Two in a row as FC United beat league leaders Nuneaton - Full report

A new look FC United are up to 14th in the Vanarama National League North after recording their second consecutive victory with a fantastic 3-2 win over league leaders Nuneaton Town on Wednesday night at Broadhurst Park.

Sam Madeley and George Thomson helped give the Reds a two goal lead after just over 30 minutes. But the Warwickshire side pulled it back to 2-2 moments before halftime to set up an enthralling second half, which FC United won courtesy of a second own goal just before the hour.

The victory gives FC United seven points from their last three league games, two of which were against Nuneaton and Saturday’s away victory at Stockport which will undoubtedly give them a new belief going into a busy festive period.

Manager Karl Marginson kept the same starting XI that beat County on Saturday and the players didn’t let him down. Right from the first whistle it was clear that the men in red were up for the game, looking sharp and hungry, rushing the pass and playing the ball around well.

It’s no stretch of the imagination to say United were the better team for the majority of the first half, looking the more dangerous of the two teams and forcing Nuneaton into difficult efforts on Dave Carnell’s goal.

It took just 15 minutes for United to go a goal up, moving the ball out of defence quickly - something they did well all evening - before Madeley’s deflected shot from the right hand side of the box found its way into the back of the net, Nuneaton’s Jack Lane the scorer of the own-goal.

The attacking trio of Madeley, Thomson and captain Tom Greaves created problems all night, with the three linking up well and creating space with angled runs. Madeley and Thomson linked up well for the second as Madeley played the ball to Thomson’s feet in the box. The Chester FC loanee worked it out of his feet well before placing the ball home. His second goal in four games for ther club gave FC United a two goal lead, just as they had in the reverse fixture less than three weeks earlier.

However, the game was far from sealed. Much like that reverse fixture Nuneaton found their way back into the game with two goals in five minutes before the break. Firstly a neat one-two on the edge of the box was placed home by Rob Duffy.

Five minutes later and right on the stroke of halftime, Jordan Keane outmuscled Adam Thurston on the right and his ball was put into the roof of Carnell’s goal by Elliot Whitehouse to give the league leaders an unlikely share of the halftime spoils.

After an industrious first 45 minutes, FC United were right back to square one at the start of the second half. With that psychological blow the Reds could easily fell apart and let Nuneaton take control of the game. But the response by every player at the start of the second half was brilliant as they came out and took the fight to the visitors right from the off.

Thomson’s balls in the box from set pieces created problems all night and one from a corner was met by the head of centre-back Luke Ashworth who saw his effort cleared off the line by James Clifton. Moments later, the hero turned villain for the visitors as he turned Madeley’s cross into his own goal with a header inside the six yard box.

The game opened up then as Nuneaton once more looked for a way back in, but it was FC United who had the best chances to add to the score again. Firstly, a Greaves header was just short of going over the line and then Madeley got his head to a Thomson free kick but sent the ball just wide.

Unsurprisingly, the visitors looked to add something different to their attack and brought on the experienced Marlon Harewood for the last 15 minutes. However, lots of resolute defending from the men in red made certain that there would not be a repeat of the late equaliser that had given Nuneaton a point in the reverse fixture.

It’s almost unthinkable that such performances could be turned in after the poor run recently, but seven points in the last three league games coupled with such performances certainly point to a change of momentum in FC United’s season.

The team now have 10 days before they welcome Gloucester City in their next league fixture. The performances of the last three games must be taken into the festive period of fixtures against teams in and around our current league position.

Website Man of the Match: Sam Madeley – Anyone of the players would have been worthy of the award tonight, but Madeley never stopped working throughout, had a hand in all three goals and most of United’s attacking play.

Report by Craig Phillips