Cup of 'Rosy glee'
Cup of 'Rosy glee'
Cup of 'Rosy glee'
Transfer listed striker Mark Rosegreen threw VS a lifeline on Tuesday night with a goal seconds from the final whistle.
It was a late, late show which totally transformed the prospects.
"We played well enough to win," said manager Jimmy Knox.
"Before the goal we faced scoring three in the second leg at Butlin Road next Wednesday.
"The away goal counts double and now it means an easier task to get into the last sixteen."
Rob Smith threw away this almost inevitable early VS chance to make their better class football tell.
"The keeper got a hand to the ball as I went past him and the shot slipped off a defenders' calf," he later explained.
VS paid dearly in the 38th minute when Mick Shearer slid-it to rob Gary Grogan after Anthony Ebony and the slipping Nigel Niblett were left standing by Keith Lockhart's pace.
"It was a good, fair tackle and I won the ball," said Shearer.
But Corby ref Gerry Lee ordered otherwise and Lockhart beat Martin with the penalty.
Nine minutes after the restart central defender Nigel Niblett was blaming himself for the second Cambridge goal.
"I committed myself too early," he said of the missed challenge which saw Grogan run in to shot the ball past Martin.
Afterwards he spoke as if the world had fallen in on him. "I don't like us losing," he said.
Wayne Scally and Steve Ross interspered gritty displays with flair and Rosegreen was less than a foot away from at least a hat-trick.
He got his reward with just enough time to spare for play to go back to the centre circle and restart before the final whistle.
Mark Boyland helped the chance on its way with a twisting run to the byline for a centre Rosegreen was just inches from meeting.
And Rosegreen picked himself and VS up off the floor just in time to head home the follow-up cross from Smith on the opposite wing.
Larchimage Windows Cup Second Round First Leg Cambridge City 2 VS Rugby 1
● Mark Rosegreen whose league goal against Poole on Saturday heralded an injury time league cup strike at Cambridge on Tuesday. Picture: Dave Burnham.