Cambridge Utd 5 Stafford 1
Stafford Rangers found Cambridge United's attack too hot to handle as they crashed out of the FA Cup.
Stafford Rangers found Cambridge United's attack too hot to handle as they crashed out of the FA Cup.
Three goals before the interval did the damage and though Kevin Street reduced the deficit, Cambridge went on to book their place in the first round with two further strikes.
With Marco Adaggio out with knee damage sustained in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Marston Road, boss Phil Robinson gave a debut to recent signing Samy Mawene.
Stafford made a bright start with Ross Draper firing just over in the third minute and Mawene narrowly missing with a curling free-kick.
But Cambridge made Rangers work hard at the back and broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when Lee Boylan fired home from 10 yards to finish off a move involving Scott Rendell and Darryl Knights.
Almost immediately, Stafford changed formation with David McNiven coming on as an extra striker in place of midfielder Draper.
Boylan turned provider as the home side doubled their lead in the 41st minute.
Luke Potter failed to clear and Rendell forced the ball home at close range.
Rob Wolleaston made it three in first-half stoppage time. The midfielder thumped the ball into the top right corner and the game looked all over as a contest.
Cambridge almost scored again 10 minutes after the restart. Knights got in a volley from the edge of the area which hit the left-hand post and rebounded to safety.
Nathan Smith replaced David Oldfield on the hour mark and Stafford managed to get back into contention with in the 63rd minute.
Potter's deep cross from the left fell to Street who took advantage of a slip by defender Mark Peters and fired home.
Stafford almost scored again a minute later. Nathan Smith rounded keeper Luke McShane, but the defence got back to smother the chance.
Any hope the goal gave Stafford of forcing extra time, all but ended in the 70th minute when Knights slotted home from close range.
Nathan Smith and McNiven both fired narrowly wide as Rangers got forward but Knights struck again in the 85th minute to complete the scoring. This time he got on the end of a low cross from Stephen Smith and beat Alcock with another low shot.
Cambridge United: McShane; Albrighton, Peters (Hoyte, 77), Morrison; Gleeson, Wolleaston, Reed, Pitt; Knights; Boylan (S. Smith, 73), Rendell (Fortune-West, 77). Subs: Coulson, Hyem.
Stafford Rangers: Alcock; Richards (Hopkinson, 90), Daniel, Sangare, Potter; Oldfield (N. Smith, 60), Draper (McNiven, 34), Flynn, Street; Mawene; Grayson. Subs: Ingram, Youngs.
Ref: S. Creighton.
Att: 1,965.
