United sparkled in the sunshine at the Abbey Stadium, comfortably dispatching Hayes and Yeading in their last home game of the season.
Goals from Rory McAuley, a brace from Danny Crow, and a late free kick from Adam Marriott sent the home fans away happy, with only Adam Green's consolation for the visitors putting a dampener on things.
United were in control from the moment McAuley nodded in Simon Russell's first half free kick to put Martin Ling's side in front.
The movement of United front pair Crow and Marriott caused Hayes problems all afternoon, and the two players combined for the second goal - Marriott playing in Crow, and although his initial shot rattled the post, he was on hand to net the rebound.
The U's started the second period sloppily, and it took a Hayes goal to spur them into life. Seizing on a poor clearance from Josh Coulson, Adam Green strode past Dan Gleeson and drilled in a 25-yarder to give the visitors hope.
But Cambridge hit back almost immediately through Crow, who picked up McAuley's pass and turned a defender before driving a superb effort past Clarke Masters in the Hayes goal.
Marriott was a menace all afternoon, and got the goal his efforts deserved in the 87th minute with a curling free kick from the edge of the box. It capped an excellent afternoon for United who can now look forward to next season with a degree of hope.
Man of the Match: Adam Marriott - McAuley, Russell, and Palmer were all excellent, but the CRC academy product stood out on his full home debut, and capped his performance with a great goal near the end.
Minute-by-minute report below:
FULL TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 4 - 1 HAYES AND YEADING
16.55: Patrick again instigates a break, and Palmer overlaps and finds Gleeson, whose long ranger flies into the Newmarket Road End. That's the last action of the game, and United end their home season on a high.
16.54: Patrick beats his man with ease and slides the ball across the six yard box, where it just alludes Murray's lunge.
16.53: Last corner for Hayes, but Coulson is equal to it and heads away. United come forward with Gleeson, but Carden's pass looking for Patrick is overhit.
16.51: Four minutes to be added, can United finish with a flourish? Willock tries to win the ball in the air but stumbles and can't bring the ball under his spell.
16.48: That goal caps an excellent performance from Marriott. Masters scuffs the ball out under pressure from Antonio Murray, the NRE in party mood.
16.47: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 4 - 1 HAYES AND YEADING: Marriott fouled right on the edge of the box and that's going to be a free kick. Left of centre, this a good position for the U's. Marriott to take I think, and that's a beauty! Curled into the corner, no chance for the keeper.
16.46: Ball through from Binns and Little is onside, but can't get the connection he would have wanted and Brown saves with his legs.
16.44: That would have been an awesome goal, Marriott putting Murray in on the right. The same two players exchange passes but Murray's shot is blocked by a sliding defender at the expense of a corner. Hayes clear the flag kick and Gleeson has to be alert to stop Binns.
16.42: Palmer and Patrick combine but can't link up with Willock. A haze is floating across the Abbey from the allotments, I hope it isn't volcanic ash.
16.39: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3 - 1 HAYES AND YEADING. That's better, Danny Crow makes it 3-1. McAuley's ball through is a good one, and Crow, lurking like predatory wasp, turns inside the defender and lashes the ball into the bottom corner. In the aftermath of the goal he's replaced by Callum Willock.
16.38: Palmer passes the ball between two defenders for Patrick. His cross isn't the best, but Murray picks the ball up and tries a curler which Masters athletically parries away.
16.37: United have a corner after good play from Murray. Carden's delivery is met by McAuley, but Masters is in the right place to claim the ball.
16.35: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2 - 1 HAYES AND YEADING: Sloppy from United and Hayes are back in it. Coulson tries to dink the ball clear to Gleeson, when a big hoof would have been more suitable. Adam Green picks the right back's pocket and lashes a 25-yarder into the bottom corner. No chance for Brown.
16.34: Carden takes and the keeper claims easily.
16.33: This match has the feel of a pre-season friendly about it now. Crow wins the ball well and puts in Patrick, who is chopped down and United will have a free kick near the corner flag.
16.30: Toby Little on as Hayes make their last change. Ruby is replaced.
16.29: Free kick to Hayes after a push by Saah. Antonio Murray joins the action in place of Russell, it's been a typically workmanlike performance from the ginger genius. Hayes free kick is overhit and United have a goal kick.
16.27: Adam Marriott is going to be some player. He latches onto a long ball on the left, beats three men with a mesmerising dribble along the touchline, and tries to squeeze a shot in at the near post which is saved. A simple cross would have left the unmarked Russell with a tap in, but you can't blame the youngster for shooting after that run.
16.25: Quick free kick from McAuley into Gleeson, whose attempts to cross are blocked by Cadmore at the expense of what should have been a corner. Strangely the lino gives a goal kick. Hayes attack with Binns, but Patrick is tracking back to stop Allen-Page continuing the move.
16.24: Saah has to be alert to stop an attempted curler from the sub Watkins. Hayes sense there might be something in this for them, United haven't really be on it this half so far. Mulley coming on for Hayes now in place of Canham.
16.22: Patrick has gone out to the left, with Russell moving to the right. 2940 fans at the Abbey today, 89 of whom have come from Hayes and/or Yeading.
16.20: Gleeson plays the ball into the feet of Crow, who wins a corner off Ruby. Russell plays the ball in and McAuley climbs highest but heads over. Change for United, with Jordan Patrick replacing Scott Neilson, who hasn't had his most productive afternoon in a U's shirt. Watkins on for Hayes, in place of Wishart.
16.16: Hayes give United a gentle reminder they're still in the game. Coulson dallies, gifting possession to Wishart, who sprints clear but drags his shot across Brown's goal and wide.
16.14: Green, who was booked in the first half for a tackle on McAuley, clatters into Crow late on half way. The ref, who has had a good game thus far, is content to just have a word with the Hayes left back. United can't make the most of the free kick, and Hayes clear their lines.
16.13: Marriott has been excellent today, and slips another beaut of a pass through to Crow. He in turn shields the ball and tees up Russell, who thrashes a shot just over. The left winger is getting closer to a first goal in U's colours.
16.10: Marriott presurises Harris into conceeding a corner. Russell's delivery isn't bad, and the keeper totally misses it under pressure from Coulson. Luckily for him a defender is on the line ot head away.
16.09: Brown lucky to get away with that, driving a clearance straight at Binns, who fortunately for the U's can't control. United get the ball back and work it down the left to Russell, who tries his luck from 25 yards and sees Masters make a good save, low to his right.
16.07: Immediate free kick to the U's after Crow is fouled. This is a similar position to the one from which we scored the first goal, but on the right. Coulson gets his head to Carden's cross, but Masters saves comfortably.
16.06: The team's are back, hopefully minute by minute updates will be back too. Curse you website toolkit, curse you.
HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2 - 0 HAYES AND YEADING. Few technical problems here at the Abbey Stadium, but we're back up and running now and United are 2 - 0 up at half time.
Hayes started brightly, but United soon hit their stride and took the lead through Rory McAuley. Danny Crow was fouled 35 yards from goal, and Simon Russell's free kick floated into the back post, where Rory McAuley climbed to nod the ball back across the keeper and into the far corner.
The movement of United's new front pairing, Adam Marriott and Danny Crow, has been causing Hayes no end of problems, and the two strikers combined to double United's advantage. Crow chested the ball round the corner to Marriott, who returned the compliment, putting Crow in the clear. His first time shot was a beauty, curled over Clarke Masters, but it struck the inside of the post and bounced clear. Luckily Crow was alert enough to snap up the rebound.
Other chances have come the way of the former Peterborough man, who saw one angled shot saved by Masters, and then blasted over the bar after good play from Marriott. Josh Coulson also skied a shot over the bar following a corner which had been helped on by Brian Saah and Rory McAuley.
There is a distinct end of season feel here at the Abbey, and United are in front and looking so comfortable they could be on sale in DFS.
15.01: And we're off. Just 90 minutes left of the 2009/10 season here at the Abbey. United attacking the south stand.
15.00: Having just been down on the pitch, I can confirm it's quite hot down there. Glorious afternoon to watch football, if not to play it.
14.58: The teams are out. Hayes have Ed Harris playing for them, who I'd have thought is a bit old to be playing Conference football, but there you go.
Cambridge United: Simon Brown, Dan Gleeson, Aiden Palmer, Josh Coulson, Brian Saah, Scott Neilson, Simon Russell, Paul Carden, Rory McAuley, Danny Crow, Adam Marriott.
Subs: Danny Potter, Antonio Murray, Callum Willock, Jordan Patrick, Jai Reason.
Hayes and Yeading: Clarke Masters, Danny Allen-Page, Adam Green, Tom Cadmore, Matt Ruby, Marc Canham, Ram Marwa, Dale Binns, Justin Cochrane, Ed Harris, Daniel Wishart.
Subs: James Mulley, Andrejs Stolcers, Toby Little, Craig Watkins, Chris Baker.
TEAM NEWS: As I mentioned earlier Adam Marriott starts for the U's in place of Lee Phillips. The only Cambridge connection on the Hayes and Yeading team is Dale Binns, who used to play for City.
14.50: I just touched Danny Crow, exciting times. The United number 10 has cleaned up in the player of the year awards, picking up the website, Radio Cambridgeshire, and Cambridge News prizes. Josh Coulson claimed the young player awards, and Paul Carden the goal of the season.
14.30: Afternoon folks and welcome to the Abbey for the final home game of the season against Hayes and Yeading. Full team news to follow in a minute, but Martin Ling has made the one expected change, with Adam Marriott taking the place of the injured Lee Phillips.
