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Match Report

19th November 2008

The UniBond League Premier Division

Gigg Lane, Gigg Lane, Bury, BL9 9HR


FC United of Manchester

0 - 1

Eastwood Town

  Holmes 44 (pen)
Attendance: 1,636

FC United of Manchester 0

Eastwood Town 1

Holmes 44 (pen)

Attendance: 1,636


FC United of Manchester

1 Sam Ashton
2 Danny Warrender
3 Simon Garner
4 Papis Dieyte
5 David Chadwick (capt)
6 Adam Turner
7 Adam Carden
8 Simon Carden
9 Kyle Wilson
10 Jerome Wright
11 Chris Baguley

Subs.
12 Carlos Roca (for 4, 76 mins)
14 Nic Robinson (for 11, 57 mins)
15 Robert Nugent (for 6, 46 mins)

Eastwood Town

1 S Redmond
2 A Asher
3 R Cooke
4 R Dunning
5 M Hume
6 S Sturdy
7 L Meikle
8 A Foster (Capt.)
9 I Holmes
10 R Gardner
11 A Todd

Subs.
14 M Rhead (for 10, 76 mins)
16 W Duik (for 11, 67 mins)
17 T Whitman (for 9, 60 mins)


Match Report
The good, the bad and the ugly were on display at Gigg Lane on Wednesday night as FC United lost their first game in eight games, going down by one goal to Eastwood Town.

But as ever it wasn’t without some controversy as many felt Eastwood’s penalty award was a little soft and most felt aggrieved when United’s claims for a return spot kick were turned down at the beginning of the second half.

The teams took to the field separated by just one point and one league place, and the evenness of the match was reflected in the first half as both sides enjoyed good build up play but lacked that cutting edge in the final third.

The Reds were kept at bay by a tough looking defence, which was reinforced by a durable midfield that closed down any ball coming into their half making it hard for United to create anything of any meaning.

Eastwood may have had one eye on their big FA Cup tie with Wycombe Wanderers a week on Saturday, but if anything it spurred their players on to play well looking to get their names on the team sheet for the second round tie.

It’s testament to the Eastwood defence that the only chance United had in the first half was after 40 minutes when a Chris Baguley shot from outside of the box was parried out by ‘keeper Shane Redmond for a corner.

The visitors had more success coming forward and called on Sam Ashton to make a good one-on-one save after only six minutes, and not long after the Baguley chance Ashton needed to save acrobatically from Lindon Meikle’s shot cutting in from the right wing.

In a first half of such few chances it was a shame that the deadlock had to be broken by what could at best be describe a soft penalty, as winger Andy Todd went down in the box and stuck an arm out. Most thought the referee had blown for Todd’s Maradonna impression, but in actual fact the man in the black pointed to the spot claiming Todd had been brought down by Adam Carden.

Some may have asked Eastwood striker Ian Holmes “Do you feel lucky? Punk??? and he certainly did as he blasted the ball straight down the middle of the goal to put the visitors a goal to the good just minutes before the interval.

Report by Craig Phillips.

In fairness to the first half the lead was more the Eastwood had deserved and the impetuous was now on United to stage another comeback.

Rob Nugent was brought on at half time for Adam Turner and it was good to see the defensive pairing of Nugent and Chadwick reunited once more.

When Simon Carden was hacked down in the Eastwood box only minutes into the second half it looked a stone wall penalty to everyone watching, including the referee’s assistant who waved his flag signalling for a spot-kick. However, the one man whose opinion mattered didn’t view it as a penalty and ensured that United fans were waving more than a fistful of dollars at the referee come full time.

For most of the second half the visitors looked to waste time at every available opportunity and in looking for an equaliser United may have had more luck trying to escape from Alcatraz, but they tried every which way but loose none the less.

There were slight half chances for Simon Garner, Kyle Wilson and Carlos Roca but those were either fired over the bar or straight into the ‘keeper’s arms.

In truth most of United’s attacks broke down at the first phase and when they struggled to pass from defence to midfield they often resorted to the long ball forward which also led to nothing.

Needing the comeback, Margy threw Chadwick forward looking for someone to make something of the long ball and captain marvel almost did it as he teed himself up and volleyed just wide with minutes remaining.

In reality United struggled as their opponents closed everything down, even throw-ins deep inside the United half were chased down and due to this any moves were hard to get going.

United must now dust themselves off and look to Sunday’s big FA Trophy match with Boston at Gigg Lane on Sunday.

Report by Craig Phillips.
Match Report
The good, the bad and the ugly were on display at Gigg Lane on Wednesday night as FC United lost their first game in eight games, going down by one goal to Eastwood Town.

But as ever it wasn’t without some controversy as many felt Eastwood’s penalty award was a little soft and most felt aggrieved when United’s claims for a return spot kick were turned down at the beginning of the second half.

The teams took to the field separated by just one point and one league place, and the evenness of the match was reflected in the first half as both sides enjoyed good build up play but lacked that cutting edge in the final third.

The Reds were kept at bay by a tough looking defence, which was reinforced by a durable midfield that closed down any ball coming into their half making it hard for United to create anything of any meaning.

Eastwood may have had one eye on their big FA Cup tie with Wycombe Wanderers a week on Saturday, but if anything it spurred their players on to play well looking to get their names on the team sheet for the second round tie.

It’s testament to the Eastwood defence that the only chance United had in the first half was after 40 minutes when a Chris Baguley shot from outside of the box was parried out by ‘keeper Shane Redmond for a corner.

The visitors had more success coming forward and called on Sam Ashton to make a good one-on-one save after only six minutes, and not long after the Baguley chance Ashton needed to save acrobatically from Lindon Meikle’s shot cutting in from the right wing.

In a first half of such few chances it was a shame that the deadlock had to be broken by what could at best be describe a soft penalty, as winger Andy Todd went down in the box and stuck an arm out. Most thought the referee had blown for Todd’s Maradonna impression, but in actual fact the man in the black pointed to the spot claiming Todd had been brought down by Adam Carden.

Some may have asked Eastwood striker Ian Holmes “Do you feel lucky? Punk??? and he certainly did as he blasted the ball straight down the middle of the goal to put the visitors a goal to the good just minutes before the interval.

Report by Craig Phillips.

In fairness to the first half the lead was more the Eastwood had deserved and the impetuous was now on United to stage another comeback.

Rob Nugent was brought on at half time for Adam Turner and it was good to see the defensive pairing of Nugent and Chadwick reunited once more.

When Simon Carden was hacked down in the Eastwood box only minutes into the second half it looked a stone wall penalty to everyone watching, including the referee’s assistant who waved his flag signalling for a spot-kick. However, the one man whose opinion mattered didn’t view it as a penalty and ensured that United fans were waving more than a fistful of dollars at the referee come full time.

For most of the second half the visitors looked to waste time at every available opportunity and in looking for an equaliser United may have had more luck trying to escape from Alcatraz, but they tried every which way but loose none the less.

There were slight half chances for Simon Garner, Kyle Wilson and Carlos Roca but those were either fired over the bar or straight into the ‘keeper’s arms.

In truth most of United’s attacks broke down at the first phase and when they struggled to pass from defence to midfield they often resorted to the long ball forward which also led to nothing.

Needing the comeback, Margy threw Chadwick forward looking for someone to make something of the long ball and captain marvel almost did it as he teed himself up and volleyed just wide with minutes remaining.

In reality United struggled as their opponents closed everything down, even throw-ins deep inside the United half were chased down and due to this any moves were hard to get going.

United must now dust themselves off and look to Sunday’s big FA Trophy match with Boston at Gigg Lane on Sunday.

Report by Craig Phillips.

Previous Matches
13/04/2013 2-2D
04/11/2012 4-1W
06/12/2008 4-2L