Mark Robins produced a sensational debut for Bristol City to give the club a commanding lead after the first leg of their LDV Vans Trophy Southern Area final.

Introduced as a 62nd-minute substitute with his team 2-1 down, the loan signing from Rotherham set up a goal for Scott Murray and then added the fourth himself.

Tommy Doherty had shot City ahead on 21 minutes only for Dave Kitson to reply with goals after 33 and 54 minutes.

Joe Burnell's deflected shot made it 2-2 before Murray and Robins settled a thrilling game.

City dominated for long periods, with Lee Peacock twice hitting the woodwork, but Kitson's opportunism gave Cambridge hope of a first-leg lead.

He headed in a Shane Tudor cross for his first and then scored from close range after Tom Youngs' effort had come back off the crossbar.

But Robins' arrival turned the match and put City within 90 minutes of a trip to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Bristol City: Phillips, Carey, Butler, Hill, Bell, Murray, Burnell, Doherty, Tinnion, Roberts, Peacock. Subs: Beadle, Stowell, Coles, Rosenior, Robins.

Cambridge Utd: Marshall, Tann, Goodhind, Murray, Fleming, Guttridge, Tudor, Wanless, Newey, Kitson, Youngs. Subs: Brennan, Chillingworth, Revell, Bridges, Huggins.

Referee: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).