Notts County 1 Sheffield United 4: Miller and Maguire lead the way to ease Blades through
Two goals apiece for Shaun Miller and Harry Maguire saw Danny Wilson’s side set up another away tie, at Coventry City, in the Northern Section quarter-finals.
After a quiet opening the first effort of note fell to the home side on 22 minutes.
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Hide AdAlan Sheehan’s free-kick was almost bundled home by Enoch Showumni but Blades goalkeeper George Long earned credit for a smart save.
The Blades were then soon ahead with their first attempt of the game on 24 minutes as they made the most of a gap in County’s makeshift defence.
Chris Porter nodded a long ball on to the unmarked Miller who fired home sweetly on the half-volley.
In first-half stoppage time a well-struck shot at the back post by Ryan Flynn was well kept out by County goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
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Hide AdHowever, from the resulting corner the Blades doubled their lead as Maguire forced home Flynn’s set-piece.
Sheffield United quickly put themselves out of sight in the second half with two goals in rapid succession.
First, on 52 minutes, Flynn’s corner was fired home, once again with aplomb on the half-volley, by Miller.
Then an attempted cross by centre-back Maguire dipped over Bialkowski and into the far corner of his net.
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Hide AdCounty scored a consolation goal on 75 minutes when Jordan Stewart curled into the top corner with an excellent effort but the game had long been over as a contest.
Notts County: Bialkowski, Sheehan, Liddle, Showumni (L Hughes 46), J Hughes, Zoko, Mahon (Campbell-Ryce 46), Arquin (Nangle 76), Bencherif, Boucard, Stewart. Unused substitutes: Pilkington, Dixon.
Sheffield United: Long, Westlake, Maguire, Hill, Flynn, Doyle, Porter (Ironside 89), Miller (Philliskirk 81), Harriott, Chapell (Jean-Francois 76), Williams. Unused substitutes: Willis, Tonne.
Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).