Final score 5-1
Competition: FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round (replay)
Weather at kick-off: Cold and clear
Goals:
United: Boylan 31', Rendell 41', Wolleaston 45', Knights 70', 82'
Stafford: Street 63'
United line-up: Luke McShane, Mark Albrighton, Mark Peters (Gavin Hoyte), Michael Morrison; Dan Gleeson, Courtney Pitt, Rob Wolleaston, Stephen Reed, Darryl Knights, Scott Rendell ( Leo Fortune-West 77), Lee Boylan (Stephen Smith 73)
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Michael Hyem
Stafford line-up: Danny Alcock, Jemiah Richards (Steve Hopkinson 92), Djoumin Sangere, Wayne Daniel, Luke Potter, Ross Draper (David McNiven 34), David Oldfield (Nathan Smith 57) Samy Mawere, Chris Flynn, Kevin Street, Neil Grayson
Subs not used: Tom Ingram, Tom Youngs
United are through to the First Round of the FA Cup; goals from Boylan, Rendell, Wolleaston and Knights (2) for the U's. It wasn't the classiest of performances, although Darryl Knights shone, running Stafford ragged, and claiming two goals as the U's progressed to the First Round proper of the FA Cup. They'll play Aldershot a week on Saturday.
United made two changes, with Leo Fortune-West rested and Danny Brown out after picking up an ankle injury at the weekend, and Lee Boylan and Yeovil loanee Darryl Knights their replacements.
Stafford started brightly, but Wolleaston made a fine tackle, and found Boylan. His ball to Knights put United into a great position, but the cross, bound for Rendell, was too close to Alcock in the Rangers goal. But it was Stafford who started the more determined, and only solid defending from the U's stemmed the early attacks.
In the 13th minute, Gleeson won a free-kick for United. Peters found Pitt, who played a one-two with Wolleaston, and crossed for Knights who fluffed his effort. Reed steamed in at the far stick, but though he got a shot off, it was a tame effort and easily dealt with by Alcock. United continued to press, and good work from Rendell created a chance for Boylan, and though his shot was blocked, Knights won the second ball, and forced a corner for United. It came to nothing.
Moments later, Stafford were unlucky when Neil Grayson was wrongly ruled offside, but fortunately for the U's the shot was poor anyway. Stafford won a free kick level with the left hand edge of the area, and just outside it. The Frenchman Samy Mawene took the kick but curled it over McShane's bar. United swept to the other end, and Wolleaston, after winning a throw off Wayne Daniel, forced his way into the box, chipped into the box finding Rendell, but the striker's header went over the bar.
United began to get on top, dominating possession and territorial advantage, but they couldn't unlock a resolute Stafford rearguard. Ross Draper was booked for a poor challenge on Stephen Reed but Stafford easily cleared the free kick. Then Pitt came steaming forward for United, crossed towards Knights who stepped over the ball, but Rendell was foiled by a last ditch tackle by Djoumin Sangere.
Boylan, having a lively game, played Gleeson in, and his pass, to the impressive Darryl Knights, put United in with a fine chance, but Draper just got a touch to put the ball out for a throw-in to the U's. Wolleaston linked well with Albrighton, and found Courtney Pitt, who was brought down 5 yards outside the area. From the free kick, Albrighton should have done better, but he poked it wide. Stafford then won two corners, the first after Mark Peters almost put through his own goal. But then United swept the ball to the other end. Rendell and Knights linked superbly, and found Lee Boylan who finished brilliantly to put the U's in front in the 31st minute.
Almost immediately, Stafford changed formation, and personnel, with David McNiven coming on for Ross Draper. It was to no avail. Boylan this time the provider, and Scott Rendell was there to give United a two goal advantage with his 11th goal of the current campaign, in the 41st minute.
United weren't finished, though, and the best passage of play of the half saw Gleeson send Rendell clear, and with a magnificent first time shot, Rob Wolleaston made it three in the 46th minute, and United were more then half way there.
Half time:
Cambridge United 3 Stafford Rangers 0
United began the second half unchanged, defending the Newmarket Road end, and they won a quick free kick when Boylan was fouled, but it came to nothing. Stafford knew they needed a quick goal to give themselves any kind of chance, and though United didn't look as sharp as they did at the end of the first half, they were doing enough to stifle the visitors. United went to sleep 5 minutes into the second period, and Stafford appeals for a penalty were denied. United's first real attack of the half came after 53 minutes, when Pitt's throw in found Reed. Knights played a one-two with Wolleaston; Pitt took things up, and forced a corner off David Oldfield.
Darryl Knights was having a fine game and almost made it four, but his shot came back off a post. Seconds later, Boylan went close as United looked to wrap up the game, but United started to look more comfortable. Rangers brought Nathan Smith on for David Oldfield.
Stafford did get themselves back into the game, though, in the 63rd minute, when Michael Morrison gifted an opportunity for the visitors. Luke Potter's cross looked innocuous enough, but Morrison allowed the ball to bounce, and Kevin Street scored from close range after 63 minutes.
Stafford almost did it again within a minute, but Luke McShane made a fine save from the dangerous Chris Flynn. Any further fears United may have had were allayed when Darryl Knights scored his first goal for the club on 70 minutes. Knights started the move himself, and Boylan battled into the box, and unselfishly picked out Knights. He still had work to do, but managed to turn the defence and beat Alcock.
Stephen Smith came on for Lee Boylan, who left the field to a standing ovation, as former United favourite Tom Youngs warmed up on the touchline. Leo Fortune-West and Gavin Hoyte did come on though, for the U's, with the game at Torquay next weekend in mind. Stafford, to their credit, continued to try to prise open the United defence, but United looked content to wind down the clock.
There were several contenders for the man of the match award but Knights looked set to claim it with eight minutes to go, when Wolleaston picked out Stephen Smith, who showed a great turn of pace and threaded the ball to Darryl Knights who scored his second and United's fifth of the night to complete the rout.
Sangere denied Knights his hat-trick with a timely block in injury time, and Wooleaston also went close late on, but Jimmy Quinn will be happy to put this tie to bed and look forward to the First Round game at the Abbey a week on Saturday, when they will play Aldershot, who beat Crawley Town 1-0.
Cambridge United 5 Stafford Rangers 1
Referee: Steve Creighton
Attendance: 1,965 (39 away)
Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
The U's cruised through to the First Round of the FA Cup with a demolition of Stafford Rangers that was as emphatic as the scoreline suggests. After drawing twice in ten days against their visitors, United made no mistake this time and had their place in the next round in the bag by half time, with goals from Boylan, Rendell and Wolleaston. Stafford were presented with hope through a gift of a goal on the hour, but on-loan striker Danny Knights netted twice to ensure it was his and United's day.
Mark's Man of the Match: Darryl Knights for his attacking performance with goals to match, but honourable mentions for Lee Boylan and Scott Rendell, who kept Stafford on the back-foot all night.
Ref watch: Mr Creighton controlled sensibly, and didn't seem to put a foot wrong all night. 9/10.
Steve Greenall
