United thrash sorry Nelson

FC United racked up a record away victory by putting eight goals past Nelson with six different scorers at Victoria Park as the Reds edged ever closer to league promotion.

The relegation-threatened home side were no match for a ruthless United outfit who scored four goals in each half and could easily have reached double figures. Margy’s men took the lead within five minutes. From a well-constructed free kick Rob Nugent leapt above his marker to head home from inside the box.

Josh Howard made it 2-0 soon after, latching onto a Patterson shot that was spilled by the keeper. Nelson constantly gave United too much space to win the ball in midfield and Rhodri Giggs took full advantage of this all night. After an interception by Simon Carden the winger ran on to slot home the third with less than half an hour played.

Thanks to a touch of luck it was 4-0 by the break. Jerome Wright wove his way towards the by-line before unleashing a low shot that the Nelson captain could only deflect into his own net.

In the second half, with the game already won, Rory Patterson took over the captain’s armband as Margy made wholesale changes. Leading from the front the Irishman helped make it 5-0 by turning deftly in the box to set up Giggs for his second of the night.

Giggs followed this by delivering a trademark curling cross that Carden couldn’t fail to bury from inside the six yard box. Stuart Rudd then made it 7-0 after some neat close control in the area. The striker found time to take three touches before coolly flicking the ball over Nelson keeper.

And with just a minute left Patterson capped another fine individual display by heading in the eighth goal from a precision David Brown free-kick.

The win keeps United firmly at the top of the table as they look forward to local ‘derbies’ against Ramsbottom and Maine Road over the Easter weekend.

Mark Swanwick

Match information:

Nelson FC
1. J Brookes
2. D Wright
3. B Walker
4. K Hopkinson
5. N Benson
6. D Ashton
7. M Payne
8. C Ridehalgh (Capt.)
9. G Bowker
10. A Mugan
11. E Stanford

Subs
12. L Hargreaves (2, 65)
14. L Tomlinson (7, 65)
15. M Benson (6, 80)

Booked: Bowker 67


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

Subs
12. S Rudd (4, 45)
14. G Sampson (2, 45)
15. D Brown (5,45)

Goals: Nugent 5, Howard 8, Giggs 28 & 72, Ridehalgh (Own Goal) 33, Carden 79, Rudd 83, Patterson 89

Attendance: 640