Competition: FA Cup 1st Round
Weather at kick-off: crisp, cold
Goals: 
Holroyd 5', Reason 65', Pitt 72', Marriott 86'

United took the lead after just five minutes, but it was another hour before they were able to add to their lead and put the tie beyond the reach of hard-working Ilkeston Town.

Martin Ling made the two anticipated changes to the team - Rory McAuley and Courtney Pitt in for the injured Dan Gleeson and Andy Parkinson - and the seven places on the bench included further call-ups for youth prospects Adam Marriott and Jordan Patrick.

Ilkeston boss Kevin Wilson was forced into changes by injury and suspension, and included new loan signing Aaron Mitchell (Nottingham Forest) in defence and Friday's signing Junior Mendes, formerly of Aldershot Town, up front. The extent of the visitors' problems was illustrated by only six substitutes, one of which was veteran assistant manager Darren Caskey.

After a minute's silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday, the match got off to a lively start with Sam Duncum showing his pace down the Ilkeston left wing and Chris Holroyd racing onto a U's clearance and lifting a speculative shot over the bar. But in the fifth minute he put his side ahead.

Courtney Pitt's cross was initially too high for him and was cleared as far as Paul Carden, whose shot was blocked and rebounded to Holroyd who had followed the ball in and tucked it under the keeper from close-range for his fifteenth goal of the season.

United looked dangerous every time they attacked and in the ninth minute Robbie Willmott's deflected shot was spilled by the keeper but hacked away for a throw-in, and the young winger also delivered a series of crosses and corners as the visitors struggled to cope with United's attacking pace.

On 13, with bonfire smoke drifting over from the allotments behind the South Stand, Holroyd turned neatly on the ball and was bundled over by Nottingham Forest loanee Aaron Mitchell, who was booked. Moments later Rory McAuley's shot drifted wide, and on 15 Hatswell tried his luck from ten yards inside the Ilkeston half and drove the ball a yard wide.

United looked comfortable and confident, with Jai Reason prompting from the centre and getting forward in support of the front men when he could, although there was a moment's alarm on 20 when Hatswell touched the ball back to Potter and Amari Morgan-Smith darted in, but Potter was out smartly to boot the ball away.

Potter was called upon two minutes later when he scooped up Holmes' cross and launched another U's attack, but United were in the driving seat and went close on 29 from Willmott's corner, which was floated by Rory McAuley to the far post where Brian Saah nodded wide from six yards.

Courtney Pitt went on a trademark slalom run on 32, dancing past several Ilkeston men into the area before he was eventually blocked off by Luke Waterfall, and three minutes later a good United move was continued by McAuley's flick-on to Saah, whose blocked shot rebounded to the scurrying Pitt, but the winger's angled shot spun off the outside of his boot and wide.

The visitors were lively on the break and they enjoyed a good spell late in the half, Morgan-Smith's effort forcing Saah into clearing the ball behind at full-stretch and Hooks' corner to the near post cleared by Danny Crow. Morgan-Smith also drew a save from Potter on 40 as the hard-working visitors grew in confidence and United were probably the side happiest to hear the half-time whistle.

Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A great start by United but they rather petered out a bit. Chris Holroyd put United ahead after just five minutes but the visitors have come back into it and looked dangerous on the break as United have perhaps taken their foot off the gas. Plenty to think about in the break."

Second half:
The second half resumed at a high tempo and United had the first chance when Danny Crow's shot from inside the area was diverted behind by Mitchell for a corner in front of the Newmarket Road End, and those fans were aggrieved when McAuley tumbled over after a push but a free kick was awarded to Ilkeston instead.

Crow had another shot charged down two minutes later but the atmosphere was increasingly tense as the visitors continued to threaten on the break. They were helped on 55 when Pitt lost the ball to Dempsey who spotted Potter off his line and fortunately drove the ball against the bar from 30 yards, and the voices of dissent among the home fans gained volume.

Jai Reason was booked for a challenge on Duncum two minutes later, and on 59 Holroyd and Waterfall tangled as the U's striker burst into the area, the Ilkeston defender clearly pushing Holroyd over but referee Mark Brown awarding a free kick against the United striker to further inflame the atmosphere.

A second United goal was sorely needed to settle some nerves and on 65 Jai Reason delivered. Willmott's cross fell slightly behind Pitt, who teed up Reason instead and the midfielder drove a rocket shot from 22-yards into the top far corner.

There was further controversy on 67 when Ilkeston captain Paul Dempsey clattered into Crow, who did well not to react, but the Ilkeston man escaped with just a warning. Waterfall cleared Pitt's resulting free kick and a swift counterattack saw Hooks unleash a great shot that drew an equally impressive full-stretch save from Danny Potter.

Martin Ling was preparing his first substitution, Jon Challinor ready to make his first appearance of the season, when the referee spotted a handball by Dempsey on the edge of his area in the 71st minute and Courtney Pitt lifted an unstoppable free kick over the wall and into the net, giving Lowson no chance.

It was Pitt's final involvement as he jogged off to be replaced by Challinor, who took up station on the right while Willmott switched to the left wing, and two minutes later Holroyd drove a shot wide from the edge of the area.

Mr Brown's inconsistent decisions were summed up on 75 when Wayne Hatswell slid in on Morgan-Smith with a committed challenge and earned a booking, Hook driving the free kick into the wall.

United were still pressing for goals and Willmott met Tonkin's cross and fired over the bar from 25 yards on 77, and two minutes later a well-worked move saw Challinor pull the ball back to Holroyd who put it high and wide from a yard out with the goal at his mercy.

A flurry of substitutions immediately followed as Ling changed both strikers, Lee Phillips replacing Holroyd and teenager Adam Marriott making his home debut in place of Crow, while Kevin Wilson sent on Joe Harris and Josh Burge for Mendes and Beecroft.

Former Grimsby Town youth player Burge tried two 30-yard shots within two minutes of joining the fray, firing wide and then over the bar, and then on 86 Adam Marriott's home debut took on 'Roy of the Rovers' qualities.

Jon Challinor picked out his run on the left just outside the area, and he controlled well before producing an even better finish from 20-yards to notch his first-ever senior goal into the bottom corner.

He almost turned provider two minutes later, backheeling the ball to Lee Phillips who had looked as eager as always, but he sidefooted the ball at the grateful keeper. Marriott's enthusiasm was greeted by a crunching foul two minutes into stoppage time by Waterfall, who was rightly booked, and there was time for one more chance at the other end - Dempsey heading a Hook free kick over the bar - before the jubilant sound of 'Coconuts' rang out at the final whistle.

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Rory McAuley, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott, Jai Reason, Paul Carden (c), Courtney Pitt (Jon Challinor 72'); Danny Crow (Adam Marriott 80'), Chris Holroyd (Lee Phillips 80').
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Sam Ives, Jordan Patrick, Laurie Walker.

Booked: Reason foul 57', Hatswell foul 75'

Ilkeston Town:
Dan Lowson, Richie Holmes, Neil Hooks, Aaron Mitchell, Tom Bonner; Jack Beecroft (Josh Burge 81'), Paul Dempsey (c), Sam Duncum; Junior Mendes (Joe Harris 80'), Amari Morgan-Smith.
Subs not used: Liam Green, Darren Caskey, Jack Watts, Dan Holmes.

Booked: Mitchell foul 13', Waterfall foul 90'

Referee: Mr Mark Brown

Attendance: 2,395 (away 331)

Post-match summary by commentator Mark Johnson:
"The U's finished with a flourish to ease their way into the next round of the cup. They made the perfect start - Chris Holroyd firing them ahead after five minutes - but for an hour the visitors were pesky to break down. All that changed when Jai Reason netted a spectacular goal to take the wind out of Ilkeston sails on 65, and a delicious free kick from Courtney Pitt and a classy goal from young sub Adam Marriott put the game beyond doubt on a day when the U's emphatically avoided a potential banana skin."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Danny Crow - may not have scored a goal put all the hard work in to make space for others in an unselfish performance. Honourable mentions for Jai Reason and Anthony Tonkin for their classy contributions while substitute Jon Challinor returned with an assured performance wide on the right."

Ref: Mr Brown - was consistent only in his inconsistency and after a few weeks of decent refereeing we're back to the same old nonsense. 3/10."

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