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City out of FA Trophy
- Sean Coxon
- Sep 21, 2025
- 4 min read
Cambridge City bowed out of the FA Trophy after a defeat on penalties to Witham Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round.
The Lilywhites were adjusting to life without Jamie Cureton after his dismissal on Wednesday morning, with U18s manager Shaun Sowden and Head of Youth Development, and club legend, Neil Midgeley taking the reins on a temporary basis.
Witham were riding high after a 2-0 win in their FA Cup fixture against City's conquerors Mulbarton Wanderers, the replay needed after the first match ended goalless.
The match started in pleasant conditions, and it didn't take long for an impact, when Michael Salako pounced on the ball after a mistake in the Witham back line, he curled his effort just wide after 3 minutes.
After 7 minutes, City took the lead. Or so they thought. George Smith had just won a corner, and Salako was on hand to head in from the cross, but the referee saw a foul in the penalty area, and awarded a free-kick to Witham.
That Witham free-kick lead to the official first goal of the match. A long ball took City by surprise, and William Ademiluyi was in the right place to roll his strike in off the base of the post.
Then, just 3 minutes later, Witham doubled their lead. Jordan Elongo found space and found Ademiluyi, who twisted and turned and found the net for his 2nd goal of the match.
City had a mountain to climb but Salako nearly got a goal back immediately, but his shot was scuffed wide after neat work by Smith.
Isaac Skubich went on a mazy run to find his teammate, Elongo, the effort being palmed away by James Philp.
Jack Thompson got another attack going when he sent in Salako, who turned past the defender and crossed to Smith, the striker's shot flying wide of the upright.
After 22 minutes, City had a corner that Thompson had won, and it was City's 10 that took the corner, Ali Njie lobbing over the bar after Witham's defenders dealt with the pressure.
With 24 minutes gone, Kane Munday was making himself useful, lobbing the ball up to captain Jayden Randell, a handball was claimed but no penalty was the decision. Witham broke down the other end with Elongo and Owen Bellamy, both players having shots saved by Philp, Skubich then shot wide.
Smith turned sharply and then shot wide after 29 minutes, then, while Salako found himself some space, Ryan Mallett chopped down the striker and received a yellow card for his troubles. The free-kick was crossed to Munday, William Eastwood keeping the clean sheet intact.
Witham were ready to go into half-time with a 2-0 lead, but, after a long ball by Randell, a mistake in the Witham backline gave City hope, Salako slotting into a virtually open goal to halve the deficit.
Witham started the 2nd half, hoping to add to their lead, Ademiluyi tried for his hat-trick, but his effort was blocked. At the other end, Usman Adeniji ran down the wing and found substitute Samrai Gebrai, the following cross was knocked in by Smith for 2-2.
With the comeback complete, City went on the attack for the lead and Gebrai's efforts were rewarded with a corner. Thompson took, and it was his own shot that lead to a scramble, to which Salako's try was caught by Eastwood.
Another City break allowed Smith to win a corner, and it was Smith's shot which Eastwood just about kept out, Nije's effort had been saved earlier.
After 55 minutes the game changed. Smith had picked up the ball and was assessing his options when Mallett fouled the City man, the Witham captain was given his marching orders after receiving his 2nd yellow.
However, it was the 10-man Witham who retook the lead. Gabe Campbell was in acres of space when he took on a shot, with the effort finding the bottom left corner to restore Witham's lead.
From then on City went on to dominate, while trying to level the match. Munday came running through and Smith had his shot saved by Eastwood, Thompson then crossed wide.
Gebrai then had another shot saved by Eastwood, and Adeniji then crossed back to Gebrai, with Eastwood claiming yet again.
The final passage of the match saw City trying to find an equaliser, but Witham's 10 men standing firm.
With 5 minutes of injury time displayed, City continued to press, with Witham continuing to defend with their lives.
As the time ticked over the 5 added minutes, Witham were about to celebrate a hard-fought win when Michael Bareck played through Smith, the striker was then felled in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Although Smith's strike was saved, the rebound was thumped in, in front of a raucous crowd.
With the score 3-3 after the final whistle, the match went straight to penalties. After all the good work from City, having got back into the match twice, the shoot-out didn't fall in City's favour, Witham winning 5-4 on spot kicks, with George Smith and Samrai Gebrai missing their penalties.
After the defeat, City will now regroup and try again, with Gorleston the visitors on the 27th, the Lilywhites having won just once in their first 5 matches in all competitions.
Conor Taylor-Creek
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What a rollercoaster this match was! Coming back from 2-0 down to level it at 3-3 in injury time, only to lose on penalties — that's genuinely heartbreaking. Salako looked lively all game and Smith's determination never faded. As a student who follows City between deadlines, moments like this remind me why non-league football is so special — the raw emotion is unmatched. I actually had a law assignment due the same evening and was scrambling for Online Help with Law Assignment just to get it submitted on time, so I missed the penalty shootout live. Gutted I wasn't there for that late drama. The transitional period without Cureton adds pressure, but Sowden and Midgeley clearly got a real response…