Competition: FA Carlsberg Trophy 1st round
Weather at kick-off: cold, breezy
Goals: Hoyte 7', Fortune West 36', Rendell 65' and 87', Boylan 90'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Josh Coulson, Mark Peters, Gavin Hoyte; Dan Gleeson, Paul Carden, Mark Convery (Rob Wolleaston 66'), Danny Brown (c) (Robbie Willmott 74'), Courtney Pitt; Lee Boylan, Leo Fortune-West (Scott Rendell 62').
Subs not used: Michael Morrison, Darryl Knights.

Booked: Brown foul 30', Gleeson 50', Peters 54'

King's Lynn:
Scott Howie, Dean West, Greg Crane (c), Mark Camm, Ben Chapman; Steve Melton (Danny Buhlemann 74'), Phil Mulryne, Andrew Fisk (Danny Bloomfield 68'), Joe Francis; Jack Defty, John Turner (Matt Nolan 61').
Subs not used: Greg Lake, Robert Murray.

Booked: Fisk foul 15'

Cambridge United recorded an efficient win against the lively Linnets, but the 5-0 scoreline belies the challenge posed by the Southern League leaders.

Jimmy Quinn made four changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Kidderminster nine days ago, calling up Courtney Pitt in place of Stephen Reed, Lee Boylan in place of Scott Rendell, Mark Convery for Rob Wolleaston, and handing a recall to captain Danny Brown on his return from injury in place of Darryl Knights.

Linnets manager Keith Webb also made four changes to his side, who beat Clevedon Town 2-0 last time out. He called up Ben Chapman, Phil Mulryne, Steve Melton and former U John Turner in place of Greg Lake, captain Mark Warren (ill), Danny Buhlemann and leading scorer Danny Bloomfield. Another former U, Scott Howie, lined up in goal while striker Matt Nolan returned to the Abbey after a brief spell here in 2005.

The game got off to an even start as Joe Francis delivered a testing cross into the United area and at the other end Dan Gleeson's fine cross for Leo Fortune-West was just too close to Scott Howie, and the first corner came in the fourth minute when Howie's loose clearance fell for Courtney Pitt who scampered forward and forced the ball behind off a defender.

United were camped in the King's Lynn half at this stage and scored the early goal they sought when the Linnets failed to clear a dangerous free kick from the left, Fortune-West headed back across goal, and Boylan teed it up for Gavin Hoyte to poke home his second goal of the season.

The visitors lifted the tempo after the goal with their former League players showing their guile with some neat movement, and in the 11th minute Northern Ireland international Phil Mulryne was central in a move to pick out John Turner on the edge of the United area, the U's defence mopping up.

The first booking arrived in the 15th minute when Hoyte and Andrew Fisk went for a 50/50 ball with their boots too high for Mr Coote's liking, and Fisk was booked for the challenge.

On 17 Gleeson floated a cross towards Fortune-West who peeled expertly away from his man and looped a header narrowly over the bar, and a minute later Boylan did well with a difficult shot from a narrow angle and forced Howie to turn it behind at full-stretch.

Boylan looked lively and hungry and he was put through by Paul Carden in the 20th minute but was ruled to be inches offside, and Danny Brown had eased his way back into the game after six weeks on the sidelines but soon made the first of several crunching tackles to mark his comeback.

Brown also linked well with Pitt on the left hand side but unfortunately the U's skipper was next in the book for clattering Jack Defty in the 30th minute as the Linnets striker tried to turn on the ball.

Joe Francis was lively on the visitors' left but when he got past Gleeson three minutes later Josh Coulson, who signed a new contract to 2010 earlier this week, was there to coolly clear the danger. And at the other end an excellent flowing counterattack culminated in a shot by Mark Convery that was bravely charged down.

King's Lynn almost gifted United a two goal lead in the 34th minute when defender Dean West tried to nod the ball back to Howie but headed against his own bar, and although the ball bounced to Pitt the surprised wingback struck the ball against the post from inside the box.

But a minute later the second goal arrived when a U's corner was half-cleared but worked on again by Hoyte to Leo Fortune-West, who had alertly played himself back onside after initially being offside, and the veteran striker stuck out a long leg to stab his eighth goal of the season into the net.

The visitors were far from bowed and the lively Francis continued to provide danger down the left, his good run and cross in the 40th minute drawing a good one-handed save from Danny Potter, but United maintained their advantage to the half-time whistle, which was greeted by deserved applause for both sides.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A great start for United causing King's Lynn all sorts of problems, particularly at set pieces, but the visitors are still dangerous, especially down the left, and the game isn't over yet."

Second half:
The visitors started brightly and Dan Gleeson showed good pace to make up ground on Francis and nick the ball off him, and soon afterwards the same player rampaged down the left again and his cross towards the lurking Turner was cut out by Potter.

Francis drew another challenge from Gleeson on 49 and this time referee Mr Coote showed a slightly harsh-looking yellow card, and as the visitors maintained their strong start to the second half Josh Coulson made a vital clearance then Steve Melton was allowed to nod a free header over the bar.

There was a further booking in the 54th minute when Defty turned a yard outside the area and was shoved off the ball by Peters, who collected United's third yellow card, and Coulson nodded away Mulryne's free kick.

United were struggling to get out of their own half in these opening minutes and on 56 Fisk got beyond Coulson and pulled the ball back across the area, Potter coolly smothering it, then two minutes later later there were calls for a United penalty when Convery led a counterattack and whipped a cross towards Fortune-West, but although the big striker looked to be pushed off the ball Mr Coote waved play on.

The first substitution came in the 61st minute when Keith Webb sent on one former U for another, Matt Nolan replacing John Turner up front, and Jimmy Quinn followed suit a minute later by sending on the fresh legs of leading scorer Scott Rendell for Fortune-West.

King's Lynn came close to scoring on 64 when Francis' through ball released Defty, who got the wrong side of Peters, but was denied by Potter who saved with his legs, and United countered with a cross into the area that earned a corner.

The set piece yielded United's third goal as Pitt's deep cross found Scott Rendell who, with his back to goal, showed superb skill to twist and somehow squeeze a header past his marker and into the net from a narrow angle.

Jimmy Quinn used the break in play to send on Rob Wolleaston for Mark Convery, and Keith Webb responded on 68 by adding a third striker and sending on leading scorer Danny Bloomfield for midfielder Fisk. Three minutes later Bloomfield nipped between Coulson and Peters and drew a fine save from Potter, and United instantly counterattacked and Rendell was denied a penalty after being clearly dragged to the ground.

King's Lynn made their third change on 74 when Danny Buhlemann replaced Melton and Quinn sent on teenager Robbie Willmott for returning captain Danny Brown, who was applauded as he left the pitch.

The visitors enjoyed a spell of pressure soon afterwards and Nolan forced a good save from Potter, while sub Wolleaston linked well with Boylan and the lively striker saw his shot deflected away for a corner. The movement of United's forwards kept the visitors defence on their toes, but the Linnets were lively on the counter and in the 83rd minute Defty forced another smart save from Potter.

The visiting players and supporters alike had performed well all afternoon, as underlined by the fact that Danny Potter was named United's Man of the Match, but an entertaining game was settled beyond all doubt in the 87th minute. United earned a corner, which was headed on by the unlikely figure of Robbie Willmott to Scott Rendell, and the substitute turned on the penalty spot and clinically volleyed United's fourth goal and his 17th of the season into the roof of the net.

The tireless Lee Boylan had done everything but score all afternoon, but in the third minute of stoppage time Pitt's cross was headed on and Boylan buried a close-range diving header at the far post for United's fifth goal, and was deserved congratulated by his team-mates.

It could have been more when Willmott charged forward and linked well with Rendell before setting up Wolleaston, but the midfielder fired across the face of goal and wide of the far post with Rendell pleading for the ball in the middle, in the final action of an entertaining game.

The draw for the second round takes place on Monday.

Referee: Mr David Coote

Att: 2,311 (away 711)

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"United dodged a potential banana skin with a thoroughly professional performance against Southern League leaders King's Lynn. The lop-sided scoreline was a little harsh on the visitors but United never looked like being in a charitable mood from the time Gavin Hoyte gave them an early lead. Leo Fortune-West made it 2-0 before the break before top scorer Scott Rendell came off the bench to add a couple to his tally and Lee Boylan stoppage time header was the icing on a very tasty cake. So United continue to challenge on all four fronts and they do so with confidence at an all time high."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Paul Carden - the enforcer in the middle of the park who kept things ticking over nicely. Honourable mentions for Mark Convery and Danny Brown who also kept things moving in the middle, Josh Coulson who had another storming game at centre-back, and Danny Potter who made some important saves."

Ref: Mr Coote - started OK but got a little inconsistent as the game wore on and was a little harsh with some of his cards. 5/10."

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