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Cambridge Utd 2-0 Braintree

Jez George's Cambridge United ended a five-match winless streak with a 2-0 victory over Braintree Town at the Abbey Stadium on Boxing Day.

Michael Gash opened Cambridge's account on 36 minutes and Luke Berry doubled their tally on 58 minutes before Pat O'Connor received his marching orders in second-half injury time.

The U's had the better of the early chances with Ashley Carew firing just wide with a free-kick and James Jennings also narrowly missing the target a few minutes later.

The Cambridge goalkeeper was rarely called into action and watched another shot miss the target on 35 minutes when Dean Wells unleashed a shot from long distance.

And Cambridge went on to score one minute later as Gash latched onto Jenning's chipped through ball before slotting the ball past the onrushing Nathan McDonald.

Adam Marriott fired agonisingly wide for the home side just after the half-time break, while team-mate Tom Shaw struck the post in the 51st minute and the follow-up was fluffed by Carew.

O'Connor and Kenny Davis came close for the visitors but a lack of a cutting edge was letting them down in the final third of the pitch.

Cambridge eventually doubled their advantage in the 58th minute when Berry collected Marriott's pass before firing into the bottom left corner.

Braintree substitute Chibuzor Chilaka fired wide of the right hand upright in the 76th minute and striker Sean Marks fired over the crossbar after seeing his initial effort blocked by Kevin Roberts.

Frustrations boiled over in injury time when O'Connor picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Harrison Dunk, but it had no affect on the final outcome of the clash.

Cambridge bookings: Carew, Shaw.

Braintree bookings: O'Connor, Thomas.

Sent off: O'Connor (90).

Ref: Fearn.

Att: 3,717