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Cambridge Utd 7-0 Forest Green

Martin Ling's Cambridge United scored an incredible seven goals against winless Forest Green Rovers on Saturday to lift themselves into the promotion places.

The first half was evenly contested with both sides creating chances to break the deadlock and as the match progressed, it looked like the hosts were starting to settle into a rhythm.

The U's opened the scoring two minutes before the half-time break when Wayne Hatswell dispossessed a Rovers defender before laying the ball off for Danny Crow, who fired an angled shot into the top-right corner.

It didn't take the hosts long to extend their lead after the break as Chris Holroyd collected a through ball and held off a defender before sliding the ball past advancing goalkeeper Terry Burton.

Things went from bad to worse for the goalkeeper as he was shown a straight red card two minutes later for a dangerous challenge on Holroyd.

Crow stepped up to take the resulting spot kick and managed to hit it under the outstretched body of substitute goalkeeper Tom Pass.

Forest Green were buckling under the sustained pressure and fell further behind in the 65th minute when Holroyd raced onto Paul Carden's through pass before firing into the bottom-left corner to make it 4-0.

Shortly after, 18-year-old Sam Ives was brought on for Cambridge midfielder Jai Reason and the youngster made an instant impact as he netted the U's fifth goal of the afternoon.

Crow's powerful shot from the edge of the area was spilled by England Under-18 goalkeeper Tom Pass and Ives reacted first to net his first senior goal.

Ives was clearly revelling in the occasion and soon added to his tally when sprinted clear of the defence and beat fellow youngster Pass for a second time.

The rout was completed one minute before injury time when Anthony Tonkin's cross from the right ricocheted off a defender and striker Mark Beesley picked up the ball on the left of the area before firing a low angled shot into the left corner.

Cambridge bookings: None.

Forest Green bookings: Ellis, Rigg.

Sent Off: Burton (49).

Ref: M Bull (Essex).

Att: 2,646.