Competition: FA Cup 1st round
Weather at kick-off: Blustery showers
Goals:
United: Boylan 62', Fortune-West 85'
Aldershot: Dixon 31'
Denied time and time again by Shots keeper Nikki Bull, United fell behind against the run of play in the first half, but Lee Boylan and Leo Fortune-West finally broke Bull's resistance and scored the goals to put United deservedly into the second round.
Jimmy Quinn recalled goalkeeper Danny Potter to the team after he recovered from the dislocated finger that ruled him out of the last three games, but otherwise named the same side that started last weekend's 2-1 win at Torquay United.
Shots manager Gary Waddock named the same side that won 2-1 at Weymouth last Friday and they lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with former U's defender Rob Gier at right-back.
After a minute's silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday, United had the first chance to score when Stephen Reed's dangerous free kick was by by the late-arriving Mark Peters at the far post but he lifted the ball over the bar.
United were then denied twice in quick succession by Shots 'keeper Nikki Bull. First a ball rebounded off Straker and ran for Rob Wolleaston near the penalty spot, whose shot bounced awkwardly in front of Bull and he had to make a superb save to deny last weekend's match winner.
Then Lee Boylan linked well with Courtney Pitt on the edge of the area and volleyed a shot at Bull who made another good save.
Shots forward Rob Elvins collected the first booking of the game in the ninth minute when he tried to charge down Morrison's free kick before the ball had been struck, and within a minute Scott Rendell joined him for his protests following a clash between Peters and Soares, when the Aldershot man was awarded a free kick.
There was barely time to draw breath in these opening minutes, with both sets of fans contributing to a great atmosphere, and on 12 a deep cross ran for Pitt on the left, and he teed up Darryl Knights for a shot that was deflected behind by Shots captain Rhys Day.
Dan Gleeson collected the third booking after 13 minute for a foul on Grant and two minutes later made a cool clearance under pressure, but United's team lost an influential figure in the 18th minute when Grant advanced to lift a shot over and Peters and Albrighton collided as they attempted the clear the ball. Both men went down after the clash but Peters regained his feet while Albrighton stayed down and had to be stretchered off.
Gavin Hoyte came on to replace him, taking up his usual role on the left of the back three while Peters moved into the centre, and moments after the restart Knights met Gleeson's cross and crashed a shot against the bar and Rendell followed up but was denied by the offside flag.
Both sides looked dangerous on the attack but United were enjoying the best chances. On 24 Gleeson picked out Boylan with a perfect cross and the little striker nipped between two defenders to nod a header narrowly wide, and moments later Michael Morrison tried his luck from at least 35 yards and the shot was dipping under the bar until that man Bull got his fingertips to it.
There was controversy in the 28th minute when Rob Wolleaston got to the byline and cut inside, was brought down inside the area by a defender's outstretched leg but was adjudged by referee Gary Sutton to have dived and was shown the yellow card.
It got worse three minutes later when United were denied a free kick and Aldershot countered, Elvins threading a ball to Johnny Dixon who ran forward from deep and slid the ball under the advancing Potter to give his side the lead against the run of play.
United worked another good opening a minute later when Reed's free kick made it through a crowded area to Rendell at the far post, but his diving header was collected by Bull, on 34 Wolleaston made room for a cross-shot that was scrambled behind and Reed's corner was hacked away, and soon afterwards Knights worked an opening and crossed for Rendell but the striker couldn't make the right contact and lifted the ball over from six yards.
The U's were still dominating possession and in the 40th minute Wolleaston showed good strength to hold off Gier as he cut in from the left and curled an 18-yarder that was held by Bull at the second attempt low down at his near post.
Aldershot were forced into an early change just before half-time when Ricky Newman was replaced by Anthony Charles, and Rob Gier was involved in some angry exchanges just before half-time. The former U's defender had protested long and loud about two earlier challenges by United players and when Gavin Hoyte made a superb challenge to stop his advance he reacted angrily, leading to some pushing and shoving before play resumed, whereupon he fouled Rendell and words were again exchanged.
The visitors had slowed the tempo in the closing stages of the half but in stoppage time Pitt advanced and crossed for Boylan, who headed over the bar just before the whistle.
Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"An exciting half, with United denied by Bull and behind from Dixon's well-taken finish, but a half overshadowed by a perplexing referee. You feel he may have a big part yet to play"
Second half:
United were attacking the packed Newmarket Road End after the break but it was Aldershot who started the brighter and the offside flag ended a good passage of play as they forced United back into their own half and had two crosses half-cleared.
Boylan released Knights for a run at goal but the little forward was leaned off the ball by a defender and received no sympathy from the referee, and moments later Reed's fizzing 25-yarder was turned behind by Bull, who also punched away the resulting corner.
Wolleaston made a good marauding run but saw his cross blocked, Pitt picked out Rendell whose powerful shot was diverted behind, and on the hour Boylan drew another save from Bull with a 20-yarder from the left of the area.
But a minute later United were level with a well-crafted move. Darryl Knights showed quick mind and feet to seize upon a loose ball and get to the byline, from where he lifted a clever cross over Bull, and the diminutive Lee Boylan got to the ball before Rendell to head home in front of the ecstatic home fans.
Gary Waddock made another change after the goal to bring on John Grant for Elvins, and Boylan had the ball in the net again two minutes later after being released for a run at goal but he was denied by the offside flag. At the other end the officials made another controversial decision to allow an Aldershot man to advance when clearly offside, Hoyte making a decisive interception to save their blushes.
Bull once again denied United in the 68th minute when Knights' cross-shot from wide was parried by the Shots keeper and ran to Rendell, whose follow-up from ten yards was denied by another brilliant save at point-blank range.
Lewis Chalmers replaced Soares in the 70th minute and a minute later Charles was booked for a foul on Gleeson. As the action continued, John Grant broke clear but lifted the ball well over to ironic cheers from the home fans.
Physio Greg Reid was required on the pitch twice in quick succession as first Scott Rendell went down after taking a knock whilst on defensive duty, and then Mark Peters stayed down with an ankle injury before limping back into the fray.
On 76 Lee Boylan almost profited from Rhys Day's slip as he darted in to steal the ball but lobbed a shot wide of the far post, and three minutes later Bull saved his side yet again when Pitt turned inside one defender, beat another and unleashed a shot from 25 yards that was dipping under the bar until Bull tipped it over.
Rendell, who had worked tirelessly throughout, was withdrawn in the 80th minute to well-deserved applause to be replaced by Leo Fortune-West, and five minutes later the big striker put United ahead.
It followed a free kick that Stephen Reed floated into the area, the previously impeccable Bull tried to challenge for the ball in a very crowded box and missed it, and Fortune-West nipped in to tuck the ball home.
The cheers had barely died when Yeovil loanee Darryl Knights left the pitch to a standing ovation to be replaced by Michael Hyem, and United enjoyed an incredible let-off in the 89th minute when Peters missed a kick and the ball ran for Grant in the area, but somehow he put the ball wide from six yards.
With all the bookings earlier in the game it was not surprising that one side finished with ten men, and it was Aldershot's Davies who walked in the 90th minute after clattering Pitt in front of the Habbin and then throwing the ball at him as he lay on the ground.
In stoppage time Fortune-West broke through on goal for United but Gier made a vital interception to deny him, and in the tense final moments Aldershot threw everyone forward but United stood firm to advance to the second round. The draw takes place on Sunday at approximately 5.15pm.
Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Mark Albrighton (Gavin Hoyte 18'), Mark Peters, Michael Morrison, Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Stephen Reed, Darryl Knights (Michael Hyem 87'), Courtney Pitt, Scott Rendell (Leo Fortune-West 80'), Lee Boylan
Subs not used: Luke McShane, Robbie Willmott.
Booked: Rendell dissent 10', Gleeson foul 13', Wolleaston unsporting behaviour 28'
Aldershot Town:
Nikki Bull, Rob Gier, Rhys Day (c), Ricky Newman (Anthony Charles 44'), Anthony Straker; Louie Soares (Lewis Chalmers 70'), Scott Davies, Ben Harding, Joel Grant; Johnny Dixon, Rob Elvins (John Grant 63').
Subs not used: Kirk Hudson, Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz.
Booked: Elvins unsporting behaviour 9', Charles foul 70'
Sent off: Davies 90' violent conduct
Referee: Mr Gary Sutton
Att: 3,547 (away 647)
Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"United are through to the second round of the FA Cup with an epic come-from-behind victory against Blue Square Premier leaders Aldershot. In a cup tie that had everything including a dodgy ref, United had been denied a couple of penalties before Johnny Dixon put the visitors ahead on the half hour against the run of play. Lee Boylan levelled on the hour and with a replay looming large Aldershot keeper Nikki Bull missed a cross and Leo Fortune-West won the game. It was tough on Bull, who had kept United at bay almost single-handedly for 85 minutes, but fully deserved by the battling U's."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"Lee Boylan - scored the important equaliser after running himself into the ground throughout the game. Honourable mentions for Darryl Knights and Scott Rendell who showed the art of defending from the front, while a number in the back line had colossal games, including Peters and Hoyte, but it's difficult to pick out players on a solid battling team performance."
Ref: Mr Sutton made life difficult for himself with some early yellow cards for offences that weren't tackles without appearing to give warnings first, and made a string of baffling decisions throughout, aided and abetted by assistants who were at his level. The only underperformances on a thrilling day. 2/10."
Now talk about the match with fellow U's on our lively and friendly message board!
AT071110
