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A winning start to 2016 as FC beat Bradford Park Avenue

Matthew Wolfenden and George Thomson got the goals as FC United made the perfect start to 2016 with a 2-1 victory over old rivals Bradford Park Avenue at Broadhurst Park on Saturday afternoon in front of 3,379 noisy supporters. The two teams met 14 times over five seasons between 2007 and 2012, but hadn’t crossed paths since our very own Tom Greaves - then playing for Avenue - had broken FC United hearts in the 2012 Northern Premier League play-off final sending our rivals up. Obviously keen to make up time against our old rivals the Reds raced out of the blocks and were a goal up within two minutes after a cross from the right hand side went across the six yard box and was bundled over the line by Wolfenden to give FC United an early lead. The Reds got the ball moving quickly and looked threatening throughout, the defence also looked much more solid than it has done recently with the returning Liam Brownhill back in the starting line-up. FC United were the better team for the first half and there would have been little argument that the second was deserved just after half an hour. George Thomson raced clear of the Avenue defence before slotting home past Jon Stewart to give United a two goal advantage at the break.

FCUM vs Bradford PA - Match Highlights from FCUM TV on Vimeo. The second half started in much the same way as United controlled the game early, looking to break when they could but never really feeling the urgency for a third, such was the early dominance. Greaves almost got on the scoresheet against his former club as he looked to get onto a ball over the top of a high defensive line. But the Reds’ captain couldn’t get control of the ball to take it around Stewart and the visiting keeper gathered the ball at the striker’s feet. Watching FC United over the years you always get a feeling that the Reds sometimes make it hard for themselves and today was no different, as Karl Marginson’s side seemed to take their foot off the gas and let the visitors back into a game. With less than 10 minutes left, it was game on as Avenue substitute Lamin Colley took his chance well to make it 2-1 and make for a nervy ending for the home support. Colley was immediately given a chance to level the scores as FC United gave the ball away from kick-off but his effort was pushed away by Dave Carnell. The visitors; sensing a way back into the game, pushed on with a free-kick fired just over before a slip in defence left Carnell with a lot of work to do to save the game, but he managed to tip a shot away from goal before the defence blocked the rebound. Thankfully, that was enough to seal the points. Three points with a good display has to be the perfect start to 2016 after a momentous 2015 on and off the field for the club. The game also represented the 500,000th person to watch an FC United home league game - another remarkable achievement that certainly won’t be the last in this club’s continuing history. Website Man of the Match: George Thomson – Another great performance from Thomson, who provides a cutting edge FC United have needed this season. Report by Craig Phillips


First Posted ~ 09:42 Tue 5 Jan 2016
News ID ~ 6606
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021