Match Report
FC United’s title ambitions are still alive after fighting back from 2-0 down with seven minutes to go to gain a 2-2 draw against the 10 men of Evo-Stik Premier Division leaders Chorley in front of an incredible 4,152 supporters at Gigg Lane on Tuesday night.
Charlie Raglan and Tom Greaves came to the rescue for the Reds with two late strikes to gain a vital point, keeping us hot on the heels of The Magpies. The result means FC United remain three points behind the leaders with a game in hand but, due to an 11 goal superior goal difference, it’s almost certain that we will now need Chorley to draw or lose one of their last four games for us to sneak into top spot.
The game was a great advert for the two sides and league in general with both teams showing their qualities. With four goals, a sending off for each side and a last gasp equaliser, the match provided superb entertainment for the league’s biggest crowd of the season.
Chorley took the lead in the 12th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty and despite having Darren Stephenson dismissed on the stroke of half-time for violent conduct, the visitors doubled their lead shortly before the hour mark after a defensive mix up. Chorley then tried to hang on for victory but wave after wave of FC United attack eventually yielded two priceless goals in quick succession. There was controversy right until the final whistle with Greg Daniels being dismissed at the death for a second bookable offence – ‘diving’ to try to gain a penalty.
FC started the game quickly and on two minutes almost took the lead when a shot from Matthew Wolfenden from the edge of the box hit the outside of the post. On eight minutes, Callum Byrne stung the hands of former FC United goalkeeper Sam Ashton with a shot.
However, The Magpies took the lead shortly after when a James Dean flick found Darren Stephenson. He seemed to be going nowhere but was challenged by Lee Neville and after a moment’s thought, the official pointed to the spot. Dean kept his cool to send Dave Carnell the wrong way to put Chorley a goal up.
The half was pretty much end to end. Stephenson was proving to be a danger with his pace but there wasn’t another clear sight of goal until the 40th minute when a ball from Byrne split the Chorley defence to find Jerome Wright but his shot was pushed wide by Ashton.
One minute before the break, FC United had a penalty shout of their own when Mike Norton looked to be barged in the back from behind, the referee waving away the appeals. In first half injury time, Chorley found themselves a man down when an off the ball incident between Wright and Stephenson saw the Chorley forward leave for an early bath, after the referee’s assistant spotted an elbow.
At half-time Magpies manager Garry Flitcroft shuffled his pack, moving Dean out to the right hand side and the pacey and dangerous Josh Hine down the middle. As to be expected with a man advantage, FC United took a hold of the game with Norton heading at Ashton and Liam Brownhill shooting straight at the our former FA Cup hero.
However, despite the pressure, the visitors doubled their lead shortly before the hour mark. A Chorley throw-in from the right bounced over centre-back Tom Davies and into the path of Hine who made no mistake. It was a sloppy goal to giveaway. The rest of the half followed the pattern of waves of FC United attacks but the Chorley backline defending resolutely with Andy Teague outstanding.
United kept believing and the breakthrough eventually came with seven minutes to go. A ball into the box found Raglan who fired a ferocious volley into the net. Three minutes later, the score was level when a loose ball in the box was fired into the far corner by Greaves. Deep into injury time, Greg Daniels was sent from the field for his second yellow card when the referee deemed his fall in the box to be a dive.
Man of the match - Liam Brownhill. A typically busy performance with good defending backed up by dangerous crossing from both flanks.
Report by Steven Wood and Matthew Haley
Match Report
FC United’s title ambitions are still alive after fighting back from 2-0 down with seven minutes to go to gain a 2-2 draw against the 10 men of Evo-Stik Premier Division leaders Chorley in front of an incredible 4,152 supporters at Gigg Lane on Tuesday night.
Charlie Raglan and Tom Greaves came to the rescue for the Reds with two late strikes to gain a vital point, keeping us hot on the heels of The Magpies. The result means FC United remain three points behind the leaders with a game in hand but, due to an 11 goal superior goal difference, it’s almost certain that we will now need Chorley to draw or lose one of their last four games for us to sneak into top spot.
The game was a great advert for the two sides and league in general with both teams showing their qualities. With four goals, a sending off for each side and a last gasp equaliser, the match provided superb entertainment for the league’s biggest crowd of the season.
Chorley took the lead in the 12th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty and despite having Darren Stephenson dismissed on the stroke of half-time for violent conduct, the visitors doubled their lead shortly before the hour mark after a defensive mix up. Chorley then tried to hang on for victory but wave after wave of FC United attack eventually yielded two priceless goals in quick succession. There was controversy right until the final whistle with Greg Daniels being dismissed at the death for a second bookable offence – ‘diving’ to try to gain a penalty.
FC started the game quickly and on two minutes almost took the lead when a shot from Matthew Wolfenden from the edge of the box hit the outside of the post. On eight minutes, Callum Byrne stung the hands of former FC United goalkeeper Sam Ashton with a shot.
However, The Magpies took the lead shortly after when a James Dean flick found Darren Stephenson. He seemed to be going nowhere but was challenged by Lee Neville and after a moment’s thought, the official pointed to the spot. Dean kept his cool to send Dave Carnell the wrong way to put Chorley a goal up.
The half was pretty much end to end. Stephenson was proving to be a danger with his pace but there wasn’t another clear sight of goal until the 40th minute when a ball from Byrne split the Chorley defence to find Jerome Wright but his shot was pushed wide by Ashton.
One minute before the break, FC United had a penalty shout of their own when Mike Norton looked to be barged in the back from behind, the referee waving away the appeals. In first half injury time, Chorley found themselves a man down when an off the ball incident between Wright and Stephenson saw the Chorley forward leave for an early bath, after the referee’s assistant spotted an elbow.
At half-time Magpies manager Garry Flitcroft shuffled his pack, moving Dean out to the right hand side and the pacey and dangerous Josh Hine down the middle. As to be expected with a man advantage, FC United took a hold of the game with Norton heading at Ashton and Liam Brownhill shooting straight at the our former FA Cup hero.
However, despite the pressure, the visitors doubled their lead shortly before the hour mark. A Chorley throw-in from the right bounced over centre-back Tom Davies and into the path of Hine who made no mistake. It was a sloppy goal to giveaway. The rest of the half followed the pattern of waves of FC United attacks but the Chorley backline defending resolutely with Andy Teague outstanding.
United kept believing and the breakthrough eventually came with seven minutes to go. A ball into the box found Raglan who fired a ferocious volley into the net. Three minutes later, the score was level when a loose ball in the box was fired into the far corner by Greaves. Deep into injury time, Greg Daniels was sent from the field for his second yellow card when the referee deemed his fall in the box to be a dive.
Man of the match - Liam Brownhill. A typically busy performance with good defending backed up by dangerous crossing from both flanks.
Report by Steven Wood and Matthew Haley
