Mark Bonner satisfied with Cambridge United performance in pre-season friendlies against Notts County

Cambridge United head coach Mark Bonner was left satisfied with his side’s performance in their pre-season friendlies against Notts County.

The U’s recorded a 2-0 victory and a 3-2 defeat from two 70 minute matches against the Magpies at St Neots Town’s Premier Plus Stadium on Saturday.

Sam Smith scored a brace to give United victory in game one, whilst Harvey Knibbs struck twice in the second fixture. However, the U’s let a two goal lead slip as they were beaten in the second contest.

“I think across both games, we’re quite pleased with that,” Bonner reflected.

“What we needed to do today was to try to get up to 70 minutes. We’ve only got 45 so far, we wanted to do 60 at Cardiff but we could only get 45. To go that jump to 70 minutes was important for us to get that just physically really.

“We’re four weeks in now, the lads have worked really hard. It’s never easy is it when it is as hot as this, but I thought the playing surface was good.

“It gets dry obviously, so that’s tough, but they’ve looked after us really well here, so we’re grateful to St Neots for putting the game on. It was nice to see a few faces.

“I thought game one was good. We played some good football. I thought all afternoon, we scored some excellent goals and had some good attacking play at times.

“We were pleased with the opposition that we played, because we know they play in a way that they try to build the game up deep in the pitch, which is quite common for a lot of teams in our league.

“It just allowed us to work a little bit on when and how we press, when and how we counter attack, and then when and how we bring control ourselves. There were moments of good and bad in both games in those areas really.”

The U’s were on course to win both matches