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Match Report

21st September 2013

EvoStik League Premier Division

Marston Road, Astonfields Road, Stafford, ST16 3BX


Stafford Rangers

2 - 1

FC United of Manchester

Quinn 62
Steadman 90 (+6)
  Stott 66 (pen)
Attendance: 1,052

Stafford Rangers 2

Quinn 62
Steadman 90 (+6)

FC United of Manchester 1

Stott 66 (pen)

Attendance: 1,052


Stafford Rangers

1 Jon Brain
2 Michael Carr
3 Oliver Davies
4 Lucan Spittle
5 Darren Bullock (capt)
6 Christian Dacres
7 James McCarthy
8 Martyn Jackson
9 Danny Quinn
10 Sean Kinsella
11 Alex Steadman

Subs:
12 Jack Langston (for 8, 82 mins)
15 Ryan Brown (for 10, 75 mins)
16 Daniel Cope (for 9, 72 mins)

FC United of Manchester

1 James Spencer
2 Liam Brownhill
3 Dave Birch
4 Dean Stott
5 Andy Pearson
6 Tom Davies
7 Matthew Wolfenden
8 Callum Byrne
9 Tom Greaves
10 Jerome Wright
11 Matthew Walwyn

Subs.
12 Mike Norton (for 3, 80 mins)
15 Rhodri Giggs (for 7, 42 mins)
17 Greg Daniels (for 8, 66 mins)


Match Report
FC United slipped to a stoppage-time 2-1 defeat at Stafford Rangers in a game we had enough chances to win.

The loss leaves the Reds in ninth place, five points behind league leaders AFC Fylde and Chorley but with a game in hand.

Captain Dean Stott scored United’s only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 65th minute, making amends for gifting Daniel Quinn the opening goal just three minutes earlier. Unfortunately, the Reds couldn’t build on it and the hosts punished them right at the death with a well taken winner by Alex Steadman.

As has happened on a number of previous occasions, Karl Marginson’s side controlled the first half for long spells but couldn’t conjure the goal their possession deserved. Rangers looked a lot livelier after the break and will feel that they were worth their win but it came via a sucker punch that United could and should have avoided.

Stott in particularly had looked good in the first half, breaking up the hosts’ play in front of the defence, but he had a moment to forget just after the hour mark. After collecting the ball from goalkeeper James Spencer, the FC United midfielder got himself into trouble with Quinn closing him down to intercept an attempted pass to left-back Jerome Wright.

The Stafford striker raced towards the edge of the box and hit the ball into the bottom right corner underneath a despairing Spencer to break the deadlock.

Thankfully, Stott was able to redeem himself just moments later with a well taken spot-kick after Liam Brownhill was felled in the box near the byline following a clumsy push in the back by Stafford defender Lucan Spittle.

But it wasn’t enough to earn a point for United as Steadman showed a clean pair of heels to centre-back Andrew Pearson, latching onto a throughball by Jack Langston and rifling the ball into the far corner for a late winner.

As well as the defensive mistakes, United were made to pay for not taking their chances, particularly in the first half. This season’s top scorers for the club, striker Tom Greaves and left-winger Matthew Walwyn had two good chances each, which they would normally expect to convert.

Greaves could have had United 2-0 up in the first 25 minutes after twice going through one-on-one with goalkeeper Jon Brain. The former Bradford Park Avenue forward fired his first effort wide of the far post two minutes into the game and later he unleashed a powerful half volley straight at Brain, which he palmed away.

Walwyn’s chances both came in the last five minutes of the half. Right-back Brownhill launched the ball forward for Walwyn, who had momentarily swapped flanks, and the youngster cut inside before forcing Brain into another save, palming away again.

In first-half stoppage-time, Walwyn raced down the left wing and shot at goal from out wide. Brain again elected to palm the ball away and this time it looped up in the goalmouth where Brownhill awkwardly headed the ball well wide of the left post.

United also had chances to win the match when it was evenly poised at 1-1. Greg Daniels slotted the ball agonisingly wide of the post after a good solo run and fellow substitute Rhodri Giggs curled a free-kick into the side netting when Brain handled a Michael Norton shot outside the area, for which he controversially only received a yellow card.

But even before Stafford stole a winner, the signs were there that they might be able to snatch all three points. In the last 10 minutes, Rangers had a goal disallowed for a foul on Spencer and moments later Steadman looped one over the bar before he eventually settled the contest.

Website man of the match: Tom Davies. United’s young centre-half put in another composed performance at the back and was the main reason Stafford failed to trouble James Spencer in the first half.

Report by Matthew Haley
Match Report
FC United slipped to a stoppage-time 2-1 defeat at Stafford Rangers in a game we had enough chances to win.

The loss leaves the Reds in ninth place, five points behind league leaders AFC Fylde and Chorley but with a game in hand.

Captain Dean Stott scored United’s only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 65th minute, making amends for gifting Daniel Quinn the opening goal just three minutes earlier. Unfortunately, the Reds couldn’t build on it and the hosts punished them right at the death with a well taken winner by Alex Steadman.

As has happened on a number of previous occasions, Karl Marginson’s side controlled the first half for long spells but couldn’t conjure the goal their possession deserved. Rangers looked a lot livelier after the break and will feel that they were worth their win but it came via a sucker punch that United could and should have avoided.

Stott in particularly had looked good in the first half, breaking up the hosts’ play in front of the defence, but he had a moment to forget just after the hour mark. After collecting the ball from goalkeeper James Spencer, the FC United midfielder got himself into trouble with Quinn closing him down to intercept an attempted pass to left-back Jerome Wright.

The Stafford striker raced towards the edge of the box and hit the ball into the bottom right corner underneath a despairing Spencer to break the deadlock.

Thankfully, Stott was able to redeem himself just moments later with a well taken spot-kick after Liam Brownhill was felled in the box near the byline following a clumsy push in the back by Stafford defender Lucan Spittle.

But it wasn’t enough to earn a point for United as Steadman showed a clean pair of heels to centre-back Andrew Pearson, latching onto a throughball by Jack Langston and rifling the ball into the far corner for a late winner.

As well as the defensive mistakes, United were made to pay for not taking their chances, particularly in the first half. This season’s top scorers for the club, striker Tom Greaves and left-winger Matthew Walwyn had two good chances each, which they would normally expect to convert.

Greaves could have had United 2-0 up in the first 25 minutes after twice going through one-on-one with goalkeeper Jon Brain. The former Bradford Park Avenue forward fired his first effort wide of the far post two minutes into the game and later he unleashed a powerful half volley straight at Brain, which he palmed away.

Walwyn’s chances both came in the last five minutes of the half. Right-back Brownhill launched the ball forward for Walwyn, who had momentarily swapped flanks, and the youngster cut inside before forcing Brain into another save, palming away again.

In first-half stoppage-time, Walwyn raced down the left wing and shot at goal from out wide. Brain again elected to palm the ball away and this time it looped up in the goalmouth where Brownhill awkwardly headed the ball well wide of the left post.

United also had chances to win the match when it was evenly poised at 1-1. Greg Daniels slotted the ball agonisingly wide of the post after a good solo run and fellow substitute Rhodri Giggs curled a free-kick into the side netting when Brain handled a Michael Norton shot outside the area, for which he controversially only received a yellow card.

But even before Stafford stole a winner, the signs were there that they might be able to snatch all three points. In the last 10 minutes, Rangers had a goal disallowed for a foul on Spencer and moments later Steadman looped one over the bar before he eventually settled the contest.

Website man of the match: Tom Davies. United’s young centre-half put in another composed performance at the back and was the main reason Stafford failed to trouble James Spencer in the first half.

Report by Matthew Haley

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