Money starts reign win thumping win
Richard Money’s reign as Cambridge United boss got off to the best possible start as the U’s comfortably beat Mansfield Town at the R Costings Abbey Stadium.Michael Gash got the ball rolling in the ninth minute, stealing in at the far post to score. United missed several good chances before Luke Berry made it 2-0 just after the restart. Two minutes later Tom Elliott smashed in number three, before Rossi Jarvis made it 4-0 with his first for the club. Josh Coulson’s own goal was the only thing the 209 travelling supporters had to cheer.
More to follow.
FULL TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 4-1 MANSFIELD TOWN
16.56: Into three minutes of stoppage time, Mansfield have a cheap free kick 25 yards out as Speight goes down under tackle from Wellard, but Green's effort is wayward, and deflects behind for a Mansfield corner, which the visitors waste. There goes the final whistle, it's a convincing and welcome win for the U's, as Richard Money sees his spell as head coach get off to the perfect start
16.50: And another change, the outstanding Michael Gash gets warm applause as he's replaced by Andy Pugh.
16.48: Willmott on his way off now for the U's, Adriano Moke will replace him for the last five minutes.
16.43: Now Murray has talked himself into the book, he's been on the verge of boiling over for a while. Free kick is deep towards Gash, who wins the header, Shaw helps it on to Thorpe, but Redmond is able to claim in front of Elliott.
16.41: YELLOW CARD. Daniel completely cleans out Jarvis and is rightly booked, that was a terrible tackle. Jarvis is back on his feet soon enough, but will have to be replaced. Ricky Wellard is on in his place. Free kick in from Danny Andrew but Coulson's header is easily saved by Redmond.
16.34: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 4-1 MANSFIELD TOWN. The visitors pull a goal back, Howell finds some space on the edge of the box and his shot is deflected past Hedge by a combination of Josh Coulson and JAKE SPEIGHT. I suspect Speight will be keener to claim it than Josh, 4-1.
16.32: Free kick to United here, Gash fouled by Murray. They try and intricate short move, which almost works as Gash is just beaten to the ball in the box, but will have another go as Berry is taken down just outside the box. This is an even better position, right of centre. Powerful effort from Andrew, round the wall but unfortunately into the body of the keeper.
16.28: Good low shot from Speight parried away by Hedge, and United will break, Willmott finding Elliott, who lays the ball off to Shaw, but his shot is blocked and Willmott wellies the rebound over.
16.24: Mansfield's final change sees Briscoe replace the debutant Taiwo. The visitors have a free kick now too, 25 yards out as Jarvis trips Speight. Briscoe is lining this up, but thwacks it over the bar.
16.21: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 4-0 MANSFIELD TOWN. Happy days, ROSSI JARVIS scores his first for United and the R Costings Abbey Stadium erupts. Such a simple goal, Andrew's long throw gets a flick on and Jarvis is all alone to smash the ball into the top corner.
16.19: Today's attendance 2,545, 209 away fans. Danny Andrew gets away with what looked to be a fairly clear handball in the box there, but the referee deemed it accidental
16.14: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3-0 MANSFIELD TOWN. Mental, United now three up, Tom Shaw stumbles into the box, seems to lose his way, but manages to dig the ball out and lay it off to TOM ELLIOTT, who smashes his shot into the corner, great finish from the big man, 3-0.
16.12: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2-0 MANSFIELD TOWN. Mansfield cede possession to United easily there, Shaw finding Gash, who slots the ball into the path of Elliott on the right of the box. His shot is parried by Redmond but only as far as LUKE BERRY, who taps in.
16.09: Corner to the U's as Tafazolli has to head behind as Thorpe tries to reach Gash's cross. Andrew to take, Berry dashes in to meet it but nods over.
16.07: The second half is about to start here, and Mansfield are making another change, with Tafazolli replacing Geohaghon, who was struggling for the latter part of that half.
HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-0 MANSFIELD TOWN
15.51: That's half-time, good open match here, and United fully deserve their lead. Much for new boss Richard Money to be happy with in the first half, though he'll be disappointed his side only have Gash's goal to show for their efforts.
15.50: YELLOW CARD. Sutton has come across to right back since Thompson's injury, and now goes in the book for a bodycheck on Willmott. Free kick in to Gash, who does well to dig out a cross but Elliott can't connect.
15.47: Four minutes to be added, this is going to be a late finish I think. Daniel is on to replace Thompson, who has been stretchered off.
15.44: YELLOW CARD. Few issues of connectivity here at the R Costings Abbey Stadium. Back up and running now, and while we were away Rossi Jarvis missed a great chance to make it 2-0, slashing a shot wide from 18 yards. Now Berry advances into the box, but loses control and slides in on Thompson. That'll be a booking for Berry, and it looks like Thompson will be unable to continue.
15.27: Crikey, so close to a spectacular second, Josh Coulson picks the ball up inside Mansfield territory, roams forward and, with no challenge forthcoming, lets fly from 25-yards but sees his shot hit the outside of the post and bounce away.
15.22: More good work from Gash, working the ball on to Tom Shaw, who drives a shot across goal which bobbles wide of the far post.
15.19: First chance for Geohaghon to try one of his long throws. It it comes, Hedge punches clear, then fists away another lofted centre, and when the ball comes back in from Murray, Speight is in an offside position as he thrashes the ball over.
15.13: Wow, that should've been 2-0, flowing move finds Jarvis on the right, his cross is perfect for Elliott but the big mans nods wide at the near post.
15.11: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-0 MANSFIELD TOWN. United in front with a goal out of nothing. Shaw plays it wide left to Danny Andrew, who flights a cross in to the back post. Elliott takes Pilkington away from the ball allowing Michael Gash to steal in and convert at the back post, lovely stuff.
15.09: Quite untidy early on here at the R Costings Abbey Stadium, both teams playing at a high tempo.
15.03: Two teams of giants on the pitch today. Cagey stuff early on, Rossi Jarvis is playing on the United right flank, Berry central with Shaw, Willmott wide left.
15.01: The teams are out. Richard Money gets a warm round of applause as he takes to the dug out for the first time. We're about to get underway, Mansfield to kick off attacking the NRE.
Cambridge United: Hedge, Thorpe, Andrew, Coulson, McAuley, Jarvis (Wellard 78), Shaw, Berry, Willmott (Moke 85), Elliott, Gash (Pugh 87). Subs not used: Wylde, Ross.
Mansfield Town: Redmond, Thompson (Daniel 45+1), Sutton, Geohaghon (Tafazolli 45), Pilkington, Taiwo (Briscoe 63), Murray, Howell, Meikle, Green, Speight. Subs not used: Rhead, Clements.
14.42: TEAM NEWS. Richard Money's first selection as U's boss shows two changes, with Luke Berry coming back into the side at the expense of Liam Hughes, and Tom Elliott starting in place of Andy Pugh. Berry's presence means United could line up in either a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 formation.
Mansfield make three changes, one of which sees ex-Cardiff midfield Solomon Taiwo, who signed for the club just three hours ago, come in for his debut. On the bench is Ryan Tafazolli, who trained with United at the end of last season.
14.28: Good afternoon and welcome to the R Costings Abbey Stadium for this afternoon's match between Cambridge United and Mansfield Town. It's been all change for the U's this week, with Richard Money having taken charge. The new Head Coach has a difficult first match in prospect, with big spending Mansfield Town this afternoon's visitors.