Man Utd windfall starting to pay off

CAMBRIDGE United boss Richard Money has been able to splash the cash this summer and the investment paid off for the U’s with a comprehensive home win over Newport County.

Money handed six players competitive debuts at the Abbey Stadium and two goals from new striker Barry Corr and a penalty save from goalkeeper Sam Beasant, also a new arrival, proved decisive.

Substitute Robbie Simpson wrapped up the points with the third ten minutes from time to complete a dispiriting afternoon for Terry Butcher’s threadbare Newport squad.

But for Cambridge it was a day when the money brought in from last season’s FA Cup matches against Manchester United looked to have been put to good use and a promotion push certainly seems possible on this evidence.

“The result was just what we needed,” said Money.“I think we scored three really good goals. The major box ticked is that we’ve won the game and that we come off the pitch with three points.”

Money opted for a 3-5-2 system and his side should have been ahead on three minutes when visiting goalkeeper Joe Day looked to have fumbled Leon Legge’s shot over the line.

It didn’t matter though as Corr got the opener midway through the half and added a second on 65 when Alex Rodman played him onside. Medy Elito saw his spot kick saved by Beasant soon afterwards and the game was won.

Money said:“There’s still a lot of work to do, we’re still gelling and finding out about each other and we’re still finding out about the system too.

“I’m not suggesting we’re going to play that way every game but it’s looked interesting in the last two pre-season games so we started with it today. Different teams give you different problems to solve but we solved them pretty well at halftime, and in the second half really got to grips with it and ran out deserved winners.”

New Exiles boss Butcher has a reduced budget after the departure of money man Les Scadding and also suffered injuries to key players ahead of Tuesday’s Capital One Cup trip to Wolves.

But he remained upbeat, saying:“It’s not the result we wanted; 3-0 looks like a hammering but I don’t think it was a hammering at all.

“I thought we had good possession of the ball and the first half was even.

“At 2-0 down we were chasing the game. If we’d scored the penalty it might have been different but it wasn’t to be.

“I gambled and put on two 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old but that’s all we’ve got.”