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

Match Report

25th March 2014

EvoStik League Premier Division

Wincham Park, Chapel Street, Northwich, CW9 6DA


Witton Albion

2 - 5

FC United of Manchester

Titchiner 36
Andrews 61
  Raglan 15
Greaves 28, 32
Norton 45
Wolfenden 66
Attendance: 612

Witton Albion 2

Titchiner 36
Andrews 61

FC United of Manchester 5

Raglan 15
Greaves 28, 32
Norton 45
Wolfenden 66

Attendance: 612


Witton Albion

1 Matthew Cooper
2 Anthony Gardener (capt)
3 Alistair Brown
4 Ben Harrison
5 Robert Bodie
6 Cliff Moyo
7 Jonathan Dawson
8 Martyn Jackson
9 Scott Bakkor
10 Alexander Titchiner
11 Daniel Andrews

Subs:
14 Ross Davidson (for 6, 46 mins)
15 Anthony Sheehan (for 8, 66 mins)

FC United of Manchester

1 David Carnell
2 Liam Brownhill
3 Lee Neville
4 Dean Stott (capt)
5 Tom Davies
6 Charlie Raglan
7 Matthew Wolfenden
8 Callum Byrne
9 Mike Norton
10 Jerome Wright
11 Tom Greaves

Subs.
12 Dave Birch (for 8, 76 mins)
16 Astley Mulholland (for 7, 76 mins)
17 Greg Daniels (for 11, 65 mins)


Match Report
FC United of Manchester are the new leaders of the Evo-Stik Premier Division after beating Witton Albion 5-2 on Tuesday night, courtesy of goals from Charlie Raglan, a brace from Tom Greaves, and one each from Michael Norton and Matthew Wolfenden.

The Reds recorded our tenth consecutive league victory to go two points clear of Worksop and above Chorley on goals scored. The Magpies will go back to the top of the table on Wednesday night if they avoid defeat at Ashton United but it is by no means a straight forward task as the sixth placed Robins are fighting to get into the play-off zone.

United had never previously won at Wincham Park in seven attempts and to go to the top of the table we needed to break that hoodoo and handsomely so - by three clear goals. On paper, it looked a tall order. But in recent weeks, Karl Marginson’s side have been standing up tall and making anything look possible.

The Reds were 3-0 up and coasting after just over half an hour, thanks to Raglan and Greaves, before soon being pegged back to 3-1. Norton restored the three goal cushion on the stroke of half-time and, although Albion replied just after the hour to make it 4-2, Wolfenden made sure FC United went to the top of the table by scoring our fifth in the 66th minute.

On a wet and heavy pitch it was The Wittoners who started the better and a shot two minutes in from Jonathan Dawson was tipped over by United goalkeeper Dave Carnell. The Reds were struggling to win and keep the ball but a goal quarter of an hour in settled any nerves. A free-kick from the right was headed in by centre-back Raglan, who has found the knack of scoring after opening his account for the club two weeks ago with a brace at Stocksbridge.

The goal helped FC United into the game and the lead was almost doubled when Jerome Wright was released on the left, his cross found Norton who saw his shot saved by Matthew Cooper. Norton had another chance five minutes later but he headed just wide.

On 28 minutes, the lead was doubled when a superb ball from Raglan released Greaves, who rounded Cooper and rolled the ball home. The ecstatic FC United faithful were given even more to cheer about four minutes later when the scoreline was increased to 3-0. Wright ran down the wing and his cross was swept in by Greaves for his 30th goal of the season. United were effectively top of the league.

However, moments later, they were brought crashing back down to second place when Witton pulled a goal back. The ball found its way to Alex Titchiner in the FC United box and the Albion man saw his shot deflected into the bottom corner. The scoring in the first half wasn’t over, as right on half time Callum Byrne fed a superb ball behind the home defence to Norton who finished well into the far corner for 4-1.

The home side started the second half as they did the first, a break saw Titchiner have a shot cleared from the line by Lee Neville, the rebound being pushed wide by Carnell. Carnell was called into action on 57 minutes when he tipped a Dawson shot wide.

Just after the hour, the deficit was reduced when Daniel Andrews picked up the ball on the right wing and cut inside before unleashing a shot that flew in off the far post. The goal seemed to wake up FC United, a free-kick was headed onto the bar by Greaves and it wasn’t long before the lead was increased again when a throw by Wright was punched by Cooper to Wolfenden who rolled the ball into the net.

It was an important victory for FC, one that takes them to the top of the league for 24 hours at least, but more importantly, showing the battling side to the team, a trait that will be vital as the season climaxes.

Website man of the match: Charlie Raglan - superb defending when under pressure, capped off with a goal and a fantastic pass to set up Tom Greaves to score.

Report by Steven Wood
Match Report
FC United of Manchester are the new leaders of the Evo-Stik Premier Division after beating Witton Albion 5-2 on Tuesday night, courtesy of goals from Charlie Raglan, a brace from Tom Greaves, and one each from Michael Norton and Matthew Wolfenden.

The Reds recorded our tenth consecutive league victory to go two points clear of Worksop and above Chorley on goals scored. The Magpies will go back to the top of the table on Wednesday night if they avoid defeat at Ashton United but it is by no means a straight forward task as the sixth placed Robins are fighting to get into the play-off zone.

United had never previously won at Wincham Park in seven attempts and to go to the top of the table we needed to break that hoodoo and handsomely so - by three clear goals. On paper, it looked a tall order. But in recent weeks, Karl Marginson’s side have been standing up tall and making anything look possible.

The Reds were 3-0 up and coasting after just over half an hour, thanks to Raglan and Greaves, before soon being pegged back to 3-1. Norton restored the three goal cushion on the stroke of half-time and, although Albion replied just after the hour to make it 4-2, Wolfenden made sure FC United went to the top of the table by scoring our fifth in the 66th minute.

On a wet and heavy pitch it was The Wittoners who started the better and a shot two minutes in from Jonathan Dawson was tipped over by United goalkeeper Dave Carnell. The Reds were struggling to win and keep the ball but a goal quarter of an hour in settled any nerves. A free-kick from the right was headed in by centre-back Raglan, who has found the knack of scoring after opening his account for the club two weeks ago with a brace at Stocksbridge.

The goal helped FC United into the game and the lead was almost doubled when Jerome Wright was released on the left, his cross found Norton who saw his shot saved by Matthew Cooper. Norton had another chance five minutes later but he headed just wide.

On 28 minutes, the lead was doubled when a superb ball from Raglan released Greaves, who rounded Cooper and rolled the ball home. The ecstatic FC United faithful were given even more to cheer about four minutes later when the scoreline was increased to 3-0. Wright ran down the wing and his cross was swept in by Greaves for his 30th goal of the season. United were effectively top of the league.

However, moments later, they were brought crashing back down to second place when Witton pulled a goal back. The ball found its way to Alex Titchiner in the FC United box and the Albion man saw his shot deflected into the bottom corner. The scoring in the first half wasn’t over, as right on half time Callum Byrne fed a superb ball behind the home defence to Norton who finished well into the far corner for 4-1.

The home side started the second half as they did the first, a break saw Titchiner have a shot cleared from the line by Lee Neville, the rebound being pushed wide by Carnell. Carnell was called into action on 57 minutes when he tipped a Dawson shot wide.

Just after the hour, the deficit was reduced when Daniel Andrews picked up the ball on the right wing and cut inside before unleashing a shot that flew in off the far post. The goal seemed to wake up FC United, a free-kick was headed onto the bar by Greaves and it wasn’t long before the lead was increased again when a throw by Wright was punched by Cooper to Wolfenden who rolled the ball into the net.

It was an important victory for FC, one that takes them to the top of the league for 24 hours at least, but more importantly, showing the battling side to the team, a trait that will be vital as the season climaxes.

Website man of the match: Charlie Raglan - superb defending when under pressure, capped off with a goal and a fantastic pass to set up Tom Greaves to score.

Report by Steven Wood

Previous Matches
03/09/2022 0-1W
05/02/2022 2-0W
23/10/2021 3-2W
16/11/2019 3-3D
05/05/2019 4-4D
17/03/2019 3-0W
02/12/2018 3-4W
06/10/2018 1-2L
01/05/2017 3-4W
18/04/2017 2-3L
26/09/2015 3-1W
19/08/2015 2-5W
08/08/2015 3-1W
11/04/2015 0-0D
08/11/2014 4-0W
05/11/2013 2-1L
02/11/2013 2-2A
19/10/2013 2-2D
03/09/2013 3-1W
07/05/2013 3-1W
06/04/2013 0-1L
19/02/2013 4-3L
26/12/2012 A-A
27/08/2012 1-1D
24/01/2009 2-1L
04/10/2008 5-3W