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Reds begin cup defence with win at Glossop

FC United’s began their quest to win a third successive Manchester Premier Cup with a 2-0 victory away to Glossop North End thanks to two goals from Elliot Simoes.

The game also saw a much changed starting XI put together some fantastic periods of play throughout the game and had it not been for the woodwork the score could have been a more comprehensive one.

From the off the Reds looked the better team and with every attack there seemed to be danger, with Simoes and Mike Donohue going close early on.

The home team gave a reminder of their own threat as they hit the bar just before the half hour mark but not long after a beautiful ball from deep on the right found Simoes at the far post who eased past his defender and slotted home to give the Reds the lead at the break.

FC began the second half brightly and Lewis Mansell found himself denied twice by the woodwork in the space of five minutes. Firstly, a well hit strike bounced back off the crossbar before a much close effort from a Joel Senior cross hit the post.

Despite periods of the game where they were clearly the team on top FC couldn’t get that second goal that their play deserved and had it not been for a fantastic save by on loan goalkeeper Jordan Perrin the home team could have easily levelled the game up.

In a strange turn of events just before the end of the game, the referee stopped play for a couple of minutes because there was a drone flying outside the ground, but after discussion with both of his assistants he allowed play to continue.

Glossop threw everybody; including goalkeeper Russ Saunders, up for a stoppage time corner but as the ball broke out of the FC United penalty box it was clear that nobody was catching Simoes who capped off a fine evening’s work for himself with an easy tap in to see the game finish 2-0 and put the defending champions into the next round of the cup.

It was much better play in spells during the evening for FC, especially going forward and we now go into the next game on the back of a victory. Something we have only said twice this season. The Reds need to try to build on this momentum as we welcome Darlington to Broadhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.

Website man of the match: Elliot Simoes – Had a great evening linking up with Joel Senior on the right hand side of the pitch, showed great composure with both his goals and looked a constant threat throughout the game

Report by Craig Phillips


First Posted ~ 19:23 Wed 10 Oct 2018
News ID ~ 8087
Last Updated ~ 22:45 Thu 4 Feb 2021