Hot-shot Danny Crow hit a hat-trick as Cambridge United strolled to victory over Grays.

Crow twice profited from good work by Lee Phillips to give Martin Ling's side a two-goal half time lead, and he went on to net a third after the break, taking his tally for the season to 20.

Grays created several half-chances, and hit the bar through centre-back Duran Reynolds, but United's margin of victory could have been even greater, with Jai Reason twice unlucky to be denied by the woodwork.

Ling named an unchanged line up for the match, and it was immediately apparent that the U's would enjoy plenty of possession against a side who have yet to win away from their Recreation Ground home this season.

But in the early stages they were wasteful, particularly from set pieces, with Reason the chief culprit, over-hitting several corners and free kicks.

Paul Carden should have done better after an intelligent cut back from Crow gave him a sight of goal. But from 20 yards out he ballooned his shot over the bar

Ex-United man Jamie Guy saw a couple of ambitious efforts fly wide of the target, but the first half had been a fairly tame affair until the U's hit the front through Crow.

Antonio Murray played the ball into Phillips, who held it up before feeding Crow, who skipped over a half-hearted challenge and fired low past Garner.

Murray headed a good chance before wide before Crow made it two after shocking defending from the visitors. Phillips was given all the time in the world to nod the ball into the path of Crow, who was unchallenged as he ran into the box and poked a shot under Garner.

Two minutes later Reason's 20-yard shot slammed against the post as United looked to ram home their advantage, but they had to be content with a two-goal half time lead.

Dan Gleeson hobbled off after the break, with Rory McAuley taking his place at right back, and Grays almost took advantage of the reshuffle in the 51st minute, when Simon Brown pulled off a smart save to deny Alsenny Cissoko, and Reynolds struck the rebound against the cross-bar.

After that United resumed their dominance, and Crow made it three in the 63rd minute. Jai Reason's ball over the top appeared to be too far ahead of Murray, but he reached it before Garner, and crossed for Crow, who applied a controlled finish past a defender on the line.

Ling then introduced Callum Willock and Adam Marriott, and the latter twice went close to a second goal in a week, seeing one effort flash past the post and another blocked by Garner at close range. Reason was also unlucky with a shot on the half volley which came back off the inside of the upright.

But it finished 3-0, and Ling was left to reflect on another impressive performance from his in-form team.

Man of the Match: Danny Crow - Six goals in a week for the former Norwich trainee, who has hit a rich vein of form to steer United away from the bottom of the table.

Cambridge United: Simon Brown, Dan Gleeson (Rory McAuley 49), Dave Partridge, Brian Saah, Josh Coulson, Scott Neilson, Antonio Murray, Paul Carden, Jai Reason, Lee Phillips (Adam Marriott 73), Danny Crow (Callum Willock 64). Subs not used: AIden Palmer, Simon Russell.

Booked: None

Grays Athletic: Glynn Garner, Kenny Davis, Danny Bunce, Duran Reynolds, Marc Clarey, Alex Rhodes (Harry Agombar 32), Richard Graham, Alsenny Cissoko, Thomas Harvey (Alex Osborn 68), Jamie Guy, Joseph Bayowa (Jordan Wilson 80). Subs not used: Preston Edwards, John Glowacki.

Booked: Cissoko 42, Clarey 55, Harvey 61.

Attendance: 3,125

Referee: Mr Declan Ford

Matthew Gooding

 

As it Happened:

FULL TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3 - 0 GRAYS ATHLETIC

16.49: Last chance for Grays, but Graham's cross eludes three players in the box and flies out on the far side. And there goes the final whistle. Supremely comfortable for United in the end, who takes the points thanks to Danny Crow's hat-trick. Ten games unbeaten now, and they'll be dancing in the streets of Fen Ditton tonight.

16.48: Marriott twists and turns, winning a free kick from Cissoko. Willock flicks the ball into the young striker, but he can't quite bring it under his spell and Grays clear.

16.46: Three minutes to be added. Danny Crow named man of the match in what must have been one of the easier decisions the sponsors have had to make.

16.45: Reynolds finds touch under pressure from Neilson. Throw to the U's in the corner, McAuley takes by Grays clear.

16.44: Wilson tries his luck from 25 yards but the ball deflects off Saah and runs through to Brown.

16.42: Young striker Marriott was in again there, but dallied too long in front of goal and allowed Garner to block. What an exciting talent he is.

16.40: Marriott is a live wire, and zooms down the left channel before setting up Reason, who hits a half volley which crashes against the inside of the post with Garner beaten. That's twice now Reason has hit the woodwork.

19.39: Tenacious tackle from Reason sets up Marriott, who drives in a shot which flies inches wide of the post.

19.37: Free kick to Grays, with Wilson immediately fouled by Reason. And Davis gets free to meet the ball in, but can only head straight at Brown. That should've been a goal really.

16.36: Final change for the Blues, with Boyowa being replaced by Jordan Wilson.

16.35: McAuley wins the ball in the centre circle and runs towards goal, but his shot isn't the best and flies over the NRE.

19.33: Willock can't keep the ball in down by the corner flag and that's a goal kick. Game's gone a little flat again, it would be nice to see United cap their performance with another goal.

19.31: McAuley takes the safety first approach and heads a cross behind for a corner. The make-shift right then has to clear off the line after Reynolds gets a head to the resulting set piece.

19.30: Wicked delivery from Graham, but Davis can only head into the side netting at the far post. That looked like a good chance for the Grays right back. Coulson down needing treatment, but he's soon back on his feet.

19.29: Here comes Marriott in place of Phillips. Even taking into account the opposition, that was Big Phill's best showing for ages. McAuley penalised and Grays have a free kick down near the corner flag.

16.28: ... indeed it is, but not before Grays have a corner, with Saah clearing behind under pressure from Agombar. It's not a bad one, but goes over the head of Reynold's and Boyawa's follow up is blocked.

16.27: Ling plotting a final substitution, perhaps it's Marriott time...

16.26: Corner to the U's on the left. Garner punches the cross clear and Grays can take a breather.

16.25: Willock looking for a penalty as he tries to turn away from Clarey in the box. Nothing doing says the ref. United have a throw though, and Murray and Carden find Neilson, who tiptoes across the edge of the box and sees his shot turned over the bar by Garner.

16.24: Teasing cross from Graham finds Agombar, who heads wide under pressure from Reason.

16.23: Saah is off on one of his runs again, but United are repeled and Bunce will come forward down the left. Good tracking back from Reason though, who helps the ball into touch, Substitution for Grays, with Harvey going off and being replaced by Alex Osborn.

16.21: His work done for the day, Crow goes off to a standing ovation. I always had faith he'd come good this season, ahem. Callum Willock is his replacement.

16.19: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3 - 0 GRAYS ATHLETIC. Hat-trick for Danny Crow, but that's horrendous goalkeeping from Garner. Cross field pass from Reason looking for Murray appeared to be a bit overhit. But as the keeper raced out, Murray nicked it away from him, and unselfishly cut the ball back for Crow to drill the ball into the net past a defender on the line.

16.18: Reason's free kick finds Crow, but his cross can't be headed in by Coulson.

16.17: YELLOW CARD. Superb hollywood ball from Reason picks out Murray hugging the left touchline. He lays it back to big Brian Saah, who strides into Grays territory before being hacked down by Harvey. Booking for the midfielder.

16.15: Neilson, Crow and McAuley play a nice triangle in the right corner, but United have to settle for a throw. McAuley launches it into the area but it goes behind off Partridge for  a goal kick.

16.14: Cissoko picks a nice pass out to Agombar, who wins a corner off Murray. However United clear and Neilson looks to break onto Reason's pass but the defender gets it back to Garner.

16.13: Neilson pick's Bunce's pocket down in the corner, but he and Crow can't manufacture a cross.

16.11: YELLOW CARD: Great play from Crow to get in front of his marker and help the ball onto Murray. But the ref pulls it back for a foul when he could have played advantage. Anyway, free kick to United, and a yellow card for Crow's assailant Marc Clarey. Reason's free kick is poor, and goes over everyone and out for a goal kick.

16.09: Flag goes up late against Graham as he gets clear on the left, but Brown saves his shot at the near ost anyway.

16.07: McAuley's first touch sees him thump the ball into the touch, the second is a hand ball which gives grays a free kick 30 yards out. Graham floats it into the far post where Cissoko wins it, forces Brown into a good save. Reynolds gets to the rebound and hits his shot against the cross bar before Coulson gets it away. That should be a wake up call for United if they need one.

16.05: Brown comes through a crowd to make a good catch from the corner.

16.04: McAuley not on yet by the way, but Gleeson pulls up as Graham runs at him and will surely have to go off. Indeed Grays have a corner and Gleeson does exit before it is taken, McAuley his replacement.

16.03: Early free kick for United when Bunce fouls Neilson, but Reason's low cross is hacked away.

16.02: Phillips tries to head the ball into Crow, but Clarey gets it back to the keeper. Then Phillips charges forward with the defence appealing in vain for offside. However his cross is too far ahead of Neilson.

16.01: This ref is a punctual chap, we're off again.

16.00: Grays are back out, United aren't yet. Actually here come the amber heroes now.

15.55: Rory McAuley going through an energetic warm up during the half time break following a conversation with Greg Reid. I wonder whether he's going to replace Gleeson, who seemed to have recovered from that clash with Rhodes but may be carrying a knock.

HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2 - 0 GRAYS ATHLETIC

15.46: That's half time, 2-0 to the U's. We're looking comfortable at the moment thanks to another brace from goal-machine Crow. Before the deadlock was broken it had been a fairly dull half, but the visitors now look deflated, and there could be more goals in this.

15.45: Ball over the top for Grays but Brown will pick that up and clear. He hasn't had a save to make this half. In fact his long ball almost presents Crow with a chance to complete his hatrick, but he can't quite connect with the flick from Phillips.

15.44: Grays corner on the left after a slip from Gleeson. The bleached blonde locks of Reynolds meet the ball but the defender heads over. Two minutes to be added.

15.42: Phillips strong as an ox to hold off Clarey and win a free kick just inside the Grays half. United can't make the most of it though, and Grays clear.

15.40: YELLOW CARD. Cissoko could go in the book for that, late challenge on Murray. It is a yellow card for the midfielder. Not wishing to tempt fate, but Grays look a beaten team already. 

15.38: Confidence is ooozing through the U's players now. Gleeson and Murray combine to set up Reason, who fizzes a shot in from 20 yards which slams off the base of the post and away to safety.

15.36: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2 - 0 GRAYS ATHLETIC. Perhaps that's why Grays are bottom, terrible defending as United score a goal of Histon-esque simplicity. Long ball from Coulson, and Phillips is allowed time and space to head down for Danny Crow, who steams through the middle and, despite a poor first touch, manages to toe end the ball past Garner. The visitors' defence was less of a line and more of a zig zag there.

15.34: Free kick to United on the right after Agombar fouls Gleeson. Reason's ball into the box is headed across by Coulson at the far post, but Murray, all alone, doesn't connect properly and heads wide. Should've hit the target there.

15.32: Lucky that goal came when it did, I was in danger of nodding off. A few of the United players appear to have woken up too, and Partridge's cross is just too high for Phillips.

15.31: Crow again instigates a U's break teeing up Reason for a curling shot which goes wide off the chest of a defender. I say off the chest, but not so according to the ref, who gives a goal kick.

15.30: Substitution for Grays in the aftermath of the goal, with Rhodes going off and being replaced by the tiny figure of Harry Agombar. Grays have used over 50 players this season and it looks like they're now recruiting straight out of school.

15.29: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 - 0 GRAYS ATHLETIC. Goal out of nothing gives United the lead. Murray works the ball into the feet of Lee Phillips in the box. He in turn lays it off to Danny Crow, who skips past one challenge and sidefoots neatly into the corner. United in front.

15.26: Corner to the U's, with Clarey heading the ball behind with Phillips in close attendance. Saah and Coulson can't connect with Reason's cross, and Murray turns it back into the box where Crow is penalised for jumping with the keeper. Free kick Grays.

15.25: Free kick into the area, and United don't really deal with it that well, the ball spinning off Carden's head then being whacked clear by Partridge. Grays work it forward again and Guy tries a shot on the turn which lands nearer the corner flag than the goal.

15.23: Oooh, that look nasty, Gleeson and Rhodes jump for the ball and clash, with both players landing arkwardly. Both sitting up now, but Grays will have a free kick when play resums.

15.22: Reason down clutching his ankle after a robust challenge from Graham. Grays are certainly giving it their all, and as they're playing into the wind the ball is holding up and giving United problems.

15.20: Coulson releases Crow with a good ball over the top, but Reason can't connect with his pass inside. That was a shame as United had men up in that attack.

15.19: That was a good chance for Grays, with Guy taking advantage of a slip by Gleeson to run in and set up Cissoko, but he took his time trying to set himself and United were able to block the shot.

15.18: Cissoko and Partridge enjoy a muscular tussle which the former PSG man wins, fairly, with the referee declining to get involved. Good to see he isn't as pedantic as the idiot we had on Wednesday night.

15.17: Good effort from Phillips, who toes the ball away from a defender, cuts across the box, but drags a shot just wide.

15.16: Not much happening at the moment, the game is a bit flat despite the noise being created by the centre of excellence kids who are filling the South Stand.

15.13: Mark Graham seems to be Grays best outlet, and the right winger tries to tee up Cissoko, who scuffs a shot wide. Rhodes tries his luck seconds later but also fails to hit the target.

15.12: That's good play from Partridge, finding Murray in the box, and he wins a corner. Reason's cross skims through, just elluding Saah and Neilson. The latter races over to pick up the ball and send it back into the box, but his cross is poor and goes behidnf or a goal kick.

15.10: Partridge cross headed clear, but Neilson retrieves and wins another free kick in a similar position to the one a couple of moments ago. This time the set piece finds Coulson, who heads across goal but Grays clear.

15.09: Neilson fouled and that'll be a free kick 30 yards out, right of centre. Reason's set piece is easily headed clear though, United need more quality on their dead balls.

15.07: Phillips header forward sends Crow scurrying down the left channel. He holds the ball up and intelligently cuts it back for the late-arriving Carden, but he balloons his shot over when he should've hit the target. That was probably a bit close in for the U's skipper.

15.06: Again it's a poor set piece from Reason, headed away at the near post. United struggling to adapt in what are gusty conditions, but they've had the lions share of possession so far.

15.05: Reason's free kick is overhit, but Saah and Partridge retrieve the ball and win a corner.

15.04: Nice pass from Reason, puts Murray in. His cross isn't the best but Grays clear out for a throw. Neilson recieves the ball quickly and is fouled just outside the box. Good position for a free kick.

15.03: Reason's free kick is looking for Saah, but it's headed clear, and Grays charge down the right with Rhodes, who wins a corner. Cissoko gets a head to the corner and it loops worryingly over Simon Brown, but fortunately from a United perspective lands on the roof of the net.

15.02: Neat from United, with Murray and Reason exchanging passes, but Jai's final ball flies into touch. Crow wins a free kick after being upended by Harvey.

15.01: Ambitious from Guy, who tries his luck from 25 yards and drags the ball wide. Simon Brown clears and a Neilson through ball almost puts Crow in the clear, but Clarey gets a crucial foot in to block.

15.00: Early shot from Harvey charged down, and Partridge is able to clear.

14.58: United kick off, attacking the South Stand. We're a little bit early today.

14.55: Here come the teams, Grays in blue and white, United in the usual amber and black but with new socks, which are predominantly black with a yellow stripe down the side.

14.51: Good to hear that Scott Neilson has had his loan from Bradford extended until the end of the season, he has really added an extra dimension to our attacking play. Having said that, it would be nice to see Jordan Patrick given a few minutes on the pitch between now and the end of the season.

14.48: Last season Grays almost escaped the Abbey with a point, only for Lee McEvilly to net an injury-time penalty to give Gary Brabin's men the three points. The Blues haven't managed a win here during our five years in the Conference, with United winning three of our four previous encounters, and the other ending in a draw.

14.34: TEAM NEWS: Martin Ling sticks with the same line up that saw off Tamworth on Wednesday, resisting the temptation to restore either Callum Willock or Aiden Palmer to the starting line up.

Grays name two ex-United men in the starting line up - left back Danny Bunce, and striker Jamie Guy, who surprisingly captains the visitors. Alex Rhodes, coveted by the U's during his early days at Newmarket Town, also starts.

14.31: Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the Abbey for today's match against Grays Athletic. The sun is out, the sky is blue (ish) and United will be looking to make it ten games unbeaten against the division's bottom club.