Match report

Cambridge United Defeats Gillingham 5-0 in League Two Thriller

Cambridge United
Cambridge United
5–0
FT
Gillingham
Gillingham
Mar 14, 2026

Cambridge United stunned Gillingham with a 5-0 victory in a commanding League Two performance at the Abbey Stadium. Dominant from the start, the hosts took the lead through Dominic Ball within two minutes. L. Appere, an own goal from Gillingham's Lenni Rae Cirino, S. Kaikai, and S. Lavery sealed the win, leaving Gillingham with little to celebrate.

Key Facts

  • • Dominic Ball scored the opening goal in the 2nd minute
  • • L. Appere doubled the lead with a goal assisted by P. Mpanzu
  • • Lenni Rae Cirino scored an own goal for Gillingham in the 50th minute
  • • S. Kaikai scored in the 54th minute, assisted by Dominic Ball
  • • S. Lavery scored the final goal in the 90th minute, assisted by Ben Knight

Lineups

Cambridge United

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 1 J. Eastwood (G)
  • 26 J. Gibbons (D)
  • 23 M. Jobe (D)
  • 6 K. Watts (D)
  • 2 L. Bennett (M)
  • 4 D. Ball (M)
  • 17 P. Mpanzu (M)
  • 7 J. Brophy (M)
  • 11 S. Kaikai (F)
  • 14 B. Knight (F)
  • 9 L. Appere (F)

Substitutes

  • 25 B. Hughes
  • 8 K. Smith
  • 3 B. Purrington
  • 19 S. Lavery
  • 20 K. Kouassi
  • 28 S. Raggett
  • 27 G. McConnell

Gillingham

Formation: 3-5-2

Starting XI

  • 1 G. Morris (G)
  • 5 A. Smith (D)
  • 15 T. Akomeah (D)
  • 3 M. Clark (D)
  • 11 A. Rowe (M)
  • 27 N. Khumbeni (M)
  • 24 H. Waldock (M)
  • 10 J. Williams (M)
  • 32 L. Cirino (M)
  • 12 S. Palmer-Houlden (F)
  • 38 R. Hale (F)

Substitutes

  • 25 J. Turner
  • 19 S. Vokes
  • 23 B. Dack
  • 39 O. Beckles
  • 7 G. McCleary
  • 8 A. Little
  • 2 R. Hutton

Timeline

  1. Cambridge United
    2' Cambridge United Goal · Normal Goal
    Dominic Ball · Assist: L. Appere
  2. Gillingham
    28' Gillingham Card · Yellow Card
    Lenni Rae Cirino
  3. Cambridge United
    36' Cambridge United Goal · Normal Goal
    L. Appere · Assist: P. Mpanzu
  4. Gillingham
    42' Gillingham Card · Yellow Card
    Andy Smith

    Foul

  5. Gillingham
    46' Gillingham subst · Substitution 1
    Off: N. Khumbeni · On: S. Vokes
  6. Cambridge United
    50' Cambridge United Goal · Own Goal
    Lenni Rae Cirino
  7. Cambridge United
    54' Cambridge United Goal · Normal Goal
    S. Kaikai · Assist: Dominic Ball
  8. Gillingham
    61' Gillingham subst · Substitution 2
    Off: S. Palmer-Houlden · On: B. Dack
  9. Gillingham
    61' Gillingham subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Lenni Rae Cirino · On: Omar Beckles
  10. Gillingham
    61' Gillingham subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Jonathan Williams · On: A. Little
  11. Cambridge United
    66' Cambridge United subst · Substitution 1
    Off: S. Kaikai · On: Korey Smith
  12. Cambridge United
    66' Cambridge United subst · Substitution 2
    Off: J. Brophy · On: B. Purrington
  13. Cambridge United
    66' Cambridge United subst · Substitution 3
    Off: L. Appere · On: S. Lavery
  14. Cambridge United
    73' Cambridge United subst · Substitution 4
    Off: J. Gibbons · On: Sean Raggett
  15. Gillingham
    76' Gillingham subst · Substitution 5
    Off: A. Rowe · On: G. McCleary
  16. Cambridge United
    80' Cambridge United subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Dominic Ball · On: K. Kouassi
  17. Gillingham
    84' Gillingham Card · Yellow Card
    B. Dack

    Foul

  18. Cambridge United
    90' Cambridge United Goal · Normal Goal
    S. Lavery · Assist: Ben Knight

Match Stats

Stat Cambridge United Gillingham
Fouls 10 16
Pass Accuracy 63% 56%
Offsides 3 1
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 18 6
Corners 8 1
Total Passes 346 270
Yellow Cards 0 3
Blocked Shots 6 2
Shots on Target 6 0
xG 4.35 0.17
Shots off Target 6 4
Possession 57% 43%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 219 152
Shots Inside Box 15 2
Saves 0 2
Shots Outside Box 3 4

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Cambridge United's early lead in the 2nd minute set the tone for a dominant performance
  • ▸ Gillingham's own goal in the 50th minute marked a turning point, further demoralizing the away side and solidifying Cambridge United's control