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Manchester meets Merseyside as FC United host Marine

FC United look to put last Saturday’s FA Cup exit behind them and concentrate on picking up three more points in the Evo-Stik Premier Division and manager Karl Marginson has made it clear to the players that the desire to win has to be present week-in, week-out.

Margy was understandably unhappy with the performance against Lancaster. He said: “The first half was absolutely ridiculous. After we went a goal down in the second we had a go and tried to put it right but it was simply not good enough.

“We played some awful football - I will be the one who gets blamed for the players punting the ball long all the time in that second period, but it is them who adapt on the field and it is certainly not the kind of football I want to see a team playing. The other team wanted it more. And it kills me to have to say that. I find it very difficult to even suggest it but it was very true on Saturday.

“Yes, it is the FA Cup, and, yes we were big favourites therefore Lancaster raised their game but that is no excuse for the way we started the match. We were sloppy and slow to the ball.???

Margy’s assistant Roy Soule believes that last year’s heroic FA Cup run, which saw the Reds get through to the second round proper, had an adverse effect on some of the players. He said: “I think some people were guilty of thinking that because of our success last year, we could just turn up and do the same thing again. But every victory has to be earned, we need to get the job done before we can start getting excited about a cup run and we didn’t do that against Lancaster.

“Having said that, we had three opportunities at the end and we could and should have put them all away. That might have given us an underserved victory but it shows that we have to be more clinical and purposeful with our football.???

Steve Torpey is likely to be the only player unavailable for selection tomorrow as he is being given time to fully recover from a hamstring strain. Meanwhile, FC United are still hoping to bolster their squad with at least one more addition. An attacking-midfielder has agreed terms with the club but we are still waiting on international clearance.

Marine come to Bower Fold sitting in sixth position with 23 points from 13 games whilst FC United lie in ninth place with 19 points from 12 games. In particular Marine have shown great form away from home winning four out of their six away matches and losing in only one – against Stafford Rangers.

However, the Merseyside club are not on a good run of form having only won one of their last five games and losing the other four. A 4-0 win over Worksop last week gives the impression of a side playing well but the Reds will be looking to sow the seeds of doubt early on which has seen Marine crumble at the hands of Bradford Park Avenue, Northwich Victoria and Mickleover Sports already this season.

United have a fantastic record against the Crosby club, having won five and drawn one of the previous six encounters. They have nearly always been very tight, fiery and entertaining games though with the victory being sealed by a one goal margin on three occasions. United did dish out a 3-0 beating to The Lilywhites in August 2009 when Rob Nugent, Ben Deegan and Jamie Mack got the goals and would happily take the same on Saturday.

FC United versus Marine is this Saturday at Bower Fold with a traditional three o’clock kick-off. It’s pay on the gate as usual with entrance fees at £8 for adults, £5 concessions and £2 for under-18s. Get yourself to that football ground and don’t forget your season tickets.



First Posted ~ 15:02 Sat 8 Oct 2011
News ID ~ 3807
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021