Competition: FA Cup 2nd Round
Weather at kick-off: cold, windy
Goals:
Rendell 26' (pen)
In front of the biggest crowd of the season so far, a Scott Rendell penalty and a professional team performance saw the U's through to the third round of the FA Cup.
Jimmy Quinn made two changes to the side that won 2-1 at Burton last Friday, calling up Gavin Hoyte in place of the injured Mark Albrighton, and restoring Courtney Pitt to midfield in place of Mark Convery.
Terras boss Jason Tindall made six changes to the side beaten 2-1 at home by York last weekend and they lined up in a 4-5-1 formation.
Jimmy Quinn received warm applause when he stepped onto the pitch to receive his November Manager of the Month award from Blue Square's Alan Alger, and the interest in today's game was confirmed when kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes due to crowd congestion and long queues at the turnstiles, and the South Habbin stand was opened.
With a strong wind at their backs, United attacked the noisy Newmarket Road End in the first half and after just two minutes Gavin Hoyte drove a tremendous free kick arrowing towards the top corner until Jason Matthews made a superb save to tip it behind.
Matthews struggled to get goal kicks out of his own half and United set up camp at that end of the pitch, with loanee Paul Carden played some neat balls forward on his home debut and coolly picking the right ball to set United players away.
But in the tenth minute Michael Morrison lost the ball and allowed Weymouth's sole striker Stuart Beavon to deliver a cross into the area, but fortunately for United Paolo Vernazza's header was underpowered and Danny Potter smothered it on the line.
United countered immediately and Courtney Pitt caused all sorts of problems to the visitors as he chased down a loose ball and crossed it for Dan Gleeson, but the youngster lifted the ball well over, and on 13 Rob Wolleaston drove a low shot from 25 yards but with Matthews slow to react and missing the ball it rolled wide of the far post.
A promising move unfolded four minutes later when Lee Boylan released Scott Rendell and the striker held off his man as he advanced but put the ball wide, and a minute later Boylan jumped to meet Stephen Reed's corner but was always struggling and could only nod the ball wide.
Reed's low 23rd minute shot bounced in front of Matthews but the keeper got himself behind the ball and smothered it, but two minutes later the Weymouth keeper's resistance was finally breached.
Scott Rendell got away from his man and cut into the area, where he was tumbled by the pursuing Callum Hart. Rendell himself stepped up to take the penalty and as Matthews dived the wrong way the big striker calmly rolled home his 15th goal of the season.
The game resumed at a frantic pace and Weymouth threatened on 29 with a free kick that Reed charged behind, and the resulting corner flashed across the face of goal but no Weymouth player could make contact and Pitt made the clearance.
The tempo dropped slightly after the goal with both sides struggling to retain possession for long in the windy conditions, but Rob Wolleaston had another long-range shot from the left saved by Matthews while on 37 Danny Potter plucked Jombarti's cross from the air.
Weymouth threatened on the counterattack four minutes later when winger Gavin McCallum did well to get on the end of Beavon's flick-on but lifted the ball high and wide, and a tense but hard-fought half stuttered to a close with United narrowly ahead.
Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A wind-assisted half and United with the advantage, but Weymouth aren't out of it yet. Rendell's goal put United in front but Weymouth have had their chances. Hold onto your hats - and not just because of the weather!"
Second half:
Both sides emerged unchanged for the second half and Weymouth started brightly, Anton Robinson forcing Hoyte into conceding a corner with his strong run inside the first minute, and Vernazza's header saved by Potter.
United earned a corner on 52 but Reed's flagkick was blocked at the near post and although it ran for Carden he hooked it out of play. Three minutes later Potter made a good catch under extreme pressure from Marcus Browning, and although Potter quietly got up with the ball Mr Gibbs was unhappy with the challenge and made the first booking of the game.
Potter launched a U's attack and Matthews raced off his line to save in front of the onrushing Boylan, and as the visitors chased an equaliser Hoyte made a vital interception at another Weymouth corner.
Play was finely balanced but Rendell and Boylan were tireless up front and Boylan had a 59th minute shot saved, then two minutes later he linked well with Pitt to cause problems in the Weymouth defence, the ball scrambled away to Carden outside the area who hit a well-struck shot just wide of the near post.
Both managers took that opportunity to make 63rd minute changes, Nick Crittenden replacing Browning for Weymouth and Yeovil loanee Darryl Knights coming on for Pitt with Reed moving to the wide left.
Almost immediately there was a break in play as Gleeson stayed down for treatment following a clash of heads, but he regained his feet and moments later Boylan released Rendell with a great through ball but he was unable to take it first time and the chance was gone.
With United in the ascendancy Boylan was heavily involved in another good move, Rendell almost picking him out in the Weymouth area but Scott Doe sliding in to clear the danger by inches.
Quinn made his next change on 72, bringing on Leo Fortune-West for Boylan, and two minutes later Beavon rounded Peters but saw his shot well-saved by Potter, who quickly launched another U's counter-attack.
With twelve minutes remaining, Weymouth player-physio Stuart Douglas joined the fray in place of midfielder Vernazza to add another attacking threat alongside Beavon, and a minute later young Darryl Knights charged forward and rode three challenges on his way to goal, but curled a shot wide with Fortune-West better-placed and calling for a pass.
With the game still poised on a knife edge, play was stopped briefly for Carden and Douglas to receive a lecture after a full-blooded challenge on the halfway line, and soon afterwards Fortune-West's neat touch set up Gleeson but his cross-shot was easy for Matthews.
With five minutes remaining both managers made their final changes, Weymouth's Conal Platt replacing McCallum and Mark Convery for Wolleaston, who left the pitch to deserved applause.
It was incessant pressure now from Weymouth and United's back three, led by the indomitable Mark Peters, had to stand firm. Platt's dangerous 87th minute corner came off a defender and looked to be touched onto the bar by Potter, Crittenden was off-balance as he hit the rebound and the shot flew well over, and when Weymouth forced another corner Rendell made a vital headed clearance.
As the fourth official indicated four minutes of added time, Douglas pushed Mark Peters onto the ball then collected a booking for his ludicrous protests that Peters had deliberately handled the ball. With the visitors throwing everyone forward, Danny Potter showed confident handling under all sorts of pressure, refusing to be shaken by some rough house tactics then leading the celebrations at the final whistle as 'Coconuts' rang around the ground.
The draw for the third round of the FA Cup sponsored by E.on takes place on Sunday afternoon.
Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Michael Morrison, Mark Peters, Gavin Hoyte; Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston (Mark Convery 85'), Paul Carden, Stephen Reed, Courtney Pitt (Darryl Knights 63'); Scott Rendell, Lee Boylan (Leo Fortune-West 72').
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Robbie Willmott.
Weymouth:
Jason Matthews, Scott Doe, Neil Young, Justin Roberts, Callum Hart; Gavin McCallum (Conal Platt 85'), Paolo Vernazza (Stuart Douglas 78'), Sido Jombarti, Marcus Browning (Nick Crittenden 63'), Anton Robinson; Stuart Beavon.
Subs not used: John Stuart, Simon Weatherstone.
Booked: Browning foul 56', Douglas dissent 90'
Referee: Mr Phil Gibbs
Att: 4,552 (away 355)
Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"United avoided being blown off course by a blustery wind but it was far from plain sailing as the U's landed in round three for the first time in five years. Scott Rendell secured safe passage with a penalty midway through the first half and on balance United deserve their place in the third round hat. The U's handled the conditions better than the visitors, and although Weymouth threw everything forward in search of a late equaliser United refused to be scuppered and can dream of testing themselves against bigger fish in the New Year."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"Michael Morrison - made a number of important interventions, particularly towards the end as Weymouth threw everything including the kitchen sink in his direction, but it was a solid team performance. Honourable mentions for Mark Peters who was a colossus, while Lee Boylan and Scott Rendell ran their hearts out."
Ref: Mr Gibbs - had a very good game. He didn't miss a trick, he tried to let the game flow when he could, he stamped down on any unruly play when necessary and generally helped turn an exciting match into as much of a spectacle as it could be under the conditions. 9/10."
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