“We weren’t great today” was the opinion of Dover manager Chris Kinnear, having seen Ricky Miller’s 18th goal of the season keep his side in this season’s FA Cup.

But, had Cambridge forward Uche Ikpeazu shown the same quality in his finishing as he did in the rest of his all-round performance, it could have been a very different story.

Dover rarely threatened Luke Norris’ goal and could have been behind before Pedro Mingoia capitalised on a second rebound following Mitch Walker’s save from a Max Clark shot to put Cambridge ahead after 38 minutes.  But some wasteful finishing, especially from Ikpeazu, always gave the hope that Dover might get one chance, and this fell to Miller with nine minutes remaining to force a replay.

Kinnear wasn’t too displeased with his team’s performance though, adding “obviously we’ve got to be pleased with a draw.  I think we deserved it and we can look forward to getting them down to our place now.  We were looking to get any of the forwards (into their box) and we are always looking to score.  That’s why, I think, it’s only our second draw this season; we look to score, so either win or lose.”

“I think the wind played its part, and seemed to drop in the second half, but it’s something you’ve just got to play through.  It was also cold ‘up North here’, but that’s part and parcel of the FA Cup and why everybody loves it so much.”

“After playing Manchester United (two years ago), they are always going to look for another run, but we’ve got another crack at them in ten days’ time.  They didn’t take us lightly and it was a close game.  We’re happy that we’ve gone away from home and not lost, so we’ve still got a chance.”

Playing into the teeth of a biting wind, Dover got an idea of how the first half might unfold as the ball forward from the kickoff drifted back towards the halfway line.  From then on, the Whites struggled to keep the ball out of their half, with the giant centre-forward Uche Ikpeazu tormenting the three central defenders.

Ikpeazu had the first sight of goal for the home side after just 4 minutes, turning Jamie Grimes inside out before slipping as he shaped to shoot and lifting his effort over Mitch Walker’s goal.  In the next attack, Ikpeazu chased a lost cause into the left corner, holding off Jack Parkinson’s challenge before delivering a dangerous cross that Tyrone Sterling had to head over his own bar.

When Dover did get forward with any pace, they caused a few nerves in the Cambridge defence; Ricky Modeste and Ricky Miller combining well on the left before Modeste delivered a cross that Greg Taylor had to shepherd behind.  It was Cambridge’s turn to have problems clearing their lines as Jim Stevenson had a shot to the left side of the goal.

Ikpeazu was dropping off the back three to find space and running at the Dover defence to great effect.  His cross was met by Harrison Dunk’s diving header that flew over the angle of post and bar, the Ikpeazu had two further shots fly wide with Dover’s defence struggling to cope with Cambridge’s direct running.

On the half-hour, Dover had their best chance of the half.  Walker’s long dropkick was misread by former Tonbridge defender Leon Legge, with Ross Lafayette escaping his attention.  Lafayette pushed into the area before his low shot was deflected behind by Mark Roberts’ challenge.

Max Clark was also starting to exploit the spaces in midfield, with a rasping 30-yard drive that skimmed the crossbar with Walker seemingly beaten by the pace of the shot.  Then, when Sterling slipped as Pedro Mingoia crossed into the area, Ikpeazu lashed his shot against the underside of the bar.

And it wasn’t long before the home side’s territorial and possession advantages brought the opening goal.  Once again, Ikpeazu was allowed to turn and run in the middle, with the forward laying a pass into the path of Luke Berry.  Berry’s low shot squirmed away from Walker, diving to his left and although the keeper was up quickly to block Dunk’s follow-up shot, the ball rebounded perfectly for Mingoia to stab into the empty net.

Within a minute, Stevenson headed over from a Modeste freekick, but it was the home side finishing the half the stronger, as Clark was invited forward to send another long-range shot sliding over.

Chris Kinnear’s half-time team talk almost went out of the window within 60 seconds of the restart as Roberts’ free header at the back post from a corner flew over.

For the first time in the match, Miller managed to get the better of fullback Taylor on the right side.  Miller turned into the area, beat two further lunging challenges before his left foot shot was saved low by the right post by Luke Norris for a Dover corner.

Dover’s strength this season has been their front three, but they were beginning to look increasingly isolated as Cambridge continued to push forward.   A Mingoia freekick from the right to the back post was headed down by Taylor, with Roberts finding space, but the defender lifted his shot high over.

Sterling nearly benefitted from poor Cambridge defending from a Modeste freekick, as the ball bobbled through to him, but his powerfully struck shot hit the chest of Legge, before the defender could react.

Another mistake in midfield allowed Cambridge to counter-attack with pace.  Mingoia picked up the ball on halfway before playing a pass into the path of Ikpeazu.  The forward took the ball into his stride, but once again, his left foot shot lacked composure, almost clearing the stand behind Walker’s goal.

With nine minutes left, Dover got the break they were desperate for to equalise.  A hopeful ball in from the left bounced in the middle of the area.  Miller managed to get a toe to poke the ball round Taylor and, as Norris left his line, Miller pushed his shot under the keeper’s attempt to spread himself.

With a replay to protect, Dover were defending manfully, even Lafayette found himself covering at right back.  But Cambridge, through Ikpeazu continued to pressurise. The big forward released Mingoia on the right, who teased Sterling before dinking a cross into the middle.  Berry directed a header goalwards, but substitute Richard Orlu threw himself in the way to deflect the effort behind.

So the teams will reconvence at the Crabble on Tuesday week, when the new Family Stand may be open.  Dover though will have to have a better gameplan to shut down the runs of Ikpeazu and Clark, or they might find Cambridge a tougher prospect.

CAMBRIDGE UNITED: 1- Will Norris; 28- Brad Halliday, 5- Mark Roberts, 6- Leon Legge, 2- Greg Taylor; 4- James Dunne (23- Joe Pigott 83), 20- Max Clark (10- Ben Williamson 67); 7- Pedro Mingoia, 8- Luke Berry, 11- Harrison Dunk (21- Medy Elito 67); 26- Uche Ikpeazu.

Subs not used: 13- David Gregory, 3- Blair Adams, 14- Josh Coulson, 15- Sean Long.

Goal: Pedro Mingoia 38

DOVER ATHLETIC: 1- Mitch Walker; 2- Sam Magri, 15- Jamie Grimes, 23- Jack Parkinson, 16- Tyrone Sterling, 3- Aswad Thomas (6- Richard Orlu 76); 4- Chris Kinnear jr, 8- Jim Stevenson; 7- Ricky Modeste (17- Moses Emmanuel 76), 25- Ross Lafayette, 9- Ricky Miller.

Subs not used: 18- Steve Arnold, 10- Tyrone Marsh, 11- Mitchell Pinnock, 12- Loui Fazakerley, 19- Ira Jackson.

Goal: Ricky Miller 81

Cautions: Aswad Thomas 67, Ricky Modeste 70, Sam Magri 79

Attendance: 2,620 (515 away)

Referee: Mr Nicholas Kinseley
Assistants: Mr Daniel Cook and Mr Ashvin Degnarain
Fourth Official: Mr Michael George