Cambridge United navigated their way towards the Second Round of the Emirates FA Cup in comfortable fashion as they overcame non-league outfit Chester 3-0 at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
Starting in the ascendency, the U’s opened the scoring early on through Kylian Kouassi, who soon helped himself to a brace with a well-executed angled attempt. The goalscorer turned provider for James Brophy just shy of the break, with the hosts protecting their healthy lead during the second half to secure their place in the hat.
Itching to showcase an instant and professional response to the defeat at Notts County a week earlier, Neil Harris named four changes to his XI as Liam Bennett, Korey Smith, Brophy and Ben Knight all returned to the fold.
Attacking towards the Newmarket Road End, the U’s were quick to pick out some good deliveries into the box to try and test the Seals, who were forced into an early booking on the 9th minute when Nathan Woodthorpe brought down his man from an enticing position.
The resulting free-kick helped to orchestrate the opener for the hosts as Brophy whipped in a ball towards the back post from the right, with Kouassi bundling home from close range for his fourth of the campaign.
Pleased to gain that early foothold, Cambridge now had something to protect, but were still wary of the visitors – plying their trade two steps below in the National League North. Buoyed by an impressive away following of over 1,200, they teased for the first time when a low cross from Pat Jones was put wide of the post by an onrushing Woodthorpe on 18.
On the 34th minute, Harris’ men doubled their advantage when Brophy’s over-the-top ball was cleared behind by the head of Festus Arthur, but Kouassi latched on it and embarked on a run down the right before drilling a venomous strike towards the far post which deflected in – a well-taken effort from a tricky angle.
Five minutes later, Brophy came close to almost putting the tie to bed when Jack Bainbridge was booked for bringing down Dom Ball 25 yards out. The winger beat the wall but couldn’t quite keep the effort down as it flew over the crossbar.
Calum McIntyre’s side still had that determination on the counter, particularly through danger man P. Jones, who roamed forwards and picked his spot from distance on the 41st minute, but it landed inches wide of Jake Eastwood’s right post.
Two minutes into additional time, the Kouassi and Brophy show continued as United made it three. So quick to rush forward and capitalise Chester on the press, the loanee teed up the number seven inside the area, who beat his man and rifled a beautiful left-footed shot into the top corner.
Full of momentum, the hosts continued where they left off after the break when Ball hit a really clean volley - which whistled wide of the post - before Knight had two bites at the cherry when his initial attempt was blocked, with the second having finesse but he failed to hit the target.
Up the other end, the Blues probed either side of the hour mark when P. Jones hit a low strike into the arms of Eastwood, before Bainbridge’s long-range effort forced the glovesman to paw away for a corner.
Although the U’s were in control of proceedings, they had entered a spell where they were unable to test George Murray-Jones between the sticks as the non-league side – who had overcome Stalybridge Celtic, Curzon Ashton and Morecambe en route – began to find some control to the game.
The Head Coach opted for a quadruple change 20 minutes from time to ensure a strong conclusion as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Elias Kachunga, George Hoddle and Glenn McConnell all entered the field.
It helped recapture more rhythm in the final third for the men in amber, with Ben Purrington at the back post cutting back to the six-yard box, but McConnell and then Kachunga were unable to fire past a recovering defence.
As the clock ticked down and the floodlights beamed on what had been a professional performance from the hosts, Kevin Roberts – a key member of the 2014 squad that tasted promotion and the FA Trophy – came on, but that was to be it for this encounter as Cambridge reached the Second Round of the competition for the fifth season in a row.
Up next, the U’s will look to progress to the knockout stages of the Vertu Trophy on Wednesday evening (5th November) when Brighton & Hove Albion’s U21s travel to the Abbey – be sure to back the boys.
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Bennett, Morrison, Watts, Purrington, Smith (Hoddle, 73’), Ball (Mpanzu, 72’), Brophy (Mayor, 84’), Knight (McConnell, 73’), Kaikai, Kouassi (Kachunga, 72’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Bradshaw, Jobe, Gibbons
Goalscorers: Kouassi (9’, 35’), Brophy (45+2’)
Bookings: Watts, Purrington
Chester: Murray-Jones, Leak (Roberts, 88’), Arthur (J. Jones, 46’), Carson, Woodthorpe, Murray, Bainbridge, Weeks, Mottley-Henry (Kelly-Evans, 18’), P. Jones (Zanzala, 62’), Peers (Woods, 88’)
Subs Not Used: Barlow, Leigh, Shorrock
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Woodthorpe, Bainbridge
Referee: David Rock
Attendance: 4329 (1231 away fans)
