AFTER scoring just three goals in eight Premiership games this season, Sunderland cut loose in the Worthington Cup to buy Peter Reid extra breathing space.

Gavin McCann's first strike in more than 18 months, after Claudio Reyna had doused Cambridge United's early fire with an effort that owed much to good fortune, precipitated a second-half romp for Reid's side.

Julio Arca, who had not scored for close to a year before Tuesday night, ended the game as a contest before Marcus Stewart's first two goals for his new club came within a minute of each other.

Tore Andre Flo brought up the half-dozen and also added a seventh as Sunderland recorded their biggest win since they beat Oxford United 7-0 in September 1997.

At the same time, it was the heaviest defeat inflicted on Cambridge in their history, and the home fans who headed to the Abbey Stadium hopeful of seeing a cup upset were left deflated.

Even when United thought they might have earned a brief respite from the slaughter when Omer Riza fell to the turf in the Sunderland penalty area under challenge from Darren Williams, referee Paul Danson booked the striker for diving.

It was that sort of night for the Third Division side, but Reid did not care one jot as he headed back to Wearside having seen his side grant his wish by delivering the most professional of performances.

It was only in the opening exchanges that an upset looked possible, Shane Tudor seeing a shot loop over debutant Thomas Myhre's crossbar after Sunderland had been caught on the break.

Tom Youngs came desperately close to rewarding Cambridge's endeavour and enthusiasm with a goal in the 16th minute, flashing a shot agonisingly wide of the far post from the corner of the six-yard box.

But Sunderland took heed of those early warning shots across their bows and eased through the gears, serving notice of their intentions when Flo brought the first of a handful of splendid saves from goalkeeper Shaun Marshall.

Shortly afterwards, though, Cambridge's resistance crumbled. Reyna's floated free-kick just eluded Stewart, but Marshall could not prevent the ball drifting inside his far post.

Five minutes later, and with United still reeling from that unlucky setback, Sunderland doubled their money with a wonderful strike from McCann.

The midfielder, who had a fine match, ran on to a loose ball 30 yards out and unleashed a rasping drive that fizzed past a stationary Marshall.

At times, it was only the Cambridge keeper who was keeping the scoreline respectable - but his mistake contributed to the third goal that knocked the stuffing out of his side.

Arca struck his 54th-minute shot cleanly enough, but Marshall ought not to have allowed it to slip between his legs and slither over the goalline.

Stewart, without a goal since his move from Ipswich Town on the eve of the transfer deadline, then took centre stage as he rounded off the best move of the evening after 63 minutes.

McCann, back to his irascible best after a handful of sub-standard performances, released David Bellion, and he and Thomas Butler combined to present Stewart with a simple chance that he converted easily.

Soon afterwards, he had an even more presentable opportunity - slotting the ball into the empty net after the overworked Marshall had parried Bellion's drive into his path.

Cambridge were being ripped apart at will by a Sunderland side clearly enjoying the chance to rip off their Premiership shackles, and Flo added to his debut goal with two inside eight minutes.

First, he placed his shot inside the near post following more good work from Bellion, whose pace proved too much for Cambridge throughout.

And Sunderland rounded off the scoring eight minutes from time when the Norwegian beat the offside trap and drew Marshall before slotting the ball past Marshall.

MATCH FACTS

Goals: Reyna (0-1, 20), McCann (0-2, 25), Arca (0-3, 54), Stewart (0-4, 63), Stewart (0-5, 64), Flo (0-6, 74), Flo (0-7, 82)

Bookings: Williams (dissent), Riza (diving)

Attendance: 8,175

Referee: Paul Danson (Leicestershire) 5

CAMBRIDGE UNITED (4-4-2): MARSHALL 7; Fleming 4 (Nacca 76, 5), Goodhind 5, Angus 5, Warner 5; Tudor 6, Bridges 5, Wanless 6 (Guttridge 71, 5), Youngs 7; Riza 5, Kitson 5 (Chillingworth 58, 5). Subs (not used): Tann, Brennan (gk).

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2)

Myhre 6; Williams 7, Craddock 7, Babb 7, Kilbane 8 (McCartney 76, 6); Bellion 8, McCANN 9, Reyna 8 (Thirlwell 65, 6), Arca 7 (Butler 60, 7); Flo 7, Stewart 7. Subs (not used): Kyle, Sorensen (gk).

MAN OF THE MATCH

GAVIN McCann - A close-run thing with David Bellion, but Sunderland's midfield enforcer just edged it as he announced his return to form with a superb all-round performance.

Read more about Sunderland here.