Single goal enough to defeat Stortford.
That was the last action of the game and the U's ended their pre-season with a win.
Substitute Cawley went even closer for the home side, moving from midfield and striking a shot that cannoned off the post.
Former U's man Craig Arnott could have drawn Stortford level with nine minutes to go but his shot across goal was well saved by the outstretched boot of Pentney.
Much to the chagrin of the U's bench, the referee gave nothing and in fact restarted play with a drop ball.
Midway through the second half, Wright had strong appeals for a penalty, heading the ball past the keeper only to be taken out by the Stortford man.
Ben Coker went in with a strong challenge just inside the opposition half, but ended up with a dead leg for his troubles and was substituted for Tom Bender.
Six changes came at the break but one of the replacements only lasted ten minutes by the time he was replaced through injury.
The U's were thankful to Heath just before the break, getting his leg in to deny Milton who had a clear sight of goal after he was slipped through.
There then followed a flurry of chances, with Henderson and Sears having shots saved by the keeper, whilst Ladapo also saw a close range effort blocked by former Southend man Johnny Herd.
Henderson almost had the goal of the season wrapped up before the campaign had even begun, taking down a long Rose diagonal ball before swivelling and lashing a shot against the post.
Sears bent one just wide of the post before Stortford had a chance of their own, with Marriott getting in goal only for his shot to be well saved.
But that was his sighter and he stepped off the flank again five minutes later, bounced off two challenges and rifled one into the bottom corner.
In what is quickly becoming his trademark move, he cut in off the wing to drill in a shot on goal, which was held by the goalkeeper on this occasion.
Wright could have opened the scoring on 14 minutes.
With that Capital One Cup clash on the horizon, John was able to give a number of his players another stint of match action on a superb surface at Woodside Park.
John Ward's men had the chances to win by more than Drey Wright's fine first half strike, but had to settle for that single goal advantage ahead of the curtain raiser against Yeovil Town on Tuesday night.
The U's finished their pre-season build-up with a single goal over Bishop's Stortford on Saturday.U's: Pentney, Wilson (Ramm 46), Heath (White 71), Okuonghae (Aldred 46), Rose (Coker 46 (Bender 56)), Izzet (Bond 46), Gilbey, Wright (James-Lewis 81), Sears (O'Toole 46), Henderson (Duguid 46), Ladapo (Olufemi 71)