MATCH REPORT: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 DOVER ATHLETIC 1
Cambridge United will travel to Dover Athletic for an Emirates FA Cup First Round replay, following a 1-1 draw at the Cambs Glass Stadium.
Piero Mingoia gave United the lead in the first half before Ricky Miller levelled nine minutes from time for the Whites to force a First Round replay.
The return of Luke Berry saw the midfielder take his place up in behind Uche Ikpeazu, who had signed a contract extension ahead of the game, securing his services at the Cambs Glass Stadium until the end of the 2017/18 season.
The hulking centre forward dominated the early stages of the match, causing the visiting defence of Dover problems at the back. His cross to Harrison Dunk saw the winger come within inches of breaking the deadlock with a full stretch diving header which grazed the side netting on 15 minutes.
A 40 yard dash from Ikpeazu saw the 21-year old tear past a number of Dover defenders before he lifted an effort over Mitchell Walker’s crossbar midway through the half, not long before he struck the woodwork with a toe poked shot from eight yards out on 32 minutes.
The U’s continued to pile pressure on the National League outfit as the half progressed, and finally opened the scoring when Piero Mingoia pounced on a loose ball spilt by Dover keeper Walker following an initial strike by Luke Berry.
Mark Roberts was close to extending the lead when he nodded the ball over from close range minutes after the break from a United corner.
Will Norris was called into action in the 53rd minute with an excellent save low to his left after Dover striker Ricky Miller had cut in past Greg Taylor and stung the palms of the United shot stopper.
Uche Ikpeazu should perhaps have done better with a one on one opportunity on 71 minutes after Mingoia had slipped an excellently weighted pass through to the forward, but the striker wrapped his effort well over the bar.
It proved to be costly when Ricky Miller equalised for the visitors on 81 minutes, with the tricky striker wriggling his way past Greg Taylor in the United 18 yard box before slotting the ball into the U’s net and forcing a replay.
Cambridge United: Norris, Halliday, Legge, Roberts, Taylor, Mingoia, Dunne (Pigott, 83 mins), Berry, Clark (Williamson, 66 mins), Dunk (Elito, 66 mins), Ikpeazu
Dover Athletic: Walker, Magri, Thomas (Orlu, 73 mins), Kinnear Jnr, Modeste (Emmanuel, 73 mins), Stevenson, Miller, Grimes, Sterling, Parkinson, Lafayette
Attendance: 2,620 (515 away)
Vindis Man of the Match: Piero Mingoia