Saturday 7th November - U's 4-0 Ilkeston: No smoke without fire
It's that time of year again, when the media starts slobbering about "The Magic of the Cup", any club still in it from below Conference level gets patronised to death by all and sundry (he's a postman who - gasp! - plays football!), and 'Look East' remembers that Cambridge United still exist and gives us a token mention on the day before the first round.
The smoke that began to drift onto the pitch from between the Habbin and South Stands not long after kick-off today, however, was not so much magical - was the Abbey going to disappear into a cloud and be replaced by a housing estate? - as an irritating reminder that some of those irascible old allotment holders are still around, years after the long wrangles that eventually led to the building of the South Stand as phase one of an ambitious redevelopment of the ground that never made it any further.
United have enjoyed many a marvellous moment in the FA Cup over the years, from the first major giant-killing of Newport in 1953, through those magical runs in the opening years of the last three decades (tussles with Villa and Coventry in the early Eighties, the runs to the quarter-finals of the early Nineties, the Fifth Round in 2000) to that battle with Wolves two years ago.
You really cannot ask for more from a First Round draw than a lower league team at home, and United's first-ever encounter with Ilkeston Town looked like a useful route to further glories as long as the team did not succumb to complacency. The Robins from Derbyshire enjoyed their best ever Cup runs, to the Second Round, as recently as ten and twelve seasons ago and are going well in the Conference North this term after negotiating the Unibond League playoffs last season. They are under new management from that which won promotion, however, with former Ipswich striker Kevin Wilson installed as boss and 35-year-old Darren Caskey as player-coach.
Injuries and suspensions meant that Ilkeston could name just six of the seven substitutes allowed in the competition, including Caskey, and the only familiar face to amber eyes was Junior Mendes, who was at Stevenage last term. They sported an all-red strip with white sleeves and a sponsor's badge which resembled a huge Elastoplast, the name thereon too small to be read from the terraces.
For the hosts, Dan Gleeson's injury meant another runout at right-back for Rory McAuley while Courtney Pitt was restored to the left in Andy Parkinson's absence, and the bench was filled with the young promise of Adam Marriott, Jordan Patrick and Sam Ives.
The day was clear and sunny but with a distinctly wintry nip in the air as a lively away support was briefly quieted by a minute's Remembrance silence before the teams got down to business and those allotment holders finished constructing their bonfire. They should have let us know, they would have been guaranteed plenty of suggestions for an effigy to place on top...
Chris Holroyd, now beginning to attract unwelcome transfer speculation after a fantastic 14 goals in 18 matches, had United's first shot, off target, but inside five minutes he had given his side a welcome breakthrough. Paul Carden had a shot blocked, he in turn blocked the attempted clearance, and it rebounded fortuitously to the U's sharp shooter, just onside eight yards out. He does not miss gifts like that and slotted calmly past keeper Dan Lowson for the perfect start: 1-0.
The visitors responded a minute later when Wayne Hatswell fouled Mendes, Neil Hooks lofted the free-kick in and Amari Morgan-Smith stooped to nod a decent chance over the bar. United, however, looked pacy and alert and continued to ask questions of the Robins' defence. Robbie Willmott looked much like his old self and on 9 cut inside and saw his shot deflected by marker Tom Bonner; Lowson dived low to his left, just managed to beat it out, and it was scrambled away.
A series of corners ensued for the U's amidst the growing smoke - had someone ordered their burger to be well done? - and on 13 Holroyd drew the first booking of the game for Aaron Mitchell. Willmott then fired a shot wide, while on the quarter hour a foul on Carden by the colourfully-named Luke Waterfall a full forty yards out tempted Hatswell into one of his spectacular long-range 'catch the keeper unawares' efforts, but this time he was off target.
The hosts were in control, with lively movement from the front two, good support from Willmott and Jai Reason, while Carden was almost omnipresent behind them, tidying up any attempts by the visitors at an attack. Their most effective outlet was left-winger Sam Duncum, a tricky and pacy presence who asked McAuley searching questions all afternoon, but his crosses usually foundered on the twin rocks of Hatswell and Brian Saah.
Soon, though, hints of overconfidence began to creep into United's play, and instead of patiently playing their way forward, too many lazy high balls began to be pumped towards Holroyd and Danny Crow, who did their level best but were usually beaten in the air by Ilkeston's hulking centre-backs, who looked substantially taller than their relatively vertically challenged goalkeeper.
Ilkeston, for their part, demonstrated that they were certainly no long-ball merchants, essaying a measured passing style of their own which just lacked a cutting edge up front, and they were well supported by a cheerful band of followers enjoying, yes, their Cup Final.
An old favourite corner routine almost paid off for United just before the half hour, McAuley arriving late and unseen to Willmott's floater, and his subsequent cross back into the danger zone from the byline found Saah's head at the far post, the big man nodding just wide.
A superb run into the box past multiple opponents by a previously subdued Pitt was ended by a last-ditch tackle from Waterfall on 32, and three minutes later the little wing wizard latched onto a blocked Saah shot to scuff wide from the edge of the box. He was sporting a rather nasty bright yellow long-sleeved top under his short-sleeved United shirt; did you enjoy the opening day at Primark yesterday then, Courts?
United seemed to run out of ideas as the half began to wind down and Ilkeston enjoyed some substantial spells of possession, to the home fans' growing disquiet. The defence, however, stood firm with great resolution, and the only real save that Danny Potter had to make came from a Morgan-Smith shot five minutes before the break. The hosts survived until the interval, but were only one goal from potential embarrassment and a move up the gears would surely be required in part two in order to secure a place in the second round. At least that ruddy bonfire had stopped providing its smokescreen in the south-east corner.
The U's resumed in positive fashion, no doubt in response to a few choice words from the boss, and Crow had a couple of shots blocked in the opening minutes, but Ilkeston still knocked it around effectively and on 55 Pitt carelessly lost possession thirty yards out. Paul Dempsey instantly pounced and his howitzer of a shot seemed to be screaming into the top left corner, but instead just clipped the top of the bar over Potter's desperate dive. Close shave.
Ref Brown signalled a bizarre spell of non-tolerance of any physical contact when he harshly carded Reason on 57 for an honest challenge on Duncum, and two minutes later the man in black topped that when Holroyd went down under Waterfall's clumsy shove in the area and, incredibly, he penalised the United man for a dive, although he did not back up his flimsy decision with a booking. Perhaps that smoke had seeped into his brain.
With the contest in the balance, it just needed one moment of true quality from the U's to swing it their way, and that moment arrived perfectly on cue on 65. Pitt knocked the ball inside for Reason and, with no immediate challenge 25 yards out, he smashed an unstoppable shot into the top right corner that had 'goal' written all over it from the second it left his boot. Fantastic: 2-0.
The ref demonstrated his inconsistency by failing to card Dempsey for an agricultural challenge on Crow a couple of minutes later, then Potter was called upon for his best save of the afternoon with a diving stop from Hooks' shot.
The result was sealed on 71. Dempsey was penalised for a blatant handball right under the ref's nose just outside the box in the left channel. In a well-rehearsed routine, two United players broke away from in front of the ball and Pitt stepped up to curl an exquisite free-kick over the wall and into the same corner Reason had found a few minutes earlier as keeper Lowson, originally starting to shuffle the other way, stood rooted to the spot. Great stuff: 3-0.
Pitt was immediately withdrawn in favour of Jon Challinor, making his first appearance since Wembley, and bizarrely, he was asked to play wide right with Willmott switching to the left wing. With young Jordan Patrick, a specialist winger, chomping at the bit to prove himself and at what seemed to be a perfect time for him to come on, it was a surprise to say the least to see a central midfielder who can also play up front or at full-back or centre-back placed in the one position he has never filled before.
Perhaps he was there to help out McAuley against the mercurial Duncum, but now JC was cup-tied and with Chelsea's transfer ban now lifted for the time being, surely they will not now make their long-anticipated move for the vertically-tonsured maestro of versatility...
To his credit Challinor settled in well and United were reinvigorated, confidence boosted by two superb goals and Ilkeston now surely aware that their task was beyond them. Holroyd fired wide on 73, and two minutes later Hatswell was carded by Random Ref for a tackle on Morgan-Smith just outside the area, Hooks blasting an unimaginative free-kick into the wall.
Anthony Tonkin had been a rock-solid defender in the first half but got increasingly involved overlapping in support of the attack in the second. One of his crosses on 77 was blasted over by Willmott, then an excellent cross to the far post was headed back across goal by Challinor to present Holroyd with a gilt-edged chance less than five yards out with only Lowson to beat, but the bounce was his undoing and he spooned it uncharacteristically over the bar.
As the last ten minutes beckoned, the subs' benches enjoyed a flurry of activity. Joe Harris and Josh Burge replaced Mendes and Luke Beecroft for the visitors, while United removed Crow and Holroyd and sent on a new front pairing of Lee Phillips and Adam Marriott. Burge tried to make an impression with two spectacular off-target long-rangers, but on 86 it was the goalscoring starlet of CRC who had the final word.
Tonkin found Challinor out on the right, and his low cross seemed to be aimed at Willmott, unmarked at the far post, but Marriott latched onto it first with cool one-touch control and without hesitation buried a devastatingly accurate shot past Lowson before he could react, for his first senior goal. A star is born: 4-0.
Two minutes later his cheeky backheel set up Phillips for a shot from a similar position on the edge of the box, but the big man's effort was too deliberate and Lowson gathered comfortably. Waterfall became last man into the book for a late foul on Marriott and last chance fell to the spirited visitors, Hooks' free-kick nodded over by Dempsey; then it was all over and the Ilkeston following could pack away their top hats with rosettes on them and silver foil replicas of the FA Cup for another year.
In the end it had been comfortable for United, with three goals of the utmost quality settling it in the second half, but it had not been plain sailing by any means so there will be no danger of Martin Ling getting carried away. Greater challenges await. And this squad at least appears to have the potential to rise to the occasion. Time will tell.
Sky Sports News' ticker after the match insisted that United had won 2-0 at Bashley in the Zamaretto League, whatever on Earth that is, but the inclusion of highlights of those delicious goals late into ITV's witching-hour round-up engendered a warm glow in the hearts of our club's long-suffering supporters. We do not need national media recognition to justify our existence, but it's a nice feeling nonetheless to see the black and amber on our screens once again, if only fleetingly. And Robbie Earle wants his eyes tested for not including one of our goals in his top three of the weekend!
Statto Corner
None of United's scorers today had managed a goal in the FA Cup before, for the U's or any other club. The club's top post-war FA Cup goalgetters are John Taylor and Phil Hayes, with 11 each, followed by Dion Dublin with 10, Bill Cassidy and Russell Crane with 8, and Dave Simmons, Jimmy Gibson, Fred Howell and Albert George, with seven.
United last reached the Second Round two seasons ago, defeating Stafford, Aldershot and Weymouth before succumbing unluckily 2-1 at Wolves in the Third. They last got to Round Two as a Football League club in 2003-04, beating Lancaster City then going out on penalties in a replay to Macclesfield Town.
Former U's keeper Scott Barrett was born in Ilkeston. Those who have played for both clubs are Ian Benjamin, Martin Carruthers (pictured), Tony Dennis, Leon Kelly, Paul Raynor, Justin Walker and Devon White.
Ilkeston manager Kevin Wilson is no stranger to Cambridge. He first faced the U's as a player for Derby County in November 1980, partnered up front by Alan Biley, but they were well shackled by Steve Fallon and 'Wolfie' Smith and United ran out 3-0 winners at the Baseball Ground.
In three further appearances for Derby he finished on the winning side every time against the U's, scoring once in a 3-0 FA Cup win at the Abbey in January 1984, then popped up for Ipswich when the Tractor Boys lost 1-0 at Newmarket Road in the League Cup in October 1986.
Two further outings followed, for Notts County in 1992, and he last appeared at the Abbey as Kettering manager in a pre-season friendly in 2005, the Poppies succumbing 2-1 to goals from Stephen Smith and Fola Onibuje.
Wilson's player/coach Darren Caskey has also clashed with United many times in the past. His first time at the Abbey was as a young sub for Tottenham in a 1994 pre-season friendly; a strong Spurs side, which included names like Anderton, Rosenthal, Campbell, Barmby, Walker and Calderwood, ran out 3-0 winners.
Caskey went on to face the U's twice in 2000 for Reading, then a further four times for Notts County in the following two years, scoring once in the Magpies' 2-0 win at the Abbey in January 2002.
Junior Mendes was the most familiar face on the pitch for Ilkeston today. He first came up against United when he was at Carlisle in 1998, and again for Mansfield in 2004, but most memorable were the three matches in which he appeared for Stevenage last season, enjoying two home wins in the BSP and the playoff semi-final first leg before Borough came unstuck so spectacularly in the second leg at the Abbey, 3-0 on 4th May. Was that really only six months ago?
Player Ratings
Potter 7. Rarely looked less than assured.
McAuley 6. Given a torrid time by the elusive Duncum, but stuck to his task and will be all the better for the experience.
Tonkin 8. Exemplary display of the attacking left-back's art.
Saah 8. Commanding.
Hatswell 7. A decent day's work.
Willmott 7. Good, industrious first half, a little quieter when switched to the left.
Carden 8. The heartbeat of the side.
Reason 7. Solid game topped by a brilliant blockbuster of a goal.
Pitt 6. Did not have a great game, but a very nice free-kick.
Crow 7. The Fen Tevez put in his usual hard-working shift, and when everyone else is scoring, he does not need to worry about his own meagre tally.
Holroyd 7. The goals keep coming and he consistently looks a cut above this level.
Challinor 6. Fair do's, he settled in well wide right and made a good contribution to the team.
Marriott 7. The clamour for Maz's inclusion in the senior squad can only grow after a masterly goal.
Phillips 6. Energetic as ever, and he really deserves to get a start soon.
Match Summary
Three goals of the highest quality helped United to cruise into the second round after a close, hard-fought first half against a decent Ilkeston side. They will need all the quality they can muster for the league fixtures that now loom large on the calendar.
Man of the Match
Paul Carden. In a difficult first 45 he was everywhere, tidying up in front of the back four and supporting the attack with energy and vigour. The foundation he built helped United to what was eventually a thoroughly deserved victory.
Ref Watch
Brown 3. One of those random refs who appear from nowhere every now and then, he started out OK then gradually lost the plot, booking some players and letting others off for identical offences, blowing up incessantly for the most trivial of contacts, and his judgement that Holroyd had dived was just laughable. Sub-standard.
Out of the Mouths of Babes
"I said 'Everybody in our school likes Cambridge more than anyone in England.' Then we got a hot dog and then QPR scored, and I didn't cheer. I shouted 'Rubbish' and my friend went and kicked me." (Martin Rutherford)
Soundtrack of the Day
Kill It Kid 'Heaven Never Seemed So Close'
Andrew Bennett
Andrew's previous match reports
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