Match Reports

Blades ease through in the cup

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Sheffield United booked their place in the Third Round of the FA Cup with a comprehensive 2-0 win at Cambridge United.

The non-league side, who had won all ten of their league games at the Abbey Stadium this season, were hoping to cause an upset in the cup but the tie never looked in doubt after Jose Baxter opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a good strike.

Blades cemented their place in the third round when Jamie Murphy fired home close to the hour mark.


The game started with Cambridge attacking the end where most of their fans were congregated and they had strong penalty claims turned away in the opening minute of the game when the ball hit Neil Collins on the hand but referee Oliver Langford waved away the appeals.

Baxter had the first chance of the afternoon when he saw his header saved by Maxwell in the Cambridge goal.

It wasn`t long before the same player opened the scoring when his sweet strike gave Maxwell no chance after a drilled cross by Ryan Flynn.

The non-league side came straight back at the blades and they had goalkeeper George Long to thank for maintaining their lead in the first half. He denied Cunnington with a big block when the Cambridge man found himself in space with just Long to beat.

Long then twice denied Berry in the space of a few minutes.

Sheffield United started to control the game from the half hour point, playing a steady passing game to frustrate Cambridge.

As with the first half, Cambridge had a strong penalty claim waved away in the opening minute of the second half. Simon Lappin blocking a cross with his arm but once again the appeals were waved away by the referee.

Dunk had been a constant threat with his pace for Cambridge in the first half and he got their first clear opening of the second, once again Long proving a hard barrier to break down.

Murphy doubled the lead for Sheffield United just before the hour when he found space down the left before cutting inside and beating Maxwell with a low shot.

The second goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Cambridge, with the blades defence proving hard to break down.

Cambridge again had very strong claims waved away for a penalty when Lappin again appeared to handle in the area.

Blades midfielder Mike Doyle forced Maxwell into a good save with a low left foot shot from the edge of the area as they eased through.

The win books the blades place in the third round draw later this afternoon.

Teams

Cambridge
Maxwell, Taylor, Coulson, Miller, Champion, Cunnington (Roberts 60), Dunk (Arnold 82), Tait, Berry, Hughes, Appiah

Subs not used
Brown, Spillane, Sam-York, Austin, Bonner

Sheffield United
Long, Collins, Maguire, Hill, Flynn, Doyle, Porter (Taylor 86), Baxter, Coady, Lappin, McGinn (Murphy 22)

Subs not used
Howard, Miller, Cuvelier, Brandy, Kennedy


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