Cambridge United win Junior Premier League Cup derby against Cambridge City

A solitary goal from Flo Hjaltun-Raynor was enough for Cambridge United Under-18s to defeat local rivals Cambridge City Under-18s in an entertaining Junior Premier League Cup game at Cambourne Village College on Saturday, writes Robert Coe.

The U’s hit the woodwork three times in registering their second win of the season but the Lilywhites also caused plenty of danger in attack, especially from the fleet-footed Faith Harrison.

It was from the right wing that the only goal of the game arrived in the eighth minute when Hjaltun-Raynor received the ball from a Mistie Fox-Barker long pass, moved into the penalty area and neatly volleyed the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper.

Hjaltun-Raynor, pictured , then had two bites of the cherry to get her second just a few minutes later. She hit the post with the her first shot, the ball rebounding to Natasha Coe on the left to cross only for Hjaltun-Raynor to shoot straight at City goalkeeper Phoebe Newman on this occasion.

As the contest wore on Coe’s strike from distance rattled the cross and Millie Docking also went close, while Isabella Teague and Faith Harrison had opportunities to level up the scoreline for City.

Victorious United manager Sean Greygoose said: “We looked at today to get a result and clean sheet and we limited them to hardly any chances.

“We hit post and bar a few times too. I thought everyone did their roles well and shows the depth the fact we are able to rest players for their senior games on a Sunday.

“We set them different challenges and ways of playing to help develop them. Again loads of positives and outcomes but really pleased with the attitude of the girls. Two clean sheets with another different challenge next week.”

Meanwhile, City coach Neil MacLeod added: “Obviously we’re disappointed with the result of the game – no-one likes losing a local derby – but we can take a lot of positives from our performance.

“We had a number of girls making their debuts and playing up an age group and I thought they did well. We suffered two injuries early on that forced our hand into making changes but I didn’t think that there was much to separate the two teams other than United taking their chance.”