CAMBRIDGE CITY 0 HINCKLEY UNITED 5

Attendance: 466

By ANDY GIBBS at MILTON ROAD

A CLINICAL display from United saw them overwhelm their previously unbeaten hosts as a potentially tricky FA Cup tie was negotiated with consummate ease.

Adam Webster will claim the headlines, but it was a fine team performance from The Knitters who’s passing and movement was quite outstanding, the only disappointing aspect of the afternoon was the red card shown to James Mace early in the second half, but United made light of his dismissal to seal their place in the final qualifying round long before the final whistle.

United came into the game with a makeshift defence. With both Lee Collins and Connor Franklin missing, Mace moved to centre half with Neil Cartwright slotting in at right back and in the early stages, it appeared as though they’d adopted the “attack is the best form of defence” maxim. They could have gone two up in the opening 90 seconds, Andy Gooding driving over from close range before Andy Hall’s low cross was fired into the side netting by Webster.

The breakthrough came on 10 minutes with a well worked free kick routine as Hall delivered to the far post, Richard Lavery headed back across the six yard box and WEBSTER converted from close range.  

For the next 20 minutes we had a real cup tie on our hands as Cambridge, unbeaten so far this season, enjoyed their best spell of the game as they attempted to get back on terms. They came close twice within the space of two minutes, Adrian Cambridge’s right wing corner was met by Lee Chaffey’s towering header that was saved right on the line by Chris MacKenzie, before MacKenzie made a superb save at point blank range to keep out John Frendo’s header on the far post.

Despite City enjoying good spells of possession, The Knitters always looked dangerous on the counter and home keeper Zac Barrett did well to push aside Stuart Giddings’ curling free kick at full stretch before the crucial second goal went Hinckley’s way ten minutes before half-time. It was a scrappy, untidy goal as Hall’s long throw from the left caused all sorts of confusion in the Cambridge six yard box and the ball went in after a couple of deflections with WEBSTER, Matt West and an own goal from Chaffey all suspects – take your pick.

The Knitters added another on the stroke of half-time and once again, Hall was the creator. He played a short corner with Neil Cartwright before beating two men in getting to the bye-line and pulling a ball back for WEBSTER to finish at the near post.

It was going to take something pretty sensational to get the home side back in it, and they might have seen a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel five minutes into the second half when Mace fouled James Krause on halfway and was shown a straight red. The Knitters re-organised themselves with Lavery dropping into the centre of defence and business continued as usual with United enjoying total control as the home side coulnd’t make the most of their extra man.

Hinckley their lead midway through the half, Alex Taylor was through on goal before being fouled by Robbie Nighingale, referee George only brandished a yellow card when Nightingale was surely contemplating a red and gave Hinckley a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area, but justice was done as GOODING curled his shot into the top corner.

Five minutes later United completed the scoring, Taylor was again unlucky when his goalbound shot was handled by Chaffey and WEBSTER blasted home the spot kick to complete a resounding victory.

HINCKLEY UNITED: MacKenzie, Mace, Giddings, Lavery, Taylor, Lister, Hall (Dillon, 78), Gooding, Webster (Eribenne, 78), West (Hamilton, 85), Cartwright. Subs not used: Storer, Jupp.