Luke Berry stars as Cambridge United earn FA Cup win over Coventry

U's run riot to dump out Sky Blues

Luke Berry was the star man as Cambridge United produced a sublime performance to defeat Coventry City 4-0 in the second round of the FA Cup.

The attacking midfielder had a memorable afternoon by scoring all four goals as United dumped the League One side out of the Cup in some style.

The first goal came after just seven minutes as George Maris’ delicious cross from the left saw Berry stab the bouncing ball past Coventry keeper Lee Burge.

In the 28th minute, Berry took a throw-in on his chest and turned a defender, and in doing so was clumsily fouled to concede a penalty, and the U’s midfielder dusted himself down to fire the spot-kick past Burge.

The hat-trick was completed in the 38th minute as Piero Mingoia did well to win possession in the midfield and charge towards the area before spotting Berry to his right.

Mingoia deftly flicked the ball into the path of his team-mate with the outside of his foot, and Berry made no mistake with the finish, giving Burge no chance.

Berry almost had a fourth at the start of the second half as he got a flick to Maris’ cross and it required a spectacular fingertip stop from Burge to turn the effort up on to the bar and over for a corner.

Uche Ikpeazu had a curling effort just wide for United in the 65th minute, and then two minutes later, Coventry had their first effort on target.

Marvin Sordell had a bit of space in the box and his curling effort was pushed out by Will Norris into the path of Kyel Reid, who fired wide when he should have done better.

But the fourth of a glorious afternoon for Berry arrived five minutes from time.

Brad Halliday did excellent work with a run into the box on the right, and his cross to the back post was met by the on-running Berry, who side-footed home.

Cambridge United: Norris, Halliday, Roberts, Legge, Taylor, Mingoia, Clark, Dunne, Maris, Berry, Ikpeazu.

Substitutes: Gregory, Adams, Williamson, Dunk, Long, Dallison, Pigott.

Coventry: Burge, Willis, Harries, Maycock, Turnbull, Page, Bigirimana, Lameiras, Gadzhev, Sordell, McBean.

Substitutes: Charles-Cook, Rose, Agyez, Jones, Reid, McCann, Tudgay.

Bookings: Coventry – Maycock (foul, 43), Turnbull (foul, 84), Gadhzhev (foul, 90+1).

Referee: Keith Stroud.

Attendance: 4,283 (745 away).