Williamson nets twice in 3-0 win for U's
A Ben Williamson brace and a late goal for Jimmy Spencer ensured Cambridge United comfortably beat 10 man Yeovil Town at the Abbey Stadium in Sky Bet League Two to stay in play-off contention.Two first half goals from Williamson and a red card in the tenth minute for Glovers’ central midfielder Liam Walsh put Shaun Derry’s side firmly in the driving seat, before Spencer completed a fine afternoon with a goal four minutes from time.
An unchanged U’s side opened the scoring in the fourth minute, when a jinking run from deep by Josh Coulson created an opportunity to cross for Harrison Dunk, who promptly returned the ball back to the centre half before Williamson flicked home from six yards out.
An eventful opening ten minutes continued, when Yeovil’s Liam Walsh raised his hand in an off the ball altercation with James Dunne, which referee Lee Swabey judged to be a red card offence and saw the Everton loan midfielder heading down the tunnel.
From there Shaun Derry’s men controlled the tempo of the first half, with Ryan Ledson and Luke Berry instrumental in the United midfield, who stretched their opponents to make full use of the extra man.
However, excluding a long range effort from Zeli Ismail that had Artur Krysiak diving to his left to parry away from danger, the Glovers keeper remained fairly untested for the first 45 minutes.
United did though make the possession count moments before the half time whistle. Harrison Dunk whipped in one another of trademark crosses, giving Williamson an even easier finish than his opening goal at the far post to double the lead.
The former Gillingham man quickly had the opportunity to secure the hat-trick after half time, but miscued his shot when Dunk had once again crossed sublimely to pick out the striker inside the Yeovil 18 yard box.
Harry Cornick’s 25 yard drive on goal had Will Norris making his first contribution of the afternoon, but the attempt was simple enough for the U’s keeper to claim.
Williamson did have the ball in the back of the net for his third on 74 minutes, but the hat-trick continued to prove elusive when Lee Swabey chalked off the attempt for offside.
Substitute Jimmy Spencer sealed the win for the U’s with four minutes left, as the striker first forced a fine save from Krysiak with a close range header before poking home the rebound.
Cambridge United: Norris, Furlong, Coulson, Legge, Haynes, Ismail, Berry, Ledson, Dunne (Spencer, 61 mins), Dunk, Williamson
Yeovil Town: Krysiak, Tozer, Smith, Dawson (Bird, 45 mins), Laird, Dickson, Goodship (Lita, 74 mins), Cornick (Compton, 68 mins), Roberts, Walsh, Ward
Attendance: 4,956 (265 away)
Vindis Man of the Match: Ryan Haynes