Salisbury City 0 Cambridge United 4: Salisbury looked in confident mood after their win at Woking in midweek, but a good second half performance from Cambridge United condemned them to a 4-0 defeat at the Trade Recruitment Stadium.

Salisbury manager Nick Holmes said: "I wasn't worried after the first half because we gave as good as we got and were a bit unlucky to go behind.

"They scored from a long throw through our poor defending but there wasn't any panic at that stage.

"In the second half though it was men against boys. Every time the aerial ball went into our box we were deficient and at the end of the day we were soundly beaten by a top side.

"They scored from set-pieces and the one thing you know from set pieces is where the ball is going to come.

"Although we talked to people about their specific jobs from set pieces, those jobs haven't been done today. Cambridge are a good side - a lot different from Woking, and Cambridge with confidence going forward are a completely different kettle of fish."

The U's had more of the first half and scored from their first real move on 24 minutes when Anthony Tonkin's long throw was flicked across the Salisbury box before reaching Robbie Wilmott, who made no mistake with an easy header.

Salisbury were unlucky not to equalise two minutes later when Michael Fowler headed a Robbie Sinclair corner narrowly over the top but this was the only threat offered by the visitors during the first half.

It took only four minutes of the second period for the home side to double their lead. Wilmott forced a parry from Salisbury keeper James Bittner, but the unfortunate Bittner saw the ball fall into the path of Scott Rendell who scored the second. Rendell could have added to his tally on 52 minutes but his effort was ruled out by an assistant.

It was now a constant procession towards the Salisbury goal and two goals in a minute put the final gloss on the home side's victory. On 62 minutes a corner reached Jon Challinor in space in the Salisbury box and the experienced ex-Rushden man headed back into the danger area where Chris Holroyd netted from two yards, and seconds later Courtney Pitt scored to make it four.