Tom Elliott's quickfire brace helped Cambridge United continue their impressive start to the new season with victory over Southport.

Chris Almond's effort was blocked by U's defender Josh Coulson, but it was an otherwise quiet first half.

But Elliott stole the show after the break when he turned in Scott Garner's cross, before firing home from close range three minutes later.

He was denied a seven-minute hat-trick when he struck the post from 20 yards.

Cambridge lie fourth in the Blue Square Bet Premier table with seven points from three games.

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Cambridge United manager Jez George told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:

"I'm usually the most critical of the players and it is very rare that I go in and say 'well done', but I think that was the case today.

"It's unbelievably hot. It is a really tough day to play football and it will be one of those you look back as a great three points.

"It could have been an easy game to drop points in. We had to be patient as we didn't start very well and looked more in danger of conceding a goal than scoring.

"However we came out determined in the second half and they were two great goals."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Cambridge United

  • 01 Hedge
  • 03 Jennings
  • 04 Coulson
  • 12 McAuley
  • 14 Garner
  • 06 Shaw (Moke - 79' )
  • 11 Dunk (Wellard - 86' )
  • 16 Jarvis
  • 18 Berry
  • 22 Willmott
  • 10 Elliott

Substitutes

  • 25 Hudson
  • 08 Wellard
  • 21 Moke
  • 15 Pugh
  • 28 Smith

Southport

  • 01 McMillan
  • 02 Smith
  • 03 Lever
  • 04 Akrigg Booked
  • 05 Parry
  • 06 Grand
  • 08 Ledsham (Barnes - 71' Booked )
  • 15 Chalmers (Stephenson - 63' )
  • 16 Moogan
  • 11 Almond
  • 19 Bakare (Tames - 63' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Nemes
  • 14 Barnes
  • 17 Lynch
  • 18 Tames
  • 21 Stephenson
Ref: Amey
Att: 2,004

Match Stats

Shots

7 5

On target

4 3

Corners

9 8

Fouls

12 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:03 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +3:14

Handball by Luke Berry. Tony McMillan takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +2:09

Corner from left by-line taken by Rossi Jarvis.

90:00 +1:43

Foul by Andrew Parry on Luke Berry, free kick awarded. Rossi Jarvis restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +1:07

Corner from left by-line taken by Rossi Jarvis.

89:25

Scott Garner takes the direct free kick.

89:25 Booking

Booking Louis Barnes goes into the book.

89:16

Louis Barnes challenges Rory McAuley unfairly and gives away a free kick.

87:31

James Jennings takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Louis Barnes.

85:47

Harrison Dunk fouled by Andrew Parry, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by James Jennings.

85:47 Substitution

Substitution (Cambridge Utd) makes a substitution, with Ricky Wellard coming on for Harrison Dunk.

83:26

Alan Moogan takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by James Jennings.

81:20

Corner taken by Louis Barnes, save by Jonathan Hedge.

80:37

Outswinging corner taken by Louis Barnes from the left by-line played to the near post, Rory McAuley manages to make a clearance.

79:59

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Louis Barnes played to the near post, clearance by Rory McAuley.

78:37 Substitution

Substitution Tom Shaw leaves the field to be replaced by Adriano Moke.

76:41

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Louis Barnes from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Rory McAuley.

73:33

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darren Stephenson by Tom Shaw. Direct free kick taken by Alan Moogan.

72:27

Andrew Parry concedes a free kick for a foul on Harrison Dunk. Jonathan Hedge restarts play with the free kick.

71:57

Unfair challenge on Darren Stephenson by Scott Garner results in a free kick. Alan Moogan takes the direct free kick.

71:25

Foul by Darren Stephenson on James Jennings, free kick awarded. Jonathan Hedge takes the indirect free kick.

70:24 Substitution

Substitution Karl Ledsham goes off and Louis Barnes comes on.

68:23

Unfair challenge on Tom Elliott by Karl Ledsham results in a free kick. Jonathan Hedge takes the direct free kick.

67:00

James Jennings gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren Stephenson. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Alan Moogan, blocked by Jonathan Hedge.

62:39 Substitution

Substitution Michael Bakare goes off and Steven Tames comes on.

62:39 Substitution

Substitution Darren Stephenson on for Aaron Chalmers.

58:19

Alan Moogan takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, save by Jonathan Hedge.

56:36

Tom Elliott has an effort at goal from just outside the box hitting the post.

54:12 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Elliott - Cambridge 2 - 0 Southport Tom Elliott finds the net with a goal from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Cambridge Utd 2-0 Southport.

53:49

Corner taken left-footed by James Jennings,

53:15

Michael Bakare takes a shot. Blocked by Jonathan Hedge.

51:23

Assist on the goal came from Scott Garner.

51:23 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Elliott - Cambridge 1 - 0 Southport Tom Elliott gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Cambridge Utd 1-0 Southport.

50:54

Outswinging corner taken by James Jennings,

48:47

Rossi Jarvis takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Karl Ledsham.

48:08

Michael Bakare takes a shot. Jonathan Hedge makes a save.

47:13

Robbie Willmott handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Simon Grand takes the direct free kick.

46:37

Tom Shaw takes a shot. Simon Grand gets a block in.

45:13

Effort from just outside the area by Tom Elliott goes over the target.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:02 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +0:13

Rory McAuley concedes a free kick for a foul on Karl Ledsham. Aaron Chalmers restarts play with the free kick.

43:46

Andrew Parry fouled by Harrison Dunk, the ref awards a free kick. Aaron Chalmers restarts play with the free kick.

43:04

Tom Elliott challenges Tony McMillan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tony McMillan takes the free kick.

39:48

Tom Elliott fouled by Chris Almond, the ref awards a free kick. Rossi Jarvis takes the direct free kick.

38:50

Michael Bakare fouled by Rory McAuley, the ref awards a free kick. Aaron Chalmers delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, Rossi Jarvis makes a clearance.

38:03

Robbie Willmott has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the goal.

37:35

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Rossi Jarvis, clearance made by Karl Ledsham.

36:03

Foul by Scott Garner on Michael Bakare, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Tony McMillan.

33:22

Luke Berry challenges Steve Akrigg unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tony McMillan takes the free kick.

30:49

Tom Elliott fouled by Steve Akrigg, the ref awards a free kick. James Jennings takes the direct free kick.

29:50

Foul by Tom Elliott on Steve Akrigg, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Tony McMillan.

27:42

Effort on goal by Michael Bakare from outside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

27:06

Unfair challenge on Andrew Parry by Harrison Dunk results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Tony McMillan.

24:50

The official flags Michael Bakare offside. Jonathan Hedge restarts play with the free kick.

24:23

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Rossi Jarvis played to the near post, James Smith manages to make a clearance.

23:43

Corner from the left by-line taken by Steve Akrigg, save by Jonathan Hedge.

22:08

Corner taken by Karl Ledsham from the left by-line, clearance by Luke Berry.

20:53

The referee blows for offside. Jonathan Hedge takes the direct free kick.

19:55

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Harrison Dunk by Alan Moogan. James Jennings takes the direct free kick, Tom Elliott takes a shot. Save by Tony McMillan.

17:38

Corner from the left by-line taken by Rossi Jarvis, save by Tony McMillan.

17:02

Free kick awarded for a foul by Aaron Chalmers on Luke Berry. Josh Coulson takes the free kick.

15:45

Steve Akrigg challenges Harrison Dunk unfairly and gives away a free kick. James Jennings takes the direct free kick.

15:45 Booking

Booking Steve Akrigg booked for unsporting behaviour.

12:23

Chris Almond takes a shot. Blocked by Josh Coulson.

11:50

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Elliott on Simon Grand. Simon Grand restarts play with the free kick.

7:47

The assistant referee signals for offside against Michael Bakare. Rory McAuley restarts play with the free kick.

4:47

Alan Moogan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rossi Jarvis. Rossi Jarvis takes the free kick.

1:38

Karl Ledsham gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Harrison Dunk. Free kick taken by Jonathan Hedge.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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