RANDALL BUTT reports on Cambridge United's glory night in the cup
TREVOR Benjamin did much more than outjump the Sheffield Wednesday defence to head a glory goal in a classic cup tie. The Cambridge United teenager leapt into the club's hall of fame with his double strike as the third division heroes humbled the multi-million pound men home and away.

At Hillsborough, it was the 19-year-old striker's sharpness which embarrassed Wednesday. Last night in the cauldron of a crammed Abbey Stadium, they could not cope with his power.

To score both goals in a contest against what should have been such lofty opponents is an achievement to rank alongside the exploits of United greats such as Alan Biley, Tom Finney, Dion Dublin and John Taylor. And what was so encouraging for manager Roy McFarland and his team was that those goals were the deserved rewards for their performances over both games, rather than isolated scores snatched against the run of play.

Roared on by the biggest Abbey crowd for six years - near capacity in the three home sections - United had closed the chasm completely between the Premiership and bottom division when Wednesday luckily wiped out their first-leg lead with a bizarre own goal in the 69th minute. Jamie Campbell's header from Kevin Pressman's huge kick-out went sailing past his own keeper, Arjan Van Heusden from fully 25 yards.

"I couldn't believe it," said the United left-back, "I was trying to head the ball away when it skidded off my head and gave Arjan no chance. I couldn't see Wednesday scoring at that stage, but it looked as though it had let them back in the game. Trevor Benjamin is definitely my favourite player from now on."

It looked more like a back-pass attempt which went badly wrong by the player who twice saved United with goal-line clearances at Hillsborough. And it would have been a black moment he would struggle to forget, as well as a travesty of sporting justice if it had turned the tie Wednesday's way.

They created more chances than United as £4.5m Paulo Di Canio rose to the challenge of proving he was no "fancy dan." But after an opening 20 minutes when United had to turn almost all of their attention to defending, it was they who won the midfield battle, and were looking the more dangerous as the cup thriller went into its final quarter.

High balls into the box caused trouble all night for a defence which included players such as Des Walker and Andy Hinchcliffe who have played for England. The extraordinary corner count of 8-1 to United in the first half showed how eager the Premiership men were to clear the ball anywhere when it was aimed towards United's front three.

And when Alex Russell produced a pin-point free-kick five minutes after the own goal, three Wednesday defenders were beaten by Benjamin's timing and strength.

"It was all my goal," beamed the youngster, when a television reporter dared suggest a defender may have got the vital touch.

But it was not quite true because Russell's precision was just as important. "I've been practising that one all season," said the midfielder "And that's the first time it's really found the target. It's one out of about 39, but what a time to get it right."

United got more than that right in what Wednesday boss Danny Wilson described as "a raging cup tie," and went closest to other goals in the second half when Benjamin's 55th minute shot was cleared off the goal line by John Newsome, and John Taylor blasted a shot against the crossbar six minutes from time.

Wednesday paid a high penalty for Lee Briscoe and Andy Booth failing to make the most of opportunities set-up by the elegant Di Canio in the first half. And when they hit the target, Van Heusden produced a brilliant diving save to stop Wim Jonk's 48th minute thunderbolt, then blocked a point blank shot from Booth in the 54th.

Histrionic, but talented winger Benito Carbone limping out of the match a minute before the interval after a thundering tackle by Campbell hardly helped Wednesday's cause. But when he was replaced it only served to highlight United's remarkable achievement. Wilson was able to send in Norwegian international Niclas Alexandersson instead of the £3m Italian.

If McFarland had needed to make a change he would have had the pick of four teenagers with 10 League appearances between them or his 35-year-old assistant David Preece.

It was not Fancy Dan football that brought down Wednesday last night, rather a supreme example of honest virtues from uncomplicated professionals of the Third Division. Cambridge, who twice at the start of the Nineties were two games from reaching Wembley, are back on the cup trail.

They managed to protect their single-goal advantage from the first game thanks to their Hillsborough hero, Trevor Benjamin, who scored a meaty header 16 minutes from time. Soon after Jamie Campbell had handed Wednesday a lifeline by putting through his own goal.

There was no question that Cambridge were prepared to sit on their lead. Sensing that the opposition was an eggshell waiting to crack, they wasted no opportunity in hoisting the ball up and beyond Wednesday's back line, forcing them to turn back towards their goalkeeper.

The tall and powerful striker Benjamin, the scorer of the winner at Hillsborough a week ago, was a focal point in Cambridge's attacks and, with the promising Martin Butler running everything down alongside him, it can have been no more a comfortable experience for Danny Wilson's side than Selhurst Park and Wimbledon had been on Saturday.

It was not just muscle and lung-power from Cambridge, they also possessed nimble footwork in tight areas and a stream of well-flighted crosses deserved to achieve the reward of a goal. Midway through the first half Des Walker was forced to come to Wednesday's rescue when he headed Alex Russell's left-wing centre to safety as Kevin Pressman watched another dangerous ball fly across his goalmouth.

When they were not absorbing pressure, Wednesday broke out determinedly and put Cambridge's goal under threat. Andy Booth nodded wide a free-kick swung over by Paolo Di Canio and the Italian himself tested Arjan van Heusden shortly afterwards. When Di Canio whipped over a clever ball from the left close to half-time it evaded everybody including the lurking Booth at the far post.

Benito Carbone, having gone down first holding his face and later his ankle, limped out of the tie before the interval. He had been less of an influence than his compatriot Di Canio, though at the start of the second half there were signs that Wim Jonk, a midfield playmaker who two months ago had appeared in the World Cup semi-final, was starting to become a prominent feature in the game.

BRUNO LANDS KO BLOW ON WILSON

Sheffield Wednesday may only be eight games into the season - but they already find themselves deep in crisis.

A defeat by a lower league team is not too much of a disgrace if nothing but bad luck goes against you, but Danny Wilson's Wednesday refused to fight last night.

Cambridge can proudly take their place in the third round of the Worthington Cup this morning after they outfought, out-thought and out-ran their Premiership opponents.

Even when Wednesday were handed a lifeline following a horrendous own goal by the unfortunate Jamie Campbell, they still refused to take their chance.

And in the end they were punished by a striker nicknamed Bruno. Trevor Benjamin is so tagged because of his uncanny resemblance to Britain's former heavyweight champion.

And last night he and his whole team gave a performance big Frank would have been proud of.

As for Wednesday, they were more like the Bruno who was left battered and bloodied in Las Vegas two years ago by Mike Tyson.

Wednesday boss Wilson called some of his players fancy dans last week after they lost the first leg at Hillsborough and it was assumed he was referring to Benito Carbone and Paolo Di Canio.

But on last night's evidence it is clear that the two Italians are not the only players at Hillsborough currently letting down their manager and the fans.

If it had been widely expected that Carbone and Di Canio would be left out of the Wednesday starting line up yet again, but both took their places.

Last night all eyes were on Benjamin, whose goal had given the Third Division side the advantage going into this second leg.

The pacy 19-year-old had also scored the winner against Southend on Saturday and clearly fancied hammering the final nail in the Yorkshire side's coffin. Wednesday played like a Premiership side only in patches and they should have levelled the aggregate score after 24 minutes when Lee Briscoe belted the ball over Arjan Van Heusden in the Cambridge goal, only to see his shot skim the top of the crossbar.

Carbone should also have hit the back of the net moments later when Di Canio found him in the area, only for the little midfielder to shoot high and wide.

It was Di Canio's turn after 28 minutes when he took a beautiful ball from Carbone on the run before checking inside and slamming the ball straight at Van Heusden.

Wednesday captain Peter Atherton went into the referee's book four minutes later for a dreadful tackle on Benjamin near the halfway line as Cambridge attempted to catch their opponent on the break.

Andy Booth missed a glorious opportunity to open Wednesday's account after 39 minutes when his sliding boot just missed Di Canio's pinpoint cross.

Wednesday looked down and out when they enjoyed one of the greatest slices of luck they will get all season.

A long punt forward in the 69th minute by Wednesday keeper Kevin Pressman touched the head of Cambridge defender Campbell on the edge of the area. But, with Van Heusden going the other way,he could only watch the ball skim off his own player's head and roll into the net.

But just when they looked to have thrown away their advantage Cambridge shocked everyone by scoring to put themselves into the lead again.

Head boy Benjamin

FRANK BRUNO lookalike Trevor Benjamin KO'd Wednesday to leave their manager Danny Wilson on the ropes. The all-action 19-year-old  who grabbed Cambridge's goal in the first-leg victory at Hills-borough  struck again to ensure a Worthington Cup giant-killing for the Third Division outfit.

Local lad Benjamin, who also scored Cambridge's winner at Southend on Saturday, pounced to power a 74th minute header from an Alex Russell free-kick. It soared to keeper Kevin Pressman's right and just inside the upright to guarantee a repeat of the 1991 FA Cup upset when the U's beat Wednesday 4-0 at the Abbey Stadium.

Wednesday were woeful. After the shock defeat at Hillsborough a week ago, Wilson dubbed them "fancy dans". Last night, they looked like "don't-fancy-it dans".

Not even a horribly flukey own goal could lift Wilson's side. In the 69th minute, Pressman launched a huge drop kick which defender Jamie Campbell, standing on the D, tried to glance back to keeper Arjan Van Heusden. But the ball zipped off the turf past the advancing Dutchman and into the corner.

Wilson had left out £4.5m striker Paulo Di Canio at Wimbledon on Saturday, but restored the ex-Celtic star to his starting line-up. But Di Canio rarely threatened against a club which is losing about £10,000 a week, roughly the same as his wages.

Fellow Italian Benito Carbone, injured just before half-time, was livelier, setting up Lee Briscoe and Andy Booth for good chances which both missed. But it was impossible to tell which side was in the Premiership and which in the Third as Cambridge took control in the second-half.

Wednesday then got their lucky lifeline ... but held on for just five minutes. They had no stomach for the battle after Benjamin equalised, and £2m Dutchman Wim Jonk was rightly substituted late on. He grumpily walked straight off, ignoring the bench as he strode to the dressing-room.

Got to the Abbey around 6:10 to find that there were no programmes. Immediate thought was of a cock-up in the making, but they arrived around 6:30. Lucky pint in the Supporters Club with Mark, Ian, Peter, Emma and Mum (Mum, do you have a real name?). I continued with the lucky Black & Amber bar code shirt. There was enough time for a second pint, but didn't want to risk overdoing the luck element! Sky showed the goals we scored in the 4-0 win. The SC. was not as busy as I'd expected, probably due to people going straight into the ground to beat the rush. I didn't win anything in the raffle, despite having Mark's tickets too.

Went in to the ground about 7:30 (queues were not very long because there were lots of turnstiles open), and for the first time on Moosenet I can say it was a packed Abbey Stadium! The atmosphere was magic. The speakers in the Corona end (Newmarket Road End for younger readers) are not very good (crap actually) at the best of times, I did hear Cum On Feel The Noiz by Slade, well done whoever chose it! Players names were read out by someone new with a vaguely recognisable voice too!

The team was as expected, although the programme had John Taylor at 8 and 14! With the number of people all around space was a bit tight, especially if you try to write notes, so I've got some problems decoding the scribbles.

We started brightly, earning a corner in the 4th minute. Wednesday had a chance from a cross but put the header wide, Duncan having just deflecting the flight of the ball before it got to the Wed. player. They took a free kick quickly which almost worked but again the header was off target. On 10 minutes we had a shot deflected for a corner, soon after a poor kick by Pressman was volleyed back by Taylor, but not on target. Benjamin was tackled late which led to a booking, from the free kick we forced a couple more corners. Wednesday showed some good touches, and Joseph had to make a good covering tackle on 18 minutes. They had a few shots which were either high/wide, or easily saved by Van Heusden.

Carbone went down holding his face after a tussle for the ball with Campbell, the referee gave the free kick, spoke to the linesman, then told Carbone to get up. Benjamin got fouled again and their #2 was booked, from the free kick Benjamin headed across the goal. Campbell got in a good tackle on Carbone who again went down like a sack of spuds, this time holding his ankle. The stretcher was brought on but not needed, however it was not long until Carbone decided he'd had enough and was substituted. Russell managed a shot on goal that was deflected, and just before half time we had a good move down our left, the cross caused some panic in the Wednesday defence. The half lasted almost 50 minutes due to Carbone's "injury"!

The talking-to the Wednesday players must have had stirred them up, and in the first minute of the second half Van Heusden made a fine reflex save from a 20 yard shot.

Russell crossed long for Benjamin to head back across goal where Butler almost got a touch at the far post, he claimed the defender stopped him getting there but the referee would have nothing to do with a penalty claim.

On 55 minutes Benjamin should have scored from a quickly taken free kick but Pressman blocked his shot near the edge of the penalty area, and as the ball fell for Benjamin his shot over Pressman at goal was cleared a yard or so from the goal line. Wednesday had the occasional good move, but as in the first half their shooting was poor, or easily saved by Van Heusden.

After 68 minutes Benjamin was almost in again, but Pressman saved. From his long kick Campbell headed the ball back to Van Heusden who unfortunately had moved to the left side of his goal, and was unable to stop the ball going into the right side of the net.

We feared the worst, and Van Heusden made another good save, but on 74 minutes Benjamin got up well to head in a free kick to the back post from around 6 yards, the ball going just inside the post giving Pressman no chance.

The last 15 minutes plus 3 minutes injury time seemed to take an age, but long enough for Mustoe to have a couple of shots just over, and Shaggy to get the ball from a short corner, beat a defender then see his shot from the edge of the penalty area hit the bar.

At the final whistle the noise was deafening, all the players and substitutes coming over to the Abbey. I've no idea if Coconuts was played, Mama We're All Crazy Now by Slade would have been more appropriate.

As the players left a certain Mr Greenall came out and was soundly booed by the fans. No, that's a lie, he was cheered as much as the players! He then embarked on a Barry Fry style run around the side of the pitch giving the high 5's to the crowd all the way along the Habbin too. I've never seen him move so quick!

Not surprisingly the Harris suite was packed, but Ste managed to get Jon, Julie, Johnny and brother Justin, myself and a couple of other in where we met up with Andrea and Mark and his brother. We managed to meet Gary Harwood too. Shame Sky didn't show the goals while we were there too.

Carla Frediani told me I should buy a new shirt, I had to explain about it being lucky! I also asked if it was possible to buy an Amber shirt with Philips Lighting on, as worn at Sarfend, but it is not allowed. I wonder what will happen to those shirts?

The Abbey Arms was surprisingly quiet around midnight, I guess either knackered like myself, or "typed out" from earlier.

Now the wait until Saturday lunchtime for the draw. I hope we don't get Northampton.

Ratings are again difficult, my MoM is Trevor Benjamin who gets 9+, firstly for scoring the goal, and secondly for terrorising the Wednesday defence whenever he had the ball. The rest of the team get 9, except for Campbell who gets 9- for scoring the own goal. The whole team played well, Wednesday had to work hard to make any chances, wherever they had possession there would be someone closing them down. To play two games against that level of opposition and prevent them scoring is quite amazing. The referee also deserves a mention, he refereed well, wasn't taken in by the acting, and was not really noticed.

I hope that at least half the people that were there last night will turn up on Saturday.

After Saturday's win at Southend Randall Butt declared that lady luck was a United fan, sitting in the away end shouting 'Come On You U's'. Well tonight luck took no part, as Cambridge United tore Premiership Sheffield Wednesday to shreds and produced the greatest upset in the history of the competition and one of the greatest nights in the history of Cambridge United Football Club.

We're no longer "half way there, living on a prayer", we're all the way they're living in dream world. From the outset it looked as though Sheffield Wednesday were going to cause United problems as their Italians combined on a number of occasions and wasted some very good opportunities to level the tie.

Perhaps the pivotal point in the match occurred five minutes before half time when Carbone decided to injure himself diving to the floor. To be honest it served him right because the Cambridge player never touched him and he must have twisted his ankle as he fell. This lead to him being substituted and without his flair Sheffield looked flat.

After this United settled into their rhythm and never looked back. Trevor Benjamin terrorised the life out of the Wednesday defence and with Butler and Taylor holding the ball up and spotting the runs it was Cambridge United who felt hard done by to go in at half time level. United must have forced approaching 10 corners in the first half as they pinned Wednesday against the wall and to be honest I think they wondered what the hell was happening.

What was happening was Cambridge United were producing football from the top draw, the likes of which I doubt Sheffield Wednesday believed could come out of the third division. Well it did, and we made sure that the Division Three and the Yellow flag went on sailing high.

Neil Mustoe, Paul Wanless and Alex Russell all had storming games, with Alex Russell perhaps the best player on the field. It would though be very hard to take the Man of the Match award away from Trevor Benjamin who in the second half particularly looked a striker of immense quality.

The second half was going along quite nicely, with United having the better of the chances. A foul on Taylor resulted in a free kick 35 yards from goal, Ben Chenery took the kick quickly and Trevor Benjamin found himself one on one with Pressman, who booked his initial shot and from the rebound Trevor only had a Wednesday defender to beat but hit a tame shot that was cleared off the goal line to safety.

This missed chance looked as though it might be costly as five minuets later Sheffield Wednesday chipped a long ball forward, which would probably have gone out for a goal kick. Instead Jamie Campbell thought he would head the ball back to Van Heusden but instead produced one of the own goals of the season and he wrong footed the keeper and watched helplessly as the ball rolled over the line to level the tie.

This sparked Wednesday in to action, and for the next five minutes it looked as though they might tear us to shreds. Van Heusden had to make three excellent saves, to deny them and one save from Di Canio was one of the finest saves I have ever seen as he Gordon Banks'd the ball away for a corner. From the resulting corner another powerful shot came in, but with good positioning from Van Heusden it gave him no problems.

Then came one of the most glorious moments in the history of Cambridge United. Martin Butler was fouled 30 yards from goal, and Alex Russell delivered a pin-point cross for Trevor Benjamin to power home into the top of the net and spark wild celebrations all over the ground.

Wednesday then came at United like we knew they could, but the central defensive partnership of Joseph and Duncan dealt with everything, and every time a Wednesday player had the ball it seemed like there were four or five United players around him. Defensively we were superb and apart from the own goal Wednesday were once again restricted to mainly long shots, which either flew wide, or into the hands of the inspirational Van Heusden.

There was a nailbiting five minutes of injury time, where Sheffield piled men forward and it looked as though they might have took the tie in extra time as they forced a free kick and a corner. Both were dealt with admirably and from the resulting counter attack John Taylor, a true revelation, twisted the Wednesday defence inside out and drilled powerful shot against the bar.

There was still enough time for one last Wednesday attack as they threw every man forward in an attempt to prevent the biggest shock in the competitions history. It was all in vain as the final whistle blew, and you could have reached up and touched the joy hovering over Newmarket Road.

A fantastic victory, which means United, will go into the third round of the competition, and mix it with the really big boys. If I remember correctly Wrexham beating Arsenal in the FA Cup was the last time a side from the basement division defeated a Premiership side, but that was a one-off. This however was 180 minutes of football where we outplayed, outfought and overpowered one of the Premiership glamour boys both on their own ground and at the Abbey.

Finally, to follow the theme of our club secretary: Kevin Pressman, Peter Atherton, Wim Yonk, Des Walker, Benito Carbone, Andy Booth, Paulo Di Canio, Juan Cobain, Andy Hinchliffe, Emerson Thome, Peter Rudi, Matty Clarke, Guy Whittingham, Graham Hyde, Earl Barrett, Danny Wilson, DANNY WILSON, your boys took one HELL of a beating!!!!!!

I couldn't believe that the ground was so full last night.....looks like my stupid suggestion of 6000 arttendance was 2500 out!!!!!!!!

After arriving at the ground at 6.50pm i was surprised to see people being turned away from the North Terrace turnstiles because it was full. I think a lot of people underestimated how many people would be there, including myself. As we entered the ground there were alot of fans inside already. As it neared the kick-off the North Terrace were starting to get gee-ed up for a very exciting game. I haven't seen the Habbin that full for many years.......

Sheffield Wednesday were still very poor, and we were playing some good football. It was the sort of game that if you blinked you'd miss something good. Carbone spent most of the first half rolling about on the floor. He was tackled and went down, he had treatment, and went off the pitch. He tried to run it off but couldn't. By this time the fans were getting angry with his antics. When he was substituted he walked off clapping all the fans, but was booed off the pitch.

The second half started with Sheffield Wednesday looking eager to win. It was more of a match then with United having to do some good defending. We soon settled down and got our game together again. I think, from what i could see, Ice only had to make a couple of saves. One of these was excellent, and i said to people near me that was their chance.

A blunder from Campbell sent Ice scuttling across goal but he couldn't keep the header out. We still held our heads up which was good to see, as in many games last season we would have collapsed. There is a lot of team spirit at the moment and this has to be good!!!!!

We kept going and in the 75th minute Bruno was there with an excellent header. I didn't see it hit the net as everyone had gone mental by then. Shaggy hit a hard shot but it hit the crossbar.

At the final whistle we were ecstatic everyone was singing and cheering. The players all came over to the fans and Shaggy made Bruno take a step forward to receive his chants of "Bruno, Bruno, Bruno". I think he has finally taken to this name, 3 goals in 3 games can't be bad.

Steve Greenall (nutter) came over to the North Terrace to the chants of "Greenall, Greenall, Greenall." Then he ran along in front of us, like Barry Fry does, and touched everyones hands!!!!!!! What a night and an excellent score.

Another memorable night at the Abbey that must rank alongside the Bristol City games of a few years back. People were packed inside the ground like sardines and when I arrived at 7:15 the atmosphere was already electric, particularly on the North terrace where it was like the good old days again.

As far as the game goes, Cambridge United had eleven heroes out on the pitch tonight, eleven men that were prepared to shed blood for the club and the fans that were willing them on to victory.

The first 20 mins were evenly fought in the noisy atmosphere with United applying plenty of pressure and forcing a succession of corners conceded by the Sheffield defence which was panicked by the running of Butler and the awesome presence of Trevor Benjamin. Wednesday were dangerous every time they broke out of defence and their lightning counter attacks, which involved sweeping moves from one end of the pitch to the other without a U's player getting near the ball, had the United fans' hearts in their mouths with every break, thankfully their finishing was woeful and when they did manage to hit the target, Van Heusden was in the right place to gather the ball.
The next 25 mins were less frantic but equally nerve racking as the pattern continued, with United pressing forward with Russell and Mustoe pushing up with the ball to feed Benjamin out wide or Butler and Taylor through the middle, Sheffield Wednesday countered with their powerful breaks but March Joseph, Andy Duncan, Jamie Campbell and Ben Chenery stood their ground. In midfield the hugely impressive Russell and the classy Mustoe alongside the gutsy Wanless fought for, and most often won every loose ball in midfield. The U's left the field at half time to a standing ovation for their first half efforts.

The second half continued like the first, with United hustling Wednesday out of ther impressive stride and mounting attacks through the tireless Benjamin and the man who must run on Duracell batteries, Martin Butler, whose dual with Des Walker showed what a prospect Butler is with Walker and his partners in defence needing all their experience to marshall Butler and Benjamin, who threatened to run riot every time he got the ball. Taylor looked visibly drained but drew on every ounce of his reserve energy to hold the ball up ahead of the midfield until someone arrived.

Van Heusden kept United in front early in the second half when he acrobatically saved a thunderbolt shot from one of the Wednesday strikers, shortly after that the rampaging Benjamin set off down the left wing, went outside one defender, cut inside another and crossed perfectly behind the Wednesday defence and too far in front of Pressman, but Butler was a whisker away from contact as he raced in to meet the ball and it flashed just past the post. The next attack from United was even closer when in a one on one with Pressman, Benjamin who had been put through by Russell, hit his shot straight at the 'keeper, the ball bounced back out to Benjamin who turned sharply and hit a fierce shot, only to see it cleared off the line by a Wednesday defender.

Then the agony...a huge clearance from Pressman that seemed to be going nowhere, ended with Campbell heading the ball back to Van Heusden who had started to come off his line and the ball sailed over 'Ice' and into the net.

But this is a different Cambridge United these days, last season would have seen heads going down and capitulation, but with Taylor and Wanless urging their team mates on, the U's picked themselves, dusted themselves down and started all over again. The fans, who had been noisy all night, lifted the sound by several decibels and despite a few minutes of intense pressure from Sheffield, the U's kicking towards the packed North terrace clawed their way back into the game and started to threaten again.

Then the ecstasy... a free kick on the left was swung in by Russell, Benjamin leapt above the Wednesday defence and planted a header in the back of the net ... absolute pandemonium as three sides of the ground went mad and the players celebrations were unlike any I've seen from a United side for several years.

The goal seemed to knock the wind out of Sheffield Wednesday's sails and United pressed on in search of another, which they nearly got when the tireless Taylor cut across the Wednesday penalty area and thundered a shot against the crossbar with Pressman rooted to the spot. Sheffield then threw everything including the kitchen sink at United in search of an equaliser, but the defence held firm despite several heart stopping moments.

The fourth official held up the board to show that 3 minutes of injury time would be played, and those three minutes dragged on into eternity as United repelled Wednesdays' frantic attacks.

When the whistle went they must have heard the roar in Peterborough and it was delirious pandemonium all over again, the noise was deafening as the players acknowledged the fans and came across to the Newmarket Road end to milk the applause and join in the celebrations and singing.

With more than a little cajoling from John Taylor, the ever shy Trevor Benjamin came across to the fans and received the rapturous applause from his public, he fully deserved it after a awesome display and scoring both goals in the two legs, and then to round the night off, Steve Greenall came across to the fans to join in.

Sheffield Wednesday can point to several squandered chances, but Cambridge United can also point to a goal line clearance, a near miss from Butler and a Taylor thunderbolt that crashed against the bar... as well as that all important goal.

What a night,what a result,what a performance...and what a club

Mike in Australia: "What a fantastic result. All I feel right now is pure joy, together with a tinge of jealousy that I wasn't there. The Realaudio coverage was terrific - very well balanced, with all the tension everyone at the Abbey would have felt. Pity some others couldn't get it, however I tried to provide as many comments as possible to those in the Arms.

Let's hope the U's can go on from here and perform splendidly in the League. This is what supporting a team like Cambridge is all about - we put up with all the shit from the "big" club supporters just for these moments - it makes it all worthwhile. Sorry - I know I'm blabbering here, but so many great feelings are running through my head and I just can't express them all!!!

No-one here can understand me - it's just good to know that there are 100 or so other nutters on this list that can relate to me!!!! "

Andy in London: The team were fantastic, hardly troubled by a lightweight Wednesday, and ran their socks off. Wednesday had to clear off the line. Second half, Ice made a stunning save, and even when the own goal went in, I always felt we were in with a shout. 'Bruno's' goal, Shaggy's hitting the bar, three sides of the ground clapping and singing - unbelievable. I'm so pleased that all those kids who were taken along to a first game will have a brilliant memory and with any luck will come back for more.

I think the atmosphere was even better than some of our FA cup exploits eg Bristol City because then it grew as we knocked the stuffing out of them. This time it was all the way through, helped by the fact we had the goal advantage. There was also the band and Steve's Hillsborough commentary, played over the PA. The closest it came I think was to a night at Maidstone many years ago.

Tom in London: Its difficult to vote for a man of the match really as each player was magnificent, but Trev gets it for putting fear into the entire Wednesday defence, getting his goal, and generally working his socks off. However all over the pitch there were great performances - Russell, Joseph, Butler, Wanless etc etc. Basically they were all heroes.

What a night! Memories of past giant-killings came flooding back at the Abbey Stadium last night and this one can take a proud place in United's short history. Roy McFarland's side, assembled for the grand total of £42,000, gave their all to outplay Sheffield Wednesday for the second time in a week, defending solidly throughout - apart from one bizarre error - and causing plenty of problems for the Premiership side.

The floodlit stadium was packed and noisy even before the teams emerged to a short fanfare from Jethro Tull's "Black Sunday" - unsurprisingly the choice of departing club secretary and Tull fan Steve Greenall - before that gave way to the stirring and very apt Bon Jovi lyrics "Oh, we're halfway there, oh living on a prayer"!

United made one change from the team that won at Southend on Saturday, reverting to the side that faced Sheffield Wednesday last week by bringing in player-coach John Taylor for Mark McCammon. For the visitors, both Italian "fancy dans" started, with Di Canio and Carbone flanking Booth in a three man front-line.

From the very outset United marked their intent to pick up exactly where they left off last week, denying their expensive-assembled visitors the time to settle or think about using the immaculate surface. At times it was hard to tell which was the third division team of free transfers and youth team graduates and which was the team of Premiership thoroughbreds - who had complained about the distance they had to walk to the dressing room!

United's defence looked impregnable, but if the back line was breached then either the shots were off target or Dutchman Arjan Van Heusden confidently claimed the few balls that reached him. After 24 minutes Lee Briscoe fired in a ball that skimmed the United crossbar and moments later the little Italian Carbone sent a shot high and wide of United's goal. After 28 minutes Carbone set up his compatriot only for Di Canio to shoot straight at Van Heusden.

In midfield Paul Wanless and Neil Mustoe gave the visitors no time for a second touch as they chased tirelessly, and Alex Russell demonstrated the range of passing and the vision that saw him on Liverpool's books as a youngster. Up front Martin Butler ran himself into the ground and proved a handful for former England international Des Walker, while John Taylor provided some clever touches and link play.

But the man who really gave Wednesday their collective headache was 19-year-old Trevor Benjamin. Roy McFarland leapt onto the touchline early in the game to call for a better supply for the big forward, and after that he was never short of through balls to take towards the Wednesday defence at speed. United forced several corners during this first half, dominating and enjoying several long spells of possession.

On the half hour Carbone went to ground near the away bench, clutching his face after a struggle for the ball with the outstanding Jamie Campbell. After writhing on the grass and ignoring the referee's instructions to get to his feet, the Italian was duly stretchered off to gingerly return after treatment. Meanwhile Trevor Benjamin was hacked down by Wednesday skipper Peter Atherton as United counter-attacked at speed, but in contrast to Carbone, 'Fash' leapt up straightaway, angry about the challenge which earned a free kick.

While Booth just failed to connect with a Di Canio cross, Carbone was to demonstrate an appalling attitude minutes later, once again writhing in apparent agony following a Campbell tackle. This time clutching his ankle he limped heavily from the pitch, returning very reluctantly to limp a few paces up and down before gesturing to the bench that he had had enough of this game. After this disgraceful display he was replaced a minute before half-time by Swede Niklas Alexandersson. (Half-time 0-0, agg. 1-0)

Danny Wilson obviously did not spare his players during the break as they came out looking fired up and prepared for battle, and barely two minutes into the half Van Heusden made a fine reflex save from Jonk's powerful shot, stretching at full-length to deny his Dutch compatriot. At the other end Butler went close to meeting a Benjamin cross and then on 55 minutes Benjamin was denied twice in quick succession as his shot was blocked by Pressman and his effort from the rebound was cleared off the line.

Then the moment that stunned three quarters of the Abbey into silence while the Wednesday drummers started again with gusto. On 69 minutes Kevin Pressman collected a Trevor Benjamin headed and his long kick was met by the head of Jamie Campbell, who helped the ball on to where he thought Van Heusden was positioned. The goalkeeper had moved to his left to cover a lurking Wednesday player and even a despairing full-length dive was not enough to stop the ball spinning into the empty goal.

The despair around the stadium was palpable and for a few rocky moments Wednesday tore at a United side in disarray, but it was only for a couple of minutes before Wanless and Taylor marshalled and regrouped the team. Four minutes later Benjamin outjumped the Wednesday defence at the far post to meet Alex Russell's fine free-kick and direct a powerful header under the crossbar.

The scenes of wild celebration were unforgettable as the Abbey erupted, and only the most partisan of away supporters could deny that United deserved the goal after they had matched their Premiership visitors throughout.

Several heads dropped on the Wednesday team and Danny Wilson made two changes with ten minutes left on the clock, bringing on Italian striker Sanetti for defender Newsome and former England defender Earl Barrett for the ineffective Jonk. Terrace favourite John Taylor, rolling back the years with a hard-working and canny game, saw a rocket shot hit the post in the 84th minute. Alex Russell also missed a good chance, then it was just a case of nail-biting and whistling as the referee found three minutes of injury time somewhere and Wednesday threw everyone into attack in search of another, deciding, away goal.

But it was not to be their night as a new generation of committed United players put the words 'Cambridge' and 'giant-killing' together again. Unfortunately the national media seem to regard Northampton's televised defeat at West Ham as far more news-worthy, but there was no stopping the celebrations at the Abbey. Supporters danced and hugged as the players did the same on the pitch, and John Taylor persuaded Benjamin to take his due praise from the fans before the eleven players left the pitch to a hugely deserved ovation.

The night was unforgettable for another reason too, when secretary Greenall bounded onto the pitch side to wave to the departing Main Stand crowd. As he moved on to the Newmarket Road End it erupted into a chorus of "Greenall, Greenall" and "There's only one Stevie Greenall", and faced with a row of out-stretched hands he imitated Barry Fry by running along the front of the stand exchanging 'high-fives'. Supporters in the Habbin who were heading for the exits moved down to the front of that stand to complete the fans' tribute and cap a truly wonderful evening for all connected with Cambridge United.

After the game a drained Roy McFarland told the assembled Press, "Now we would like one of the giants to cash in on our magnificent displays. This Cup could help finance our real objective, promotion from the Third Division.

"I thought we were comfortable throughout the match against Wednesday. They had few first half chances but they were never able to take control of the game. We gave them a goal from a mistake and it was vital that we hit back very soon. Trevor Benjamin did it for us again and I don't think anybody could say we didn't deserve to go through."