Development Squad beat Ossett Albion

A Saturday morning kick off saw the Development Squad, keen to maintain a winning start to the season welcomed Ossett Albion to the Nicholls Centre . It was anticipated that the Yorkshire side would provide the stiffest test of the season. Whilst that was the case, the reds did record another win. This ended 4-0 to the reds but looked for most of the game as though it would be much closer. It was a brace from Matthew Boland with strikes from Jon Poizer and Jason Fowles that ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides.

As ever it was FC who had the first chance, Poizer shooting wide in the first minute; but it could easily have been the visitors who took the lead. A third minute free kick somehow scrambled away from the home goal. It was FC United who took the lead after 12 minutes, a flowing move starting with Charlie Doyle and including Sam Hibbert and Mike Taylor saw Boland stroke the ball past Robson in the Ossett goal.

Keen followers of the Development Squad will note that the forward line has found refereeing favour with penalties in each of the previous three games. In this game it was the defence that were blessed as on 24 minutes Ossett were dismayed not to be given the benefit of what seemed from the bench to be very minimal doubt and had their claim turned down. Good fortune for the forwards was restored five minutes later as Poizer doubled FC’s lead. As much of the ‘Match Of The Day’ debate on handball this season has focussed on the decision the referee makes regarding the movement of the hand to the ball rather than ball to hand, one can only presume the officials took the former view as both Frank van Gils and Boland were the subject of vehement claims in the build up.

There was no further score before half time, although FC continued to press it was Ossett who came closest just before the break, bringing a fine save from Chris Taylor to turn the ball over the bar for a corner.

Ossett used the half time break to tighten up defensively and the second half was more even and after a few chances early on it seemed likely that there would be no further scoring. Whilst Daniel Maynard hit the bar after an hour it took until the last five minutes to prove that idea wrong. A good ball from Doyle gave Maynard a chance to cross and Boland to make it 3-0 and with the game drawing to a close and your correspondent directing a substitute towards a ball that had gone over the fence, Jason Fowles scored with a shot that flashed across goal, hit one post bounce back across and sneak in by the other post.

Next Saturday sees Nelson arrive at Nicholls for an 11 O’clock kick off should anyone want to get a glimpse of Lancashire League action before strolling to Piccadilly and a Metrolink journey to Bury for this season’s FA Cup opener.

FC United of Manchester:
1. Chris Taylor
2. Ryan Lyons
3. Scott Cheetham
4. Sam Hibbert
5. Charlie Doyle
6. Mike Taylor
7. Frank Van Gils
8. Sam Fitzgerald
9. Jon Poizer
10. Matthew Boland
14. Jay Walcott.

Substitutes
12. Jason Fowles (for 14, 82 mins)
15. Josh Smethurst (for 9, 59 mins)
16.Sam Dee
17. Lewis Adams
18. Daniel Maynard (for 6, 45 mins)

Ossett Albion:
1. Jordan Robson
2. Alex Marsh
3. Will Hayton
4. Simon Poole
5. Jonny Downie
6. Sam Jackson
7. Rob Hiza
8. Craig Tonkinson
9. Sam Robinson
10. Matty Johnson
11. Ryan Hallworth

Substitutes:
13. Louis Francis
14. Moise Misambu
15 Tom Shann