Another great eight

People United Day proved an outstanding success both on and off the pitch as the Reds fired eight goals past an outclassed opposition for the second consecutive home game, this time against Glossop North End.

An impressive team performance was confirmed by the presence of seven players on the scoresheet, with United sharing out the glory across the pitch in front of a healthy 3,257 crowd. The visitors looked overrun in midfield from the off and the first goal arrived as early as two minutes when Rory Patterson poked home a parried Simon Carden effort.

The away side looked to counter attack but it was the Reds who broke quickly from a Glossop corner to make it 2-0 as Jamie Phoenix ran the length of the pitch before Patterson’s low shot flew into the left corner.

Margy’s men then took their foot off the gas and the visitors should have pulled a goal back on the half mark when Hamilton volleyed onto the bar from close range.

And it wasn’t until the stroke of half time that United put the game beyond doubt. After some excellent close control, Stuart Rudd turned deftly to feed Carden who calmly slotted the ball under the keeper.

In the second half the large contingent of junior supporters in the crowd were treated to five further goals, as United ruthlessly exploited a tired Glossop outfit.

After Phoenix made it 4-0 a trio of excellent crosses, coupled with woeful marking, allowed Rhodri Giggs, David Chadwick and Nick Platt to all head home from the inside the area.

But the pick of the bunch was a 30 yard screamer from Rob Nugent that seemed to surprise the centre back almost as much as the helpless Glossop ‘keeper as it flew into the top left corner in front of a jubilant Manchester Road End.

Manager Karl Marginson will hope that his team can put in another similar performance in the derby clash against Maine Road next Saturday, but he knows that the Manchester City supporters’ team should provide a much tougher test.

Mark Swanwick

Match information

FC United
1. S Ashton
2. M Taylor
3. A Mortimer
4. N Platt
5. D Chadwick (C)
6. R Nugent
7. R Giggs
8. S Carden
9. S Rudd
10. J Phoenix
11. R Patterson

Subs
12. D Brown
14. S Spencer (2, 77)
15. D Allen (10, 62)

Goals: Patterson 2, 19, Carden 45, Phoenix 60, Giggs 64, Nugent 77, Chadwick 80, Platt 85
Bookings: Phoenix 56


Glossop North End
1. S Williams
2. D Young
3. A Levendis
4. D Blore (C)
5. D Conlon
6. S Hazeldean
7. P Nibloe
8. D Morris
9. L Evans
10. D Hamilton
11. L Blackshaw

Subs
12. S Jackson (3, 67)
14. J Gorton (7, 50)
15. M Woodcock

Bookings: Conlon 47, Gorton 64

Attendance: 3,257