Reds held at home

Following the disappointment of the midweek FA Cup exit, FC United were back into league action against Worksop Town but unfortunately the Reds had to settle for a point after being unable to break down the visiting defence.

Less than 10 minutes into the first half, a chance fell for the Reds striker Kyle Wilson following a good build up around the Worksop area. However, the league’s top-scorer put his shot just wide of Steve Hernandez’s right post.

The next real chance for Margy’s men came just moments in a move which was formed from a Jerome Wright corner on the left. Wright played the ball short to Carlos Roca whose curling effort saw everyone in the box beaten. Unluckily, the ball drifted just wide of the far post leaving Roca still searching for his first goal for the club.

The Reds continued to push forward in pursuit of their opening goal with new right back Danny Warrender offering a chance for FC United. The ball was played back from Simon Carden to Warrender who was able to hit the ball on the half volley. Unfortunately, in what seemed to be an occurring pattern in the afternoon’s game, his effort was put wide of Hernandez’s post.

In a scare for the visiting side, a scramble in the area left Worksop breathing a sigh of relief when Kyle Wilson was able to charge down the keeper inside his area. A good ball was played through to Wilson from the back and as the visiting keeper came out of his goal to close down the FC forward, Wilson charged him down and was able to round him. Luckily for Worksop, a defender managed to scramble the ball clear, leaving the score still evenly poised after a further chance for the Reds.

It was then the turn of the visitors when Worksop’s number 10 Kevin Sanasay was able to offer a half volley on the edge of the area. However, his effort was played straight into the hands of Ashton for play to continue once again at the opposite end of the field.

A Roca corner on the right produced the next in a line of chances for United as the ball was played over to David Chadwick whose header on target was saved on the line to the keeper’s left.

It was a strong first half performance from the Reds, with United offering the majority of the attack but failing to break down Worksop who seemed happy to sit back and defend for the bulk of the half.

As the game restarted, United midfielder Dave Neville was booked for a foul on Worksop’s captain, Paul Stansfield, and as a result conceded a free kick 45 yards out. FC’s own captain, Chadwick was influential in the clearance with a strong header away from the free kick and a second when the ball was played back in, putting the Reds out of danger.

United continued to add to their chances when Simon Garner burst through from midfield, only for his shot on goal to rebound off the cross bar.

A Chadwick clearance at the opposite end of the pitch fell to Worksop and the forward’s attempt trickled across the face of the FC goal.

On 61 minutes, there was a welcome return for Rob Nugent although it was tempered slightly by the fact he was called into action due to United skipper, Chadwick sustaining an injury during a clearance.

Less than ten minutes later, on 67 minutes, the Reds made a double substitution, with Alex Skidmore and Rob Haworth replacing Dave Neville and Danny Self in the centre of midfield.

In a rare Worksop attack, the visitors pressured the United goal, forcing Ashton to make a good save at his left post. A high, floating ball in was received by Matt Wilson who turned his defender on the six yard line with the goal at his mercy. Thankfully for FC, Wilson fired wide in arguably Worksop’s best chance.

The match ended without a goal from either side with both sides failing to break the deadlock. It was a match the Reds would have expected to win but they can focus on the positive that they kept a second clean sheet in three games.

FC United now travel to Yorkshire on Tuesday night to face Ossett Town who currently lie a place below United in the league hoping that the clean sheets will continue and the goals will return.

Report by Vic Fullen

FC United
1. S Ashton
2. D Warrender
3. S Garner
4. D Neville (cautioned 47)
5. D Chadwick (capt)
6. A Turner
7. C Roca
8. S Carden
9. K Wilson
10. J Wright
11. D Self
Subs
12. R Nugent (for 5 62)
13.
14. A Skidmore (for 4 68)
15. J Wood
16. R Howarth (for 11 68) (cautioned 90(+3))
17. J Edwards

Worksop Town
1. S Hernandez
2. R Ludlam
3. K Davies
4. P Rowland
5. M Wilson
6. A Boyce
7. P Stansfield (capt)
8. P Dempsey
9. K Jackson
10. K Sanasay
11. D Cockerill
Subs
12. A White (for 9 62)
13.
14. S Robinson
15. K Dawson
16. A Lee
17. C Smith