A double from Leon Chambers-Parillon and a second half strike from Callum Crook saw United's youngsters win 3-0 away at Bristol Rovers this afternoon.
United took their time getting into the game but fashioned the best chances early on as they adjusted to the windy conditions. Jordan Edwards got on the end of a Fabio Lopes cross in the opening five minutes finding his header flash across the face of goal.
Fabio Sole then picked the ball up from the edge of the area and came closest to breaking the deadlock with a vicious strike that cannoned back off the post and away.
The youngsters had the better of possession and were largely untroubled by the hosts, the closest they came was a volley that stung the palms of keeper Max Evans. Fabio Lopes looked sharp on the wing with a couple of clever interchanges with Chambers-Parillon whilst Tyler Goodrham was the next United player to go close when he cut in from wide and curled an effort narrowly past the post.
Lopes was then inches away from the opener as he picked the ball up from 20 yards, sending a swerving effort towards the top corner but the Rovers goalkeeper made a fingertip save to keep the two sides level.
United finally broke the deadlock on 41 minutes through Chambers-Parillon who grabbed his second goal in as many games with a well taken strike. The midfielder drifted into the area and finished neatly into the bottom corner to give the U’s the lead heading into half time.
United came into the second half exactly how they left the first, maintaining the better of possession and being patient with their chances.
It didn’t take long for United to double their lead through Chambers-Parillon who again found the net when a good delivery from Sole was met with a glancing header from the midfielder who squeezed his effort beyond the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
United had the game under control and on came Callum Crook for some added firepower whilst Sam Johnson replaced Jack Gardner who had picked up a booking midway through the second half.
It was that duo who combined well to grab the U’s third as Johnson – with his first touches of the game – sent in a terrific delivery towards top scorer Crook who headed in the U’s' third of the afternoon.
United saw the rest of the game out professionally to register their third win on the bounce with another very strong performance.
UNITED: Evans, Grant, Elechi, Gardner (Johnson), Milton, Jones, Goodrham, Sole, Edwards (Crook), Chambers-Parillon, Lopes
Unused subs: Niemczycki
Report by Liam Potter