Quinn: "We've Got To Finish The Job"
For the second time in a fortnight, Jimmy Quinn saw his side create the chances to win at Stafford Rangers but have to settle for a 1-1 draw.
This time it means United and Stafford must replay on Tuesday evening at the Abbey Stadium, with the winners at home to fellow Blue Square Premier side Crawley Town or Aldershot Town on November 10th. If United are successful on Tuesday, the first round game will be United's first home FA Cup tie since November 2004.
Responding to the news of the draw, Jimmy Quinn said, "On the plus side it's a home draw. Leeds and Forest and Peterborough and Bradford City and all of those had already come out and we were wondering what was left, but I think it's the first time in a while we've had a home draw so we'll take that.
"But we've still got a hard job to do on Tuesday night and we've got to try to finish the job that we started today."
As they did last week against Salisbury, United took an early lead but had to settle for a draw after failing to capitalise on chances to put the game beyond their opponents; Scott Rendell scoring from the spot in the second minute after Leo Fortune-West was brought down, but veteran Neil Grayson levelled from the spot on 58 when Marco Addagio was fouled by Michael Morrison.
"I'm delighted with the performance today but not the result," said Quinn. "I think we created enough chances to have won the game but I couldn't fault the players' effort.
"We gave a soft goal away and that's just the way things have been going - I've been telling people not to take chances and we took a chance at the back and got punished for it. I was too far away to see if it was a penalty but we should have done enough to win the game.
"I don't know how many corners we had today but we had corners going in there and we were getting free headers, but we're not reacting well enough to the second ball. We seemed to be a little bit asleep for the ones that were headed back across and we need to brush up on that for Tuesday.
"The only danger they had today was the lad Addagio up front with his pace and the long ball over the top, which is where the goal came from, and their set plays - they had a couple of dangerous free kicks.
"The lads had all that information so it's a disappointing result, but I was pleased with the performance and at least it got us in the draw. I told the lads beforehand that at the very least we need to be in the draw tonight and we've done that, but now we've got to do the hard part and beat Stafford at home on Tuesday."
Danny Brown made his long-awaited comeback after two months on the sidelines with a foot injury and lasted until the 85th minute when he limped off with what Quinn thinks is a sprained ankle: "We'll assess that in the morning but he's a tough cookie so hopefully he'll be fit for Tuesday.
"He hasn't played since Woking so overall I thought he did well. He's worked very hard at his fitness over the last couple of weeks and certainly this game will hold him in good stead if he can get over the ankle injury."
Goalkeeper Luke McShane made his debut in place of the injured Danny Potter and had a solid game, Grayson giving him no chance with the well-taken penalty kick just inside the post.
"I thought Luke did well," confirmed Quinn. "It was a difficult pitch today when it started raining and made it greasy, and one or two of his kicks went astray, but overall I thought his goalkeeping was good."
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