A job well Dunne as the U’s hit top form

CAMBRIDGE United won the battle of the managerless clubs at the Abbey Stadium as caretaker boss Joe Dunne enhanced his job prospects with a second successive win at the expense of struggling Grimsby.

Goals from Uche Ikpeazu, Billy Waters and George Maris gave the U’s the points, with Grimsby, who fired boss Russell Slade last weekend, pulling one back late on thanks to JJ Hooper’s penalty.

Dunne, who took charge of the U’s after Shaun Derry left the club a week ago, picked an attacking lineup for the game and saw it pay dividends as Cambridge made it six goals in their last two matches.

“Their system caught us on the hop a bit in the first half, so we shuffled things around a bit at half-time and we got to grips with them a lot better in the second half,” said Dunne.

“Our play was a lot more clinical, in the first half we were scratching around and it was a bit scrappy.

“It’s another win on the board and the fans have gone home happy.”

Dunne refused to be drawn on whether he would like the job on a permanent basis but if the goals keep flowing for top-scorer Ikpeazu he will certainly be in with a shout.

The former Watford man opened the scoring in the 19th minute, collecting a Barry Corr flick and dispatching a clinical low finish across James McKeown and into the far corner.

It was Cambridge’s only shot of the half but they were far more dangerous after the break, despite the loss of Corr to injury.

The second goal came in the 67th minute when Jevani Brown’s effort was pushed out by McKeown, and Waters was on hand to tap in.

Maris then flicked home a cross from substitute David Amoo, before Hooper tucked away his spotkick, awarded for Brad Halliday’s clumsy tackle on Diallang Jaiyesimi.

It made for an unhappy first game in charge for Grimsby interim boss Paul Wilkinson, who said: “It’s very difficult at the moment because as soon as we go 1-0 down the heads drop.

“We started the second half well but the second goal knocked us and made it a difficult afternoon.

“It’s only us that can change this situation. We’ve got to do the simple things well and do better in both boxes, because it won’t change on the flip of a coin.

“We need to put the hard work in and dig ourselves out of this dip in form.”

The win puts Cambridge up to 14th, with the Mariners four spots lower in 18th.