Shaun Derry: 'Cambridge could have been out of sight in first 25 minutes against Notts'

Cambridge United manager Shaun Derry has claimed that his side deserved their 2-1 victory against Notts County after profiting from good fortune for the second time this season against the Magpies.

The U's were up and running on four minutes when Luke Berry charged down Scott Loach's clearance and the ball flew in - a carbon copy of Ben Williamson's goal in November's corresponding fixture.

And though Haydn Hollis pulled the home side level, Williamson hit the second-half winner, with Liam Noble getting sent off with 11 minutes remaining to help Cambridge see the game out and place them five points off the play-offs with two games to play.

Derry said: "It was a deserved victory for us and we could have been out of sight in the first 25 minutes.

"I thought we started exceptionally well until Mark (Cooper) made a change (midfielder Lartey Sarpong for striker Graham Burke), which was the right one for them.

"It caused us a few problems, but we knew we had extra in the tank for the second half.

"I thought it was going to be a scrappy encounter in the second half but I thought we were excellent at being scrappy.

"The first goal was a carbon copy of the one we scored at the Abbey Stadium when the goalkeeper cleared it straight at our man and it's gone in.

"They say lightning isn't supposed to strike twice, but it did for me. It was fantastic and a welcome goal for us.

"It settled us down and I thought we played some really good stuff and caused Notts County a number of problems."

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