Match report: Cambridge City 6-1 Maldon & Tiptree

Cambridge City continued their FA Cup journey by taking on Isthmian League Premier Division outfit Maldon & Tiptree. The Lilywhites were coming off the back of an impressive win against AFC Sudbury on Bank Holiday Monday. The Jammers' last match was in the league, as they dispatched Leatherhead 4-1, but they had their last two games postponed, and there were some serious doubts about their future.

It was Maldon & Tiptree's first outing in the FA Cup this campaign, having made it all the way to the First Round Proper to face Port Vale at Vale Park last season. Despite Annisuis Lewis giving the Jammers the lead, Vale prevailed and ran out 5-1 winners. City had to come through the Preliminary Rounds, the last being another win against AFC Sudbury, 2-1.

City were straight into the action from the off, as Alex Warman volleyed an incoming throw into the side netting after just two minutes. Three minutes later, Jack Thompson saw his cross headed wide by Fletcher Toll.

City had a corner after nine minutes, and it resulted in the first goal. The ball was whipped into the penalty area and the ball flicked off Ryan Fryatt's head and into the back of the net.

City mostly dominated the game, but it took another nine minutes for the next chance. After Rowan Dorling had beaten Toll to a forward pass, Charlie Royle quickly moved into a crossing position, and the square pass was headed down by Toll into the path of Thompson, whose shot was cleared off the line.

Maldon shot down the other end after 26 minutes. Iffy Allen picked out Ibby Akanbi outside the penalty area, and laid Kai Redgrave through to slot in at the far post. Fortunately for the home side, the assistant's flag at the near side was raised to indicate that Redgrave had strayed offside.

Two minutes later Jayden Randell headed wide from a corner, after Randell had a previous shot cleared from the corner beforehand. Randell was in again seven minutes later when he received Charlie Norman's long throw, and, after turning swiftly, shot over the crossbar.

Just before half-time, City had a corner. The ball was sent in and this time it was met by Lewis, and the ball crossed the line for 2-0, despite the visiting defence almost succeeding in clearing the header away.

As the half-time whistle blew, a brawl broke out between the two teams, which dissipated within seconds.

In the second half it took just three minutes for City to add to their lead. Lewis played through Toll, who in turn found Royle on the right wing, and the resulting byline cross was headed in by Toll to give the hosts a commanding 3-0 lead.

Four minutes later and it became 4-0. City had a corner which Thompson took, and Randell headed home to give City their fourth goal of the match and their third from set-pieces.

The goals were coming in from all angles, and Maldon had their name on the score-sheet after 54 minutes. Chayne Fage-Burgin and Akanbi worked well to search out Redgrave on the right wing, and the winger then fired in a stunning consolation to make it 4-1.

The four goal lead was re-established 13 minutes later. Dorling had the ball at his feet in the penalty area, and the goalkeeper played a poor kick to straight into the feet of Toll, who lobbed into the empty net for his second goal of the game and City's fifth.

Freddie Hockey almost made it six after 72 minutes. A corner was aimed at Hockey at the near post, and the striker's header skimmed across the face of goal and wide at the far post.

With 10 minutes left, Maldon almost had a second goal. Goalscorer Redgrave found Fage-Burgin on the right-hand side, but the latter's effort rolled just wide.

Two minutes later and City had their sixth of the game. Lewis Hayes played in Hockey on the right-hand side, and a foot race between Hockey and Dorling was won by the City winger, who then played in Hayes to thump home into the empty net for 6-1.

City had a couple more chances to make it 7-1. The first one saw Jaiden Babalola fire wide from Norman's cross, and the second saw Dorling save from Charles Brown-Bampoe from a corner.

The final minutes of the game were rather uneventful, and City ran out 6-1 winners against the team that won the Isthmian League Division One North title last season. The Lilywhites will be in action next Saturday, as they take on Canvey Island in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy, while also keeping an eye on Monday's FA Cup draw.

Thanks to Connor Taylor-Creek for the match report.