind-closed-doors encounter at the Abbey Stadium.

Having conceded inside two minutes during Saturday’s victory over Ipswich Town, United reversed roles with an early goal of their own with just 90 seconds on the clock. Jack Lankester’s cross from the left hand side of the box drifted over the top of the visiting defence for James Brophy, who guided a downward inside the far post.

Lankester went close to scoring himself in the 16th minute with a low shot that drifted wide of the near post, while 10 minutes later Fejiri Okenabirhie headed against the crossbar from six yards out after Danny Andrew’s cross had been parried straight to him.

However, within two minutes the striker atoned for his wayward finishing. Liam Bennett got forward well down the right wing and his cross was acrobatically swept in on the volley by Okenabirhie.

United’s third goal of the afternoon came in the 35th minute through Jordan Cousins. The midfielder who was making his first appearance of the summer since arriving on a free transfer rode a couple of challenges on the edge of the box and then despite being off balance he managed to guide a left-footed effort beyond the visiting goalkeeper.

U’s head coach Mark Bonner switched his entire team with the exception of Liam Bennett throughout the second half, yet despite all of those changes the home side remained largely on top.

Goal number four came shortly before the hour mark when Brophy was upended inside the box and Okenabirhie made no mistake with the resultant spot kick.

- Cambridge: Mannion (Stevens 64’), L Bennett, Morrison (R Bennett 46’), Okedina (Rossi 64’), Andrew (Dunk 64’), Simper (Thomas 46’), Cousins (Digby 46’), Lankester (Yearn 46’), Brophy (Trialist 64’), Janneh (Kaikai 64’), Okenabirhie (Ahadme 64’)