Competition: FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
Weather at kick-off: Overcast
Goals:
Stafford: Grayson 58' (pen)
United: Rendell 2' (pen)

Cambridge United:
Luke McShane, Mark Peters (Gavin Hoyte 73'), Mark Albrighton, Michael Morrison; Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Danny Brown (Stephen Smith 85'), Stephen Reed, Courtney Pitt; Scott Rendell, Leo Fortune-West (Lee Boylan 73').
Subs not used: Darryl Knights, Michael Hyem.

Stafford Rangers:
Danny Alcock, Wayne Daniel (c), Djoumin Sangere, Luke Potter, Jemiah Richards; Chris Flynn, David Oldfield, Ross Draper (David McNiven 58'), Kevin Street; Marco Adaggio (Nathan Smith 58'), Neil Grayson.
Subs not used: Samy Mawene, Steve Hopkinson, Tom Youngs.

Booked: Smith unsporting behaviour 69'

It was a second successive 1-1 draw at Stafford in a fortnight, this time a story of two penalties as Scott Rendell gave United an early lead from the spot but the U's failed to capitalise on a good first half and Neil Grayson levelled the scores with a spotkick after the break.

Jimmy Quinn made three changes to the team that drew 1-1 at home to Salisbury last weekend, Danny Brown and Stephen Reed returning to the midfield in place of Yeovil loanee Darryl Knights and the injured Darren Quinton, and goalkeeper Luke McShane making his U's debut in place of the injured Danny Potter.

United were again wearing the new yellow and blue third kit to avoid a clash with Stafford's black and white stripes, and made the perfect start after Courtney Pitt was brought down for an early Stephen Reed free kick. Leo Fortune-West met the ball and turned in the area but was brought down for a clear penalty, and as Danny Alcock dived the wrong way Scott Rendell coolly slotted the penalty home for his tenth goal of the season.

The U's kept the pressure on through a series of free kicks and corners and when Rendell won an eighth minute corner by putting pressure on Sangere, Mark Peters peeled away from his marker to meet Reed's flagkick but headed at the 'keeper.

Four minutes later a United free kick caused problems in a shaky-looking Stafford defence and resulted in two further corners, and at the second Albrighton placed a powerful header just wide. The one-way traffic continued with another corner on 15 that Reed delivered to Rendell but the ball spun off his head and behind for a goalkick.

Mark Peters went down after an accidental clash of heads and needed attention from physio Greg Reid before leaving the pitch briefly with wadding to his mouth and nose, but jogged back to rejoin the action almost immediately.

The early pace dropped midway through the half and play became scrappy, an example coming on 29 minutes when good play down the left saw Pitt and Reed linking well to advance, but the final ball was too close to Alcock who collected comfortably.

Stafford made a lively counterattack two minutes later when Addagio broke away at pace but Morrison just beat him to the ball to hack it into touch, and at the other end Wolleaston lifted a ball over the top to send Fortune-West away and Alcock was forced to race off his line to make a panicky clearance.

The home side had started with a 3-5-2 formation but changed to 4-4-2 in attempt to stem the United tide and on 34 Marco Addagio missed a great opportunity to equalise. David Oldfield worked his way to the byeline, and although he was being fouled by Morrison the referee played advantage and the veteran midfielder crossed to Addagio but the young striker struck a weak volley straight at McShane.

Three minutes later he had another chance when he turned away from Wolleaston but fired an angled shot across the face of goal and wide, and on 38 Fortune-West played the ball wide to Pitt and raced forward to meet the cross, but he was penalised for challenging for the ball with the keeper.

Pitt was giving Jemiah Richards a hard time at right back and on 43 he skinned the young defender and delivered a deep cross but Alcock was equal to Rendell's header. A couple of half-chances followed but the half ended with United having enjoyed the lion's share of possession and chances with only one goal to show for it.

Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"United got off to the perfect start, Scott Rendell providing the platform with a second minute penalty. United haven't built on it yet despite controlling the half almost entirely. 1-0 is a tenuous lead and they need to build on it."

Second half:
In pouring rain, the home side resumed with increased urgency and two minutes in Ross Draper unleashed a powerful 25-yard drive that was bravely charged down as it left his boot by Morrison, and a good counterattacking move by United culminated with Wolleaston hammering a shot on the angle that was smartly pushed behind by Alcock.

Stafford were presented with a chance as Albrighton and Peters left a ball for each other in a rare breakdown in communication, but the chance was wasted and as play continued former U's loanee Chris Flynn and Danny Brown went in with great commitment for a 50/50 challenge and Flynn was left briefly in a heap before resuming.

Neil Grayson made space for a shot that McShane smothered, but then the half burst into life when the home side were awarded a penalty. Morrison slipped and Addagio scampered past him, and as he made it into the area Morrison caught him from behind at the cost of a penalty.

The Spanish striker stayed down for treatment and was eventually stretchered off to be replaced by Nathan Smith in the 58th minute, and although he dived the right way Luke McShane could do nothing about Neil Grayson's perfectly-placed penalty as the ball sneaked inside the left hand post.

Before play restarted, Stafford manager Phil Robinson made a further change to bring on David McNiven for Ross Draper, and moments later a ball into the Stafford area was punched away to Gleeson but the defender was leaning back as he struck it and lifted the ball well over the stand.

The home side were in the ascendancy now and received a let-off in the 64th minute when a long ball dropped behind the U's defence but McNiven lifted it over the bar from less than six yards.

The first booking arrived on 69 when Nathan Smith clashed angrily with Dan Gleeson, the U's defender sensibly running away from the situation as Smith was spoken to and yellow-carded, and two minutes later a good United move saw Grayson turn Pitt's cross behind as the ball flew through a crowded area.

Reed's deep flagkick was headed across goal by Peters and as the pressure continued the home defence somehow denied Fortune-West and attempted to break out of their area, but the move was broken up and a superb strike was matched by an equally outstanding save when Rob Wolleaston's left-footed volley was brilliantly tipped over by Alcock for another corner.

Jimmy Quinn made a double change on 73 to bring on Lee Boylan and Gavin Hoyte for Mark Peters and Leo Fortune-West, and moments later McShane made a superb low save from McNiven, clearly unaware that the offside flag had already been raised.

Nathan Smith was presented with a great chance on 77 when he raced behind the defence onto Luke Potter's angled pass but couldn't take the ball in his stride, two minutes later Boylan met Wolleaston's cross at the far post but couldn't turn it inside the post, and moments later Danny Brown saw his shot charged down and stayed down for treatment after the challenge before limping back into the fray.

Gleeson nodded a ball into the area but Rendell was closed down and then injury time continued to accrue as Sangere stayed down for treatment. In the 85th minute Stephen Smith came on for Brown, who had done well in his first game for two months, and there was an immediate scare as Grayson spread the ball to McNiven and was inches away from meeting the returning ball at the near post.

There was a further lengthy stoppage when Wayne Daniel stayed down after an accidental clash with Boylan, and when play finally resumed Rendell rose well to skim the bar with a header.

The fourth official indicated that eight minutes would be added and two minutes into that time Stephen Smith beat his man and put the ball into the area, Lee Boylan was pushed over as he tried to reach the ball but this time there was no penalty, and as play continued Rendell want close again with another header.

Courtney Pitt tried to settle the tie two minutes later when he was released by Reed to cut inside and flash a shot inches wide of the far post, and at the other end McShane hesitated over a long ball but Albrighton made a challenge and the debutant goalkeeper was able to collect the next ball in just before the final whistle signalled a replay on Tuesday evening.

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"Another week, another draw for United at Stafford, this time in the FA Cup. Just two weeks after drawing in the Blue Square Premier, United repeated the trick despite having the platform of a second minute penalty from Scott Rendell. But United failed to build on that platform and paid the penalty when Neil Grayson levelled from the spot on the hour. The U's still had their chances to wrap it up in a more even second half but couldn't convert them and will have to try again at the Abbey on Tuesday, with the carrot of a home tie with Crawley or Aldershot awaiting the winners."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Mark Peters - won just about everything until having to retire injured from the fray. Honourable mentions for Scott Rendell who ran himself ragged until fading towards the end and Courtney Pitt who had the Stafford defender on toast in the first half."

Ref: Mr Colin Harwood - "I didn't really see him put a foot wrong.. 9/10"

Att: 1,030 (away 288)

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