Match report: Lowestoft Town 1-4 Cambridge City

After all the pre-season preparations, the season finally got underway on Saturday. Most of the non-league teams were in action in their respective leagues, but a small handful of clubs began their season in the FA Cup and Cambridge City were one of those teams, visiting Lowestoft Town.

City had ended their pre-season with a defeat to Welwyn Garden City last weekend, the score finishing 1-0 to the visitors, and they were looking to win in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup for the secnd season running, after the 1-0 success away to Kirkley & Pakefield last time out.

Almost 12 months to the day when these two teams met, Lowestoft Town and Cambridge City were playing each other again, as the only all-Isthmian League North Division tie in the FA Cup this weekend. The match got underway from referee Neil Farrow's orders, and it didn't take long for an impact. Charlie Royle sped down the right and spied his teammate Freddie Hockey at the far post. A pinpoint cross found the City winger and Hockey slotted in the opener with ease after just two minutes. Five minutes later and it could have easily been two. Travis Dodsworth found space on the right-hand side, and, after working well with front man Fletcher Toll, managed to lay off a neat pass to find Jaiden Babalola, who then sent his strike over the bar.

City continued to look for chances, but were unable to find any finishing touch. However, it was Lowestoft who hit home with their first chance after 20 minutes. A corner taken by Mitchell Belmar was clipped over the bar by James Philp, under some considerable pressure. The second corner was sent in, straight onto the head of Kyle Baker, who flicked home for 1-1.

A couple more chances followed for the visitors. Firstly, Fletcher Toll managed to beat the offside trap and feed through Hockey, but the City man was unable to find his second goal. Then, just four minutes later, after Ashton Blogg nearly headed into his own net but instead struck the bar, Charlie Norman picked out Lewis Hayes, who sent Toll through to fire another effort over the crossbar.

City continued to dominate but still couldn't re-establish their lead. Dodsworth once again found himself free on the wing after receiving the ball from Hayes, and his cross was met by Toll and headed into the back of the net. Unfortunately for the striker, the offside flag had been raised and the scores stayed level.

In the second half, City looked for another fast start, and they got it after just four minutes. Dodsworth was working wonders again on the wing, and his pass to Hayes allowed his teammate to play in a cross that was originally aimed at Toll, but the ball continued onto the path of Royle, who fired home to regain City's lead.

From this point onwards, City were looking for third goal to find a bit of breathing room, although Lowestoft created chances of their own. A short free-kick enabled a cross to be fired towards the far post, with Baker forcing Philp to save low to his right. Then, after 68 minutes, Benji Blyth played in Luca Upton, Upton then turned past Jayden Randell and his shot was tipped over the bar by a stretching Philp.

City then regained control, and with 74 minutes on the clock, they created another chance. Charlie Norman sent in a cross which was originally lost to the Lowestoft defenders, but Royle managed to win it back. He started a neat move which ended with Ryan King shooting at the near post with Ben Self scrambling to stop it from creeping in at the near post.

Four minutes later and City had their third. A long throw was lobbed into the box, straight towards Randell, and the captain volleyed home to give City a nice cushion. With one minute left of the 90, there came a potential turning point. A loose ball was spinning towards Rio Abobunde and King came to try and win the ball back. In doing so, he caught Abobunde and the referee deemed it to be a red card.

A few minutes later, and the result was sealed. A neat move consisted of Royle, Dodsworth and Reece Harris, which allowed the latter to square a ball to the onrushing Charles Brown-Bampoe, who slotted in his team's fourth goal.

Not long later, the final whistle blew. City had successfully navigated their first FA Cup match this season and, just like 12 months previously when the Lilywhites picked up a red card during the game, the result was still a favourable one. City's reward is a tie in the next round against newly relegated AFC Sudbury, to be played in a fortnight's time.

Thank you to Connor Taylor Creek for the excellent match report.