Curzon Ashton 0-0 Cambridge United: National League North club earn FA Cup replay

Non-league Curzon Ashton earned a deserved FA Cup replay against Cambridge United after a goalless first-round tie.

Both sides had opportunities in an open contest at Tameside, but neither possessed the accuracy to convert chances which came their way.

Paul Digby forced a good low save from home keeper Chris Renshaw with a shot from outside the box, while Curzon's Connor DiMaio was just too high with a left-foot volley.

The introduction of substitutes Shilow Tracey and Jack Lankester just before the hour breathed new life into Cambridge, but Will Mannion had to claw away a Jordan Richards free-kick in added time as the home side ensured they will be in Monday's draw for round two, a stage they reached in 2008 and 2016.

• Relive Sunday's FA Cup action as it happened

Cambridge reached the fourth round last season, winning 1-0 at Newcastle United in the process, but they went into the game having been beaten in six of their past seven games - and they lost 4-3 to Guiseley in 2018, the last time they faced non-league opposition away from home in the competition.

The opportunity was there for The Nash - from National League North - to exploit any nerves in the away dressing room, but they were unable to replicate the shooting of their women's team, who scored five in a contemporaneous away league victory over Salford City Lionesses.

U's boss Mark Bonner was able to recall experienced Harrison Dunk to his side, while defenders Connor Hampson and Devon Matthews were passed fit for Curzon Ashton - but they lost Ryan Hall with a knock in the 20th minute, with DiMaio sent on as his replacement.

There was little sign of a 70-place gap between the two clubs in the opening half as Hampson produced the game's first shot on target, saved comfortably by Mannion, after Harvey Knibbs had missed an open goal at the other end, while Josh Hancock was narrowly wide after Tom Peers robbed U's defender Zeno Rossi.

But the closest to a goal before the break came in added time as Will Hayhurst headed down and DiMaio's left-foot effort flashed inches over the bar.

Connor DiMaio's volley at the end of the first half was just too high for Curzon Ashton

Curzon made a positive start to the second half but the U's gradually lifted their game, with Renshaw forced to kick away a goal-bound effort by Lewis Simper and Harvey Knibbs meeting a Tracey cross but directing his header over the bar.

Home manager Adam Lakeland sent on 6ft 5ins target man George Waring in the final 10 minutes, but it was Richards who came closest to a winner with a curling free-kick after a foul by Digby which Mannion saw late, but just in time to push it out for a corner.

Curzon Ashton manager Adam Lakeland:

"I'm really proud of the players. We gave a really good account of ourselves and I can't really ask for any more than that.

"I thought our discipline and concentration, and the way we played out the game tactically, was brilliant.

"We're not flashy but we compete well at our own level, and I knew we'd compete well against Cambridge.

"Obviously we know that they were huge favourites, and they will be for the replay. It's going to be a mammoth challenge but our away form has been good this season, so this tie isn't over yet."

Cambridge head coach Mark Bonner told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:

"It took us too long to get going, to be a creative force in the game.

"We've got to score more - these players have got to find that level and I've got to get it out of them.

"There were a couple of good chances in the first half and a couple of very good ones in the second. But we need a little more craft, creativity and tempo. We've got to work harder to make more clever and faster forward runs.

"Until January, these are the 17,18 players we've got fit and there's nobody else to come back. Right now it's about getting the best out of the players we've got."