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Six star United beat New Mills - full report

FC United continued their pre-season goal rush with a 6-1 victory over Evo-Stik Division One North new boys New Mills at Church Lane on Thursday night with two goals from Carlos Roca, one each from Nicky Platt, Ben Deegan and David Chadwick and a late penalty from Michael Norton.

The game couldn’t have started any better for the Reds with a goal inside 50 seconds. A James Spencer clearance dropped in the New Mills box where the home keeper Proctor fatally hesitated allowing Deegan to nip in and head the ball into the net.

On 10 minutes it should have been two when Roca started on a mazy run from his own half that ended with a tame shot wide, though it did look like the keeper tipped it round the post.

On 23 minutes, the lead was doubled when Norton played in a great ball from the right. Deegan chested down and shot at goal where Proctor saved, only to see the ball land at Roca’s feet and he rolled it into the net.

In all truth, the action was concentrated on the home box with Jake Cottrell shooting straight at Proctor from a Norton pull back and even at this stage it did seem like a case of when the next goal was going to be scored.

It came seven minutes before the break when a Spencer clearance was flicked on by Deegan into the path of Roca who took it down superbly and finished with a cool head to make it 3-0.

The Millers did pull a goal back shortly before half time when good work on the left saw a cross into the box where Rowe met it with a powerful diving header, giving Spencer no chance.

The lead was extended in the 52nd minute when a Kyle Jacobs cross was coolly finished by Platt, who had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes. Platt almost doubled his tally six minutes later from a cross from the ever dangerous Lee Neville, but Proctor was equal to his flying header.

On 63 minutes, James Holden delivered a free-kick from the right of the box that was met powerfully by Chadwick who scored on the ground he had played at on loan last season when getting back to fitness.

Two minutes later, Grant Shenton in the FC United goal was called into action as substitute Pickering fired a shot goalwards, but the young keeper saved well.

It was soon 6-1 when Richard Battersby played the ball into Norton who was tripped in the box. The striker picked himself up and slotted the penalty home.

From that point FC continued to control the game, with Neville and Metcalfe proving a nuisance to the Millers defence on the left hand side, Neville crossing for Platt to head just wide, and Metcalfe putting in a great ball for Edwards who fired into the side netting.

This was another great run out for the FC United squad, with all players on duty used and great performances all over the pitch, which just proves the selection headache manager Karl Margisnon has to overcome by 13th August when we start our season at Stafford Rangers.

Report by Steve Wood



First Posted ~ 11:44 Fri 29 Jul 2011
News ID ~ 3670
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021