FC United suffer heaviest ever defeat at Harrogate Town

FC United suffered the heaviest defeat in their 10 and a half year history on Saturday afternoon - going down 5-0 to promotion chasing Harrogate Town.

The North Yorkshire hosts played 50 minutes with 10 men after Warren Burrell was sent off but they still managed to score three goals during that time as they completely outclassed the Reds.

Signs were ominous within five minutes when a clearance by goalkeeper Dylan Forth hit an attacker, the ball then being cleared from danger.

On 11 minutes the lead was taken by Town when a cross from Brendan Daniels evaded everyone and dropped into the far corner of the goal. The lead extended 11 minutes later when a through ball forward found Jordan Thewlis one-on-one with Forth, the striker rolling the ball into the corner of the net.

Just after the half hour, Forth was called into action again tipping a Jack Emmett shot over. On 41 minutes a lifeline was handed to FC when Burrell was sent from the field for a two footed lunge on Adam Thurston. From the resultant free-kick, Sam Madeley flicked the ball onto the roof of the net.

The lead was extended straight away as Emmett won the ball in midfield and ran clear of the FC defence to score into the far corner.

The second half continued in a similar vein with Harrogate taking the game to FC United and it was a surprise that it took until 71 minutes to extend the lead when a cross from the right was slid in by Paul Clayton.

This goal saw a rally from FC with Greg Daniels rolling the ball wide, Madeley shooting at the goalkeeper and Tom Greaves heading across goal. In stoppage time, salt was rubbed into the wounds when sub Joe Colbeck drilled the ball home.

Website man of the match - Sam Madeley. Was the only spark on the day, had a couple of decent chances and never stopped.

Report by Steven Wood