DERRY LEFT DISMAYED BY ERRORS
CAMBRIDGE UNITED boss Shaun Derry rued his side’s lack of cutting edge as ace marksman Ricky Miller earned Dover a replay with an equaliser eight minutes from time.
United had taken a first-half lead through Piero Mingoia, and spurned chances to increase their advantage before the Non-League side hit back.
Miller found space in the box to beat Will Norris and score his 18th goal of a prolific season.
The teams will now meet again at The Crabble in two weeks’ time, and Derry said: “If you judge us on the balance of play I think we have the right to be disappointed not to be in the next round.
“You have to give credit to the opposition because they kept going and took their chance, but it was a disappointing goal from our angle.
“I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but if we’d have shown some ruthlessness when we got chances, I think I’d be standing here now thinking about the second round.
“It was a good Cup tie, and sometimes when you play in this competition it can be a different type of game, and we found that.”
Cambridge striker Uche Ikpeazu was a constant menace for the Whites defenders.
But the former Watford man, who penned a new two-year deal with the U’s before kick-off, should have opened the scoring.
A Mingoia cross fell kindly to him ten yards out, but he smashed his shot against the crossbar.
Mitch Walker in the Dover goal made a terrific save to foil Max Clark’s long-range effort shortly afterwards.
But he was culpable when Cambridge opened the scoring, spilling Luke Berry’s effort allowing Mingoia to tap in.
U’s chances came and went in the second period, Ikpeazu missing the best of them when he shot wastefully over after being played in by Mingoia.
Miller had already forced a good save from Norris before he levelled matters, controlling a Ross Lafayette cross, turning away from Mark Roberts and stabbing in.
Dover manager Chris Kinnear said: “We’ve got to be pleased with the draw.
“I didn’t think we were great but we just about deserved it. “Now we’re looking forward to getting them down to our place. “All afternoon we were looking to get the forwards in, be it Ricky (Miller) or one of the others. “We’re looking to score loads of goals this season. “Cambridge played with a bit of spirit, and probably wanted to get their minds off their league form. “Two years ago they were playing Manchester United in the cup, and they were probably thinking they could go on a run again. Maybe they still will, but we’ll have another good crack at them.”