U's:5 Stafford:1
Hurrah, we’ve finally won an FA Cup game. Even if it has taken us three matches to beat an awful awful Stafford side, at least we’re in the next round and have recorded a suitably convincing victory ahead of Saturday’s trip to Devon.
JQ shuffled his pack again, recalling Darryl Knights and Lee Boylan in place of LFW and Danny Brown, and the two diminutive strikers formed a three-pronged attack with Scotty Rendell.
Stafford actually started fairly well, and for the first 15 minutes looked about as cohesive as they have at any point in the two matches I’ve seen them play this season, matching us for possession and chances. Draper shot over the bar for the visitors, Mawene was off target with a free kick, while at the other end Boylan had a shot blocked and Rendell headed a Knights cross over.
Luke McShane wasn’t overly extended, but seemed worryingly shaky when coming for crosses and generally commanding his area. While I don’t expect him to be Danny Potter, it doesn’t bode especially well for the upcoming Torquay match, given that the Gulls score a massive proportion of their goals from set pieces. Nevertheless, I suppose you can only deal with what’s thrown (or kicked) at you and he performed most of his duties satisfactorily.
United seemed to grow in confidence as the half went on, and despite Mark Peters almost slicing in a comedy own goal, we eventually took a deserved lead. Rendell worked the ball into the path of Knights, who slipped it through for Boylan, who got away from his marker and drilled a trademark finish across the keeper into the far post. A proper strikers goal from a proper striker.
Rangers immediately sacrificed their five man midfield, with portly goal-getter David McNiven replacing Draper and joining Neil Grayson, United’s ageless nemesis, up front.
It didn’t have the desired effect though, and five minutes before half time Scotty Rendell notched his 11th of the season. This time Boylan provided the pass, and although keeper Danny Alcock (haha, Al-cock) blocked his shot, the ball spun up nicely for the striker to nod it into the empty net, despite the efforts of a defender on the line.
United weren’t finished there though, and effectively killed the game off with a stunning third right on the whistle. A decent spell of possession culminated in a Gleeson pass into Boylan on the edge of the box. His lay off was perfect for Wolleaston, who lashed a brilliant first time effort past Alcock. As Alan Partridge might say, Scorchio! 3-0.
As in the Farsley game earlier this season, United took their foot off the gas a little at the start of the second half, and allowed the visitors back into it with a soft goal. Morrison failed to deal with Luke Potter’s cross, and Kevin Street (currently training as a priest fact fans) picked up the loose ball and beat the helpless McShane.
United hearts were in mouths again minutes later when sub Nathan Smith got clear on goal, but McShane did well to force him wide, then block his shot when it eventually came in. A second at that point might have made things unnecessarily interesting.
Knights had already struck the post by the time Stafford gifted him his first goal for United. Alcock’s clearance struck the back of the Yeovil loanee, and rebounded to Boylan inside the box. He unselfishly squared back to Knights, whose scuffed shot beat two defenders on the line.
With 20 minutes still to play, you sensed more goals were there for the taking against a tiring Stafford defence, but United could only add one further strike. A fine pass from the outstanding Wolleaston released sub Stephen Smith, whose low cross was tucked away by Knights for his second. The young striker could have completed his hatrick after fine approach play from another sub, LFW, and Courtney Pitt. Unfortunately he just failed to get enough purchase on his first time shot and it flew wide of the goal.
Despite United only playing well in patches, this was as comprehensive a win as the scoreline suggests. It will be interesting to see what JQ does on Saturday. Does he continue with the three strikers who contributed four goals last night, or does he play an extra midfielder and/or bring back the experienced head (and elbows) of big Leo. By all accounts Torquay are better going forward than they are defensively, so attack could be the best form of defence. However, it would be a brave manager who plays three strikers in an away match with the league leaders.
Man of the Match: Rob Wolleaston – Admittedly Wolly was given a lot of time and space to play by Stafford, but he made the most of it with some tiggerish tackling and accurate passing, not to mention that superb goal. In the continuing absence of Danny Brown he’s turning into a massive player for us.
JQ shuffled his pack again, recalling Darryl Knights and Lee Boylan in place of LFW and Danny Brown, and the two diminutive strikers formed a three-pronged attack with Scotty Rendell.
Stafford actually started fairly well, and for the first 15 minutes looked about as cohesive as they have at any point in the two matches I’ve seen them play this season, matching us for possession and chances. Draper shot over the bar for the visitors, Mawene was off target with a free kick, while at the other end Boylan had a shot blocked and Rendell headed a Knights cross over.
Luke McShane wasn’t overly extended, but seemed worryingly shaky when coming for crosses and generally commanding his area. While I don’t expect him to be Danny Potter, it doesn’t bode especially well for the upcoming Torquay match, given that the Gulls score a massive proportion of their goals from set pieces. Nevertheless, I suppose you can only deal with what’s thrown (or kicked) at you and he performed most of his duties satisfactorily.
United seemed to grow in confidence as the half went on, and despite Mark Peters almost slicing in a comedy own goal, we eventually took a deserved lead. Rendell worked the ball into the path of Knights, who slipped it through for Boylan, who got away from his marker and drilled a trademark finish across the keeper into the far post. A proper strikers goal from a proper striker.
Rangers immediately sacrificed their five man midfield, with portly goal-getter David McNiven replacing Draper and joining Neil Grayson, United’s ageless nemesis, up front.
It didn’t have the desired effect though, and five minutes before half time Scotty Rendell notched his 11th of the season. This time Boylan provided the pass, and although keeper Danny Alcock (haha, Al-cock) blocked his shot, the ball spun up nicely for the striker to nod it into the empty net, despite the efforts of a defender on the line.
United weren’t finished there though, and effectively killed the game off with a stunning third right on the whistle. A decent spell of possession culminated in a Gleeson pass into Boylan on the edge of the box. His lay off was perfect for Wolleaston, who lashed a brilliant first time effort past Alcock. As Alan Partridge might say, Scorchio! 3-0.
As in the Farsley game earlier this season, United took their foot off the gas a little at the start of the second half, and allowed the visitors back into it with a soft goal. Morrison failed to deal with Luke Potter’s cross, and Kevin Street (currently training as a priest fact fans) picked up the loose ball and beat the helpless McShane.
United hearts were in mouths again minutes later when sub Nathan Smith got clear on goal, but McShane did well to force him wide, then block his shot when it eventually came in. A second at that point might have made things unnecessarily interesting.
Knights had already struck the post by the time Stafford gifted him his first goal for United. Alcock’s clearance struck the back of the Yeovil loanee, and rebounded to Boylan inside the box. He unselfishly squared back to Knights, whose scuffed shot beat two defenders on the line.
With 20 minutes still to play, you sensed more goals were there for the taking against a tiring Stafford defence, but United could only add one further strike. A fine pass from the outstanding Wolleaston released sub Stephen Smith, whose low cross was tucked away by Knights for his second. The young striker could have completed his hatrick after fine approach play from another sub, LFW, and Courtney Pitt. Unfortunately he just failed to get enough purchase on his first time shot and it flew wide of the goal.
Despite United only playing well in patches, this was as comprehensive a win as the scoreline suggests. It will be interesting to see what JQ does on Saturday. Does he continue with the three strikers who contributed four goals last night, or does he play an extra midfielder and/or bring back the experienced head (and elbows) of big Leo. By all accounts Torquay are better going forward than they are defensively, so attack could be the best form of defence. However, it would be a brave manager who plays three strikers in an away match with the league leaders.
Man of the Match: Rob Wolleaston – Admittedly Wolly was given a lot of time and space to play by Stafford, but he made the most of it with some tiggerish tackling and accurate passing, not to mention that superb goal. In the continuing absence of Danny Brown he’s turning into a massive player for us.
Tease of the Match: Tom Youngs – Tiny Tom failed to make it off the bench in any of our three games against Rangers. How many times last night did he jog up and down the touchline, flicking his calves expectantly, only to disappear back into the dug out minutes later? Shame, it would have been nice to see him on the hallowed turf again. 
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