Reserves beat Lancaster at Wright Robinson College.

The Reserves took on Lancaster City and emerged with a 4-1 win. Second half strikes from Dean Hope, Connor Martin, Keenan Tuck and Jason Fowles overturned a first half penalty at Wright Robinson Sports College.

Lancaster started brightly, a corner headed wide in the third minute was their best effort. It took FC United a further five minutes to find a way through to goal but without hitting the target. The Dolly Blues took the lead after 13 minutes from the penalty spot. A foul in the box punished as they broke after dispossessing the home side. Ben Jupp guessed correctly, diving to his left and getting what seemed a firm hand tom the ball, but sadly it wasn’t enough and it nestled in the bottom corner.

From there FC United dominated possession but without reward as shots were either saved or chances spurned, often through a desire for an extra touch. The best home chance came midway through the half. Charlie Doyle and Dean Hope combined to get Jack Tinning through on goal. A deft touch cleared Peter Storey but somehow drifted just wide. Lancaster continued to pose a threat as they counter attacked, although in truth, other than the goal, neither keeper had a save to make.

At half time the visitors seemed confident they were getting their own title challenge back on track after defeats to Colne and Stockport County. The second half was however to be a different story altogether.

In the first five minutes Hope was determined to drive the reds forward with more purpose. In the 46th minute a goal-bound shot was turned out for a corner and two minutes later a run and 25-yard drive came back off the post. Then he helped on a Leo Magnone cross and Robson Buckley was just wide.

The equaliser came after 54 minutes. Another Magnone cross was turned away by Storey but only to Tinning who set up Hope to smash in from the edge of the penalty area. FC United took the lead four minutes later when Buckley drove into the box, looking to set up a shot for himself, only to see the ball deflected to Connor Martin who made no mistake.

The game was taken beyond the tiring visitors midway through the half when Keenan Tuck was put through on goal, a deft touch helped him take the ball round Storey to slot home. The Lancaster bench claimed hand ball but the officials thought otherwise. Jason Fowles added a fourth on 76 minutes, finding space at the back post to head home a looping Hope corner.

Chris Hill and Keenan Tuck came close to increasing the score and Lancaster perhaps should have had a second when Richard Bromilow found he only had Jupp to beat but failed to do so.

That concludes the reserves home programme although they visit their temporary landlords on Friday evening before concluding with games against New Mills and Hyde. They will look for maximum points in a bid to add the West Division title to last season’s East Division triumph, hoping the rush of games will prove too much for a Colne side whose recent run of form makes them the current favourites.

FC United of Manchester: 1. Ben Jupp 2. Charlie Doyle 3. Leo Magnone 4. Jason Fowles 5. Nathan Chorlton 6. Adam Lockett 7. Robson Buckley 8. Dean Hope 9. Connor Martin 10. Chris Hill 11. Jack Tinning Substitutes: 12. Rhodri Giggs 14. Ryan Saxon (for 3, 75 minutes) 15. Toby Wright 16. Keenan Tuck (for 11, 59 mins)

Lancaster City: 1. Peter Storey 2. Samuel Bevan 3. Aaron Jones 4. Will Davidson 5. Luke Eccles 6. Joshua Wardle 7. Daniel Birch 8. Joshua Donnelly 9. Roy Rachier 10. Ben Bowers 11. Aaron Hoyle Substitutes: 12. Richard Bromilow 17. Harry Bevan