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FC United back to winning ways at Frickley Athletic - full

FC United got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Frickley Athletic in West Yorkshire on Tuesday night courtesy of second half goals from Matthew Wolfenden, Ben Deegan and an own goal.

A tricky Tuesday night trip over the Pennines was handled with aplomb, the three points moving United up to seventh and putting the team in confident mood ahead of Saturday’s visit of Chester to Gigg Lane.

The Reds started well with Carlos Roca looking a constant threat, he had the first chance on six minutes when he was played in by Wolfenden, his shot going wide.

FC United had much of the possession and were making decent use of it, although they did look a little shot shy, choosing a pass when a shot on goal may have been the better option.

Just before the half hour mark, the deadlock was almost broken when a free-kick was played into the box for Deegan to shoot. Goalkeeper Adam Billard pulled off a good save, the rebound falling to Norton who hit the outside of the post before the ball was scrambled away for a corner.

Shortly before half time, FC should have taken the lead when a blocked Deegan shot fell to Jake Cottrell, who laid it off to Wolfenden but the midfielder screwed his shot wide when he should have hit the target.

The home side started the seconnd half brightly, Jack Watts going through and forcing a save from James Spencer. From the ball forward, Deegan did well to control and play in Wolfenden who in turn found Cottrell who saw his shot parried by Billard. A minute later, Roca ran from the left wing to the right and chipped a ball goalwards that flew just over the bar.

The deadlock was broken on 53 minutes when a driven cross by Deegan was turned into his own net by Stuart Ludlam.

The lead was doubled two minutes later when Deegan did well under pressure to lay the ball off for Wolfenden. The former Oldham Athletic man didn’t hesitate, cutting his foot across the ball and hammering it into the bottom corner of the net.

On 63 minutes, the home side were handed a lifeline when Brad Grayson scrambled the ball home following a corner. But two minutes later, Deegan sealed the game with a superb goal. The ball was crossed in from the left for Billard to punch out. The clearance fell to Deegan who didn’t need asking twice to volley the ball into the top corner of the net.

From that point the game petered out with a vocal travelling Red army happy to provide much of their own entertainment. FC United were understandably happy to contain Frickley, though Spencer was called upon a couple to times to tip the ball wide, and the Reds gave a debut to new signing, left winger Astley Mullholland who showed glimpses of what he could bring to the team for the last 30 minutes or so.

Website man of the match - Been Deegan. A tough choice with many decent performances on show, but Deegan shades it from Cottrell for the fact that he was involved in most of the good moves and chances created by FC.

Report by Steve Wood



First Posted ~ 15:28 Wed 12 Oct 2011
News ID ~ 3815
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021