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United win in Yorkshire

Simon Garner, Kyle Wilson and Danny Williams got the goals as FC United turned up late to successfully pit their wits against the Yorkshire side.

Garner opened the scoring with his first goal for the club just after the half hour mark with a sublime, curling 30-yard free-kick which left the Frickley keeper rooted to the spot.

Two minutes later, Wilson got his 14th of the season and although Chris Hilton pulled one back for the hosts minutes before half-time, Williams sealed victory sliding the ball home eight minutes before the end.

The kick off was delayed by 45 minutes due to a crash on the M62 leaving the FC United coaches arriving late to the ground. However, a shortened warm up didn’t seem to affect the Reds’ performance as they added three vital points to the board.

Early in the game, the home side posed a threat to United when a corner saw a man unmarked in the FC area for a free header on goal. Fortunately, Adam Turner was on hand to make a saving clearance off the line and Sam Ashton was able to block the follow up from a Frickley shot on the edge of the area.

A chance for Jerome Wright came when the speedy United winger was able to rob Steve Robinson of the ball in the Frickley defence inside the Frickley half. Wright ran for goal and looked on course to set up FC’s opener but his cross-cum-shot could only hit the side netting.

A further mistake by the Frickley number two meant Wilson was able to break away from the right back position and into the Frickley area. His shot on goal was hit low and caused little problem for Adam Nicklin in the Frickley goal who was able to collect comfortably.

Just past the half hour mark, Garner sent the Reds into the lead with a superb curling free kick from 30 yards out. With Chris Baguley not in the game, the responsibility fell to the United left back who produced the goods, sending a curling shot into the top right hand corner to give the Reds the advantage.

It was then the turn of the league’s leading goal scorer Wilson to add to get in on the act - scoring United’s second of the game and his 14th of the season on 33 minutes. An excellent ball through from Simon Carden fell to Wilson who carried the ball through the Frickley central defence and under the body of Nicklin to send the FC faithful into raptures as the Reds went two-nil up.

However, the Yorkshiremen were not going to give up without a fight and on 41 minutes, captain Hilton pulled one back for Frickley. The ball was crossed in from the left and Hilton picked it up on the edge of the box. Ashton was beaten as the Frickley captain produced an excellent finish, sending a storming shot into the top right hand corner.

It was all was still to play for as both teams lined up for the second half. The opening stages saw Ashton forced to make a great save. As Frickley built up around the FC goal, Ashton was out of position. Luckily for United, the FC number one was able to get back in time to block a shot which was almost certainly heading goal wards.

Minutes later, Adam Carden, who put in an excellent performance on the right wing, offered a chance for United when he expertly skinned the Frickley defender at the right hand corner flag. Carden played the ball in to a waiting Wilson whose header was sent just wide. Wilson then hit a superb shot on target from 25 yards out; unfortunately straight into the hands of the Frickley keeper.

On 82 minutes, Danny Williams sealed a Red victory with a third goal in the closing stages. Wright carried the ball down the left to Wilson who slid the ball into the six yard box for the advancing Williams to arrive in front of the Frickley defender to send the ball over the line.

All that was left to do then was for Liam Foster to be replaced by Rob Nugent after a good performance back in the first team, followed by a double substitution when Kyle Wilson was replaced by Alex Skidmore, and Jerome Wright by the returning Nick Robinson.

After what seemed like an eternal two minutes added time, the FC fans making the trip down to Frickley were able to celebrate a great United performance and victory which was definitely a marked improvement from the weekend’s game against Radcliffe. FC United now face a seaside away trip on Saturday when they come up against Whitby Town.

Report by Victoria Fullen

Teams:
Frickley Athletic

Adam Nicklin
Steve Robinson
Chris Gowen
Jonathan Groome
Steve Heath
Dean Jones
Chris Hilton © (41)
Danny Walsh
Lee Morris
Rob Pell
Chris White

Chris Davies
Neil Towler
Scott Turner
Shaun Pierrepont
John Hood


FC United

Sam Ashton
Liam Foster
Simon Garner (31)
Danny Warrender
Dave Chadwick ©
Adam Turner
Adam Carden
Simon Carden
Kyle Wilson (33)
Jerome Wright
Danny Williams (82)

Carlos Roca
Rob Nugent
Alex Skidmore
Dave Neville
Nick Robinson



First Posted ~ 18:03 Thu 23 Oct 2008
News ID ~ 1895
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021