For once the quality of the football on show did not concern Sutton United boss Paul Doswell, he was just pleased to reach the last 16 of the FA Trophy.
Jamie Collins’ scrappy first half winner summed up the afternoon’s entertainment as United edged past Curzon Ashton at Gander Green Lane.
They will now host either Bognor Regis Town or Altrincham in the third round on February 6 with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs, as well as a cheque for £7,000 to add to the £15,000 already banked.
Doswell said: “In football parlance it was an ugly win. We knew Curzon would have a fair amount of possession because of the way they play, and it was a question of who was going to get that first goal.
“It was about winning the match and not necessarily being the best football side.
“I think Ross [Worner] had one great save to make at the end, but apart from that I don’t think they threatened us.”
He added: “The game was won through our concentration on our shape, we knew if we went too far forward, they would be able to pick us apart, so in training we concentrated on keeping a really good shape and discipline about us.
“And we knew it would not be a fantastic game, we knew it would be tight, and we worked on getting that first goal in training and it was nice to see it come off.”
Curzon Ashton were lucky to finish the game with 10 men on the pitch after centre back Dan Shaw appeared to haul back Dan Fitchett when the United striker was bearing down on goal.
However, the referee deemed the offence worthy of only a yellow card, something Doswell insisted was good for the game.
“They should have had a man sent off, all day long,” he said.
“The linesman’s view is that the ball is going through to the keeper and Dan would not have got there, but that is not the case.
“But I don’t want to see 11 v 10. At the end of the day, it was the right decision for the game and it gave Curzon a fair chance to progress, but we’ve won an ugly.”
He added: “The most important thing now is that we concentrate on Dartford in the league this weekend – if you get to the semi-finals you can maybe start to think of Wembley, but we’re still some way from that.”
Dartford sit fourth in the National South table, just two points behind United in third.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here