The romance of the FA Cup, it transpired, was limited to a spirited display by a non-league side some 104 places below their Premier League hosts.

For AFC Fylde there was no shame, and Jordan Williams' 78th-minute strike was just reward for the collective desire shown by a club only formed in 1988. For Sheffield United, however, there is a place in the fourth round and maybe, just maybe, a potential route towards glory in the famous old competition.

The Blades have made huge strides since Chris Wilder was appointed in May 2016 and dragged his hometown club out of League One and into the top flight within the space of three years.

Goals from Callum Robinson and Leon Clarke ensured a safe, if rather laboured, passage for a second-string United against Jim Bentley's National League outfit, who arrived in Yorkshire as the lowest-ranked team in the competition.

Any thoughts of Wembley remain some way off for Wilder's men, but there is strength and depth to a squad who currently lie eighth in the Premier League.

The Blades boss made 11 changes here with Ravel Morrison, who has struggled to make much of an impact since joining United summer, and debutant Jack Rodwell, handed starting roles.

Former Manchester United prospect Morrison was described by Sir Alex Ferguson, at 14, as 'the best young player at his age' he had ever seen.

The 26-year-old Mancunian showed some neat touches in midfield and had a goal ruled out for offside in the 59th minute before his deft pass led to Clarke's clincher moments later.

Rodwell, deployed at right-back, cut an assured figure as he looks to rebuild his career but departed with a knock in the 58th minute.

With the Kop closed, and just a few hundred Flyde supporters housed in the upper tier at the other end of Bramall Lane, there was hardly an atmosphere to stir the blood.

Still, Bentley's players did their bit and never let their spirits sag, with what proved to be a consolation from Williams sparking raucous celebrations in the away end.

United led in the eighth minute when Luke Freeman whipped in a cross from the left flank and Robinson controlled the ball neatly and lashed a shot past Sam Hornby in the Fylde goal.

That might have been the signal for the floodgates to open, but credit to the visitors. They managed to keep United at bay with Hornby cutting an assured presence between the posts, tipping over a deep cross from Kieron Freeman.

Flyde threatened on the break when Nick Haughton was played in but Mo Besic made a vital intervention to clear the danger.

Former United midfielder Danny Philliskirk then clattered Morrison in midfield as Flyde continued to show grit and determination.

Hornby saved a header from Clarke before the Blades lost debutant goalkeeper Michael Verrips to a head injury in the 41st minute following a nasty collision with Kean Bryan as they both slid in to clear a dangerous through ball.

After treatment, Verrips was able to walk off and be replaced by regular number one stopper Dean Henderson. Three minutes after the restart, Hornby saved well again from Robinson and then moments later, Fylde spurned a golden opportunity.

Haughton delivered a free-kick from the right flank but Alex Whitmore could only head wide when unmarked from just six yards.

After Morrison had a header ruled out for offside, a second United goal finally arrived in the 60th minute when Clarke found Morrison.

His neat touch found Luke Freeman, whose low right-foot shot rebounded off the inside of a post to Clarke, who drilled the ball home from six yards.

But with 12 minutes remaining, Fylde had hope as Williams advanced beyond a leaden-footed United defence and lifted the ball over Henderson.

Williams went close again in the 86th minute with a low shot that forced a corner, but it was United who were celebrating a place in the fourth round while Bentley's players were given a standing ovation by the 11,133 crowd at the final whistle.