Cambridge United delivered a commanding 6-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion U21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. The emphatic win at the Abbey Stadium secured top spot in Southern Group G with a perfect record of three wins from three. This result on Tuesday 3 November provides a stark contrast to their recent League One form, which has seen them take just one win, two draws, and two losses from their last five matches.
Neil Harris made eight changes to his starting lineup, with only Cathal Heffernan, Callum Perry and George Hoddle retaining their places. The reshuffled side took control after Brighton defender Ben Barclay was sent off for a handball on 38 minutes. Isaac Heath converted the resulting penalty to open the scoring in the 40th minute.
Raees Bangura-Williams doubled the lead just three minutes later, finishing from a Sam Curtis cross. Daniel Efobi marked his full debut with a goal five minutes after the restart, set up by substitute Zak Bradshaw. Callum Stead then added a quickfire double, his first a tap-in from Heath's delivery in the 54th minute and his second a low finish from Perry's pass in the 68th. The scoring was rounded off by a Tate Ferdinand own goal in the 65th minute.
Goalkeeper Gabriel Breeze ensured a clean sheet with three saves as Cambridge dominated the statistics, registering 26 shots to Brighton's five. The result provides a significant morale boost ahead of Saturday's FA Cup first round trip to Bristol Rovers. It also halts a run of four winless matches in League One, where United currently sit eighth with 21 points from 14 games, having recorded five wins, six draws, and three losses. Their goal difference stands at zero, with 21 scored and 21 conceded, and they are seven points behind the league leaders.
The team's next league assignment is a tough away fixture against fourth-placed Luton Town on Saturday 14 November. Harris will hope the confidence from this six-goal haul translates into a positive result at the Memorial Stadium this weekend.
