Jimmy Nash was away on business, so Birkbeck returned to an otherwise full-strength side as Wimbledon attempted to reach the next round of the Amateur Cup in front of 4,000 spectators.

Despite, or perhaps indeed because of, an ice-rink of a pitch, with the lines marked out in sand on the snow, it turned out to be one of the best games seen at Plough Lane in some time. Spartan League Cambridge Town were renowned cup fighters and the Dons had their work cut out to overcome them. It took until the half-hour mark before Edelston scored an opportunistic opener. A throw-in down the left should have been cleared by Dean, but Head blocked and the ball fell to Edelston with his back to goal. He turned without hesitation and fired the ball home through a forest of legs. Haydock was forced to deal with a cross-shot from Crawford and then Fergurson and Crawford both wasted chances. Up the other end Magill found Stannard, but his header was turned around the post by Gallego and the keeper then saved from Laker.

The second half opened in the same fashion, Gallego saving a header from Stannard, Laker this time beat the keeper but Harmer was in position to head off the line, almost knocking himself out in the process. After two off-target long shots from Head the visitors had their first attack of the half, and should have scored. Crawford’s cross found Wood ten yards from goal with only Haydock to beat, but the winger rushed his shot over the bar. With fifteen minutes remaining the same player made amends, scoring at the second attempt from another Crawford centre. The game swung excitingly from end to end. Haydock saved superbly from Crawford, then Head’s free-kick was charged down after Edelston had been fouled. Haydock was forced to punch clear three times during the next scramble in the Dons’ goalmouth and the visitors looked the more likely to score when the referee blew his whistle for the end of normal time.

The home side piled on the pressure at the start of the additional time, Stannard forcing Gallego to turn the ball for a corner and the keeper then injuring himself making the last of four saves from headers. He was able to resume, but unable to stop Edelston giving the Dons the lead with only five minutes of the extra time played, controlling a pass from Birkbeck and swivelling to score a very similar goal to his effort in the first half. Wimbledon were outstanding during this spell and limited Cambridge to a single effort at Haydock’s goal.