FC United of Manchester FC United of Manchester FC United of Manchester Badge FC United of Manchester Pitch In

Match Report

28th January 2012

EvoStik League Premier Division

Gigg Lane, Gigg Lane, Bury, BL9 9HR


FC United of Manchester

2 - 0

Hednesford Town

Wolfenden 52
Norton 81
 
Attendance: 1,816

FC United of Manchester 2

Wolfenden 52
Norton 81

Hednesford Town 0

Attendance: 1,816


FC United of Manchester

1 James Spencer
2 Kyle Jacobs (capt)
3 Richard Battersby
4 Jake Cottrell
5 Adam Jones
6 Greg Stones
7 Carlos Roca
8 Matthew Wolfenden
9 Mike Norton
10 Dean Stott
11 Stephen Johnson

Subs.
12 Astley Mulholland (for 7, 70 mins)
15 Nick Platt (for 8, 82 mins)
17 Matthew Boland (for 11, 87 mins)

Hednesford Town

1 D Crane
2 K Haynes
3 M Ricketts
4 C Dunkley
5 J Johnson
6 J Denny (capt)
7 A Landell
8 C Clements
9 M Beesley
10 G Hay
11 B Jevons

Subs:
12 E Durrell (for 7, 58 mins)
14 M Robinson (for 10, 63 mins)
15 L Blakeman (for 11, 64 mins)


Match Report
FC United kept their promotion ambitions alive by beating second placed Hednesford Town at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon with second half goals from Matthew Wolfenden and Michael Norton.

The visitors came into the game on the back of a good win at league leaders Chester last weekend and the Reds knew they would have to be at their best to beat the team currently riding high.

United could have had the lead with less than a minute on the clock as Wolfenden was presented with a chance after a lucky deflection but his effort from the edge of the area was easily saved by visiting ’keeper Dan Crane.

The Pitmen soon looked to get the opening goal as winger Ben Jevons cut in from the right and his shot to the bottom right hand corner of James Spencer’s goal had the United shot-stopper using every inch of his reach to get his fingertips to the ball to turn it out for a corner.

After a frantic start with both teams going close to troubling the newly re-installed scoreboard at Gigg Lane, the next 30 minutes were more of a chess match as both teams looked to figure the other out and take control of the possession and tempo of the game.

United were lookeing dangerous on both flanks with Carlos Roca and Stephen Johnson cutting in from and causing the visiting fullbacks no end of problems. Roca had the best chances of the opening 45 minutes, again cutting in from both wings; as he and Johnson comfortably swapped sides throughout. A couple of well struck efforts called Crane into action but the goalkeeper kept the scores level.

Johnson wasn’t to be left in the shade by his fellow wide man and he tried an effort of his own saved by Crane, before Norton agonisingly saw his effort hit the post, although any potential agony was quickly removed as the referee’s assistant had his flag raised for an offside.

Despite the scores being level at the break, United had been the far better team and the influence of the five men in midfield on the game was apparent as Jake Cottrell, Dean Stott and Wolfenden controlled the centre of the park, whilst Roca and Johnson provided the penetration and attacking threat from the sides, a trait which continued after the break.

The big difference with the second half was that United got the early breakthrough as Johnson; this time on the right, beat his man and crossed the ball for Matthew Wolfenden to powerfully head home from inside the six yard box to give United the lead and bag his 10th league goal of the campaign in the process.

After this the Pitmen had to abandon their game plan of soaking United’s pressure up and looking to steal something. As such, the visitors began to push men up field leaving gaps at the back, something which United looked to exploit with wave after wave of counter-attacks in the second half.

Norton then had a great opportunity to grab his 51st goal for the club. Roca jinked in from the left and fired a ball across the goal not more than a yard out, Norton threw his body forward to try to connect the ball but just couldn’t get anything on the cross.

Wolfenden must still be wondering how he didn’t double his tally for the day as he was the first to react as Crane spilt an effort from Norton. The former Oldham Athletic forward kept his calm, rounded ‘keeper after using a good dummy and fired the ball towards the bottom corner only to see his effort cleared off the line by defender Michael Ricketts.

The Reds’ surges up field kept coming as Johnson and Wolfenden both went close again. Moments later, United broke with substitute Astley Mulholland, on for Roca, creating another good opportunity for Norton. The striker had time on his hands but dragged the ball wide of the near post as United struggled in getting the second goal that would surely kill off the visitors.

Thankfully, Norton did get the second with less than ten minutes left, as Johnson crossed the ball from the right before the United hitman rose well and headed home to clinch all three points.

There was still time for another close effort for the men in red as Mulholland used his pace to beat the weary Hednesford defenders in stoppage time before shifting the ball to the right and around Crane. Unfortunately, he saw his coolly slotted effort from an ever decreasing angle hitting the post before being cleared for a corner.

United were simply fantastic on this afternoon and you would of struggled to find a team that could have contained them, they now travel to Whitby next Saturday looking to build on this confidence boosting win over a team who are now just eight points ahead of them having played one game more.

Website man of the match: Stephen Johnson – could have been any of the five midfield players on the park today but Johnson provided both goals and looked dangerous throughout the full 90 minutes.

Report by Craig Phillips

Match Report
FC United kept their promotion ambitions alive by beating second placed Hednesford Town at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon with second half goals from Matthew Wolfenden and Michael Norton.

The visitors came into the game on the back of a good win at league leaders Chester last weekend and the Reds knew they would have to be at their best to beat the team currently riding high.

United could have had the lead with less than a minute on the clock as Wolfenden was presented with a chance after a lucky deflection but his effort from the edge of the area was easily saved by visiting ’keeper Dan Crane.

The Pitmen soon looked to get the opening goal as winger Ben Jevons cut in from the right and his shot to the bottom right hand corner of James Spencer’s goal had the United shot-stopper using every inch of his reach to get his fingertips to the ball to turn it out for a corner.

After a frantic start with both teams going close to troubling the newly re-installed scoreboard at Gigg Lane, the next 30 minutes were more of a chess match as both teams looked to figure the other out and take control of the possession and tempo of the game.

United were lookeing dangerous on both flanks with Carlos Roca and Stephen Johnson cutting in from and causing the visiting fullbacks no end of problems. Roca had the best chances of the opening 45 minutes, again cutting in from both wings; as he and Johnson comfortably swapped sides throughout. A couple of well struck efforts called Crane into action but the goalkeeper kept the scores level.

Johnson wasn’t to be left in the shade by his fellow wide man and he tried an effort of his own saved by Crane, before Norton agonisingly saw his effort hit the post, although any potential agony was quickly removed as the referee’s assistant had his flag raised for an offside.

Despite the scores being level at the break, United had been the far better team and the influence of the five men in midfield on the game was apparent as Jake Cottrell, Dean Stott and Wolfenden controlled the centre of the park, whilst Roca and Johnson provided the penetration and attacking threat from the sides, a trait which continued after the break.

The big difference with the second half was that United got the early breakthrough as Johnson; this time on the right, beat his man and crossed the ball for Matthew Wolfenden to powerfully head home from inside the six yard box to give United the lead and bag his 10th league goal of the campaign in the process.

After this the Pitmen had to abandon their game plan of soaking United’s pressure up and looking to steal something. As such, the visitors began to push men up field leaving gaps at the back, something which United looked to exploit with wave after wave of counter-attacks in the second half.

Norton then had a great opportunity to grab his 51st goal for the club. Roca jinked in from the left and fired a ball across the goal not more than a yard out, Norton threw his body forward to try to connect the ball but just couldn’t get anything on the cross.

Wolfenden must still be wondering how he didn’t double his tally for the day as he was the first to react as Crane spilt an effort from Norton. The former Oldham Athletic forward kept his calm, rounded ‘keeper after using a good dummy and fired the ball towards the bottom corner only to see his effort cleared off the line by defender Michael Ricketts.

The Reds’ surges up field kept coming as Johnson and Wolfenden both went close again. Moments later, United broke with substitute Astley Mulholland, on for Roca, creating another good opportunity for Norton. The striker had time on his hands but dragged the ball wide of the near post as United struggled in getting the second goal that would surely kill off the visitors.

Thankfully, Norton did get the second with less than ten minutes left, as Johnson crossed the ball from the right before the United hitman rose well and headed home to clinch all three points.

There was still time for another close effort for the men in red as Mulholland used his pace to beat the weary Hednesford defenders in stoppage time before shifting the ball to the right and around Crane. Unfortunately, he saw his coolly slotted effort from an ever decreasing angle hitting the post before being cleared for a corner.

United were simply fantastic on this afternoon and you would of struggled to find a team that could have contained them, they now travel to Whitby next Saturday looking to build on this confidence boosting win over a team who are now just eight points ahead of them having played one game more.

Website man of the match: Stephen Johnson – could have been any of the five midfield players on the park today but Johnson provided both goals and looked dangerous throughout the full 90 minutes.

Report by Craig Phillips


Previous Matches
28/12/2015 1-1D
29/08/2015 0-3W
11/05/2013 2-1L
08/12/2012 1-0L
02/09/2012 1-1D
17/03/2012 1-2W
21/03/2009 2-2D
29/11/2008 3-0W