Cambridge United 0-0 Curzon Ashton: U's reach round two with 4-2 shootout win

Cambridge United scraped past non-league Curzon Ashton 4-2 on penalties after their FA Cup first-round replay ended goalless at the Abbey Stadium.

Joe Ironside, Jack Lankester, Harvey Knibbs and Paul Digby all found the target from 12 yards for the League One home side, who beat Newcastle on the way to the fourth round last season.

But Josh Hancock fired Curzon's first spot-kick over the bar and their hopes were ended when Will Mannion saved from Connor Dimaio.

Cambridge's Saikou Janneh came closest to a goal during regulation play when he shot against the bar following a run from inside their own half.

• Relive Tuesday's FA Cup replays action as it happened

The visitors, who are 19th in National League North, reached round two in 2008 and 2016, but were without top scorer Tom Peers as they made three changes to their starting XI from the first game between the sides, which also finished 0-0.

They were indebted to keeper Chris Renshaw for keeping them on level terms in the first half as he pushed away a Lloyd Jones effort which was headed for the top corner and then saved from Sam Smith's free-kick.

He denied the Cambridge striker again after the break, smothering his shot as he ran onto a ball which flicked off the head of defender Devon Matthews, and the woodwork came to his aid following Janneh's superb 60-yard break.

The U's had only lost one out of 12 previous home FA Cup replays - to Macclesfield Town in 2003 - but it was Curzon who came on strong in the final half-hour of normal time.

Sub Craig Hobson somehow failed to make contact with Richards' cross, and then shot just wide after turning away from his marker Jones before Connor Hampson flashed a dangerous ball across the box, with no-one able to get on the end of it.

Hancock tested Mannion early in extra time, while Lankester's shot which deflected onto the roof of the net was as close as Cambridge came to their first goal in four games.

But Mark Bonner's side held their nerve in the shootout to set up a home tie with League Two club Grimsby Town on 26 November.

Cambridge head coach Mark Bonner told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:

"It was 210 minutes of a grind against them really, they made it hard to create chances and played very well.

"In the end we got through, we're in the next round, and £55,000 better off.

"We didn't need the replay and we definitely didn't need extra-time because I have no idea what team we'll be able to put out on Saturday.

"It wasn't entertaining and it wasn't much fun but we found a way to get through so in the end that's all that matters."

Curzon Ashton manager Adam Lakeland:

"My feeling is one of overwhelming pride in the players and the performance.

"We've gone toe-to-toe with a League One side over 210 minutes, and to lose on penalties feels incredibly harsh on the players.

"It was a proper cup tie, both teams had chances and I'm gutted we're out because I don't think we deserved it.

"Scoring goals is our Achilles heel at the moment, but we're performing well and this will give us confidence going into the upcoming league games. The lads have put the club on the map."