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Match Report

4th February 2014

Galaxy Lancashire League Cup

New Bucks Park, Vesty Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L30 1NY


Bootle

1 - 2

FC United of Manchester Development Squad

 
Attendance: N/K

Bootle 1

FC United of Manchester Development Squad 2

Attendance: N/K



Match Report
The Development Squad returned to competitive action for the first time in six weeks at Bootle, goals from Jason Fowles and David Kuba Kuba saw them respond to an early strike from Sam Wilkie, leaving with a 2-1 win. This, along with games for both teams against Curzon Ashton will see the best performing of the three sides qualify for the quarter finals of the Lancashire League Cup competition.

The effects of rain that had put paid to two previous attempts to this game had not totally receded, a heavy pitch meant that a smooth, sophisticated passing game was out of the question. This was a game that would be won by the side that wanted it most. In the first half that was clearly the home side, who would perhaps consider themselves unlucky to have only a sixth minute effort from Wilkie to show for it.

By choosing to play with a headwind the home side were determined to be first to every ball and then turn the FC defence before trying to play. Despite being warned what to expect FC allowed this to happen, on far too many occasions wanting to take too many touches to try and set up the perfect pass. Through this the visitors probably only had three shots throughout the first half and only two last ditch saves by Chris Taylor kept the half time score to 1-0.

In the dressing room the talk was of desire and the need to step up to earn the right to play and a half time substitution saw Jon Poizer take over from Josh Smethurst at left back, simply in the hope that his extra height would be able to cut off what had been an obvious attacking route for Bootle. Improved communication between defenders Dee, Lyons and Musialowski along with increased effort by all meant that the second half was a much more even contest.

It still wasn’t pretty because by then the rain had returned and the pitch got heavier, but slowly FC started getting a chance to chase balls played beyond the home back four. Even so it wasn’t until midway through the half that the reward of an equaliser arrived. When Frank van Gils appeared to be caught heavily from behind, the bench rose as one for a free kick and some disciplinary action. The ball however had broken for Jean Biansumba and the referee chose to play advantage. His cross found its way to Jason Fowles to fire back across the keeper and into the net.

The visitors had started to dominate but clear chances were few and far between and Bootle could have taken the lead in the 82nd minute when a long distance free kick was only just over. FC did get the decisive strike soon after though. The referee in his desire to help the game flow, chose not to stop the game when a Bootle player was on the floor in the right back position. The ball to Kuba Kuba came from the other side of the pitch and he swept it home from 25 yards.

Injury time could have seen both sides score, Bootle with another long shot could have equalised and Matthew Boland could have sealed the game as he beat an offside trap and cut in from the right and ran towards goal. What transpired was a lofted delivery took far too long to control rather than a shot or a pass rolled inside.

So it was that the game ended with FC United victorious and praise for a second half in which the players should be delighted to take away an important lesson in how to earn the right to play on a heavy pitch; dogged, organised defending and tenacious midfield tackling combining and eventually creating the chances for the forwards to convert.

Bootle FC:
1. Matthew Lea
2. Jack McDowell
3. Luke Atkinson
4. Chris Lowe
5. Joel Powell
6. Sam Wilkie
7. Grant Pruden
8. John Cheetham
9. James Riley
10. Connor Christiansen
11. Tom Peterson

Substitutes:
12. Carter Costello
13. Danny Wise
14. Danny Laughlin
15. Jack Charnock
16. Joe Kelly


FC United of Manchester :
1. Chris Taylor
2. Matt Musialowski
3. Josh Smethurst
4. David Kuba Kuba
5. Ryan Lyons
6. Sam Dee
7. Frank van Gils
8. Charlie Doyle
9. Jean Biansumba
10. Matthew Boland
11. Robbie Robertson

Substitutes:
12. Medi Bakinama (for 7, 89m mins)
14. Justin Johnson
15. Jon Poizer (for 3, 45 mins)
16. Jason Fowles (for 11, 54 mins)
Match Report
The Development Squad returned to competitive action for the first time in six weeks at Bootle, goals from Jason Fowles and David Kuba Kuba saw them respond to an early strike from Sam Wilkie, leaving with a 2-1 win. This, along with games for both teams against Curzon Ashton will see the best performing of the three sides qualify for the quarter finals of the Lancashire League Cup competition.

The effects of rain that had put paid to two previous attempts to this game had not totally receded, a heavy pitch meant that a smooth, sophisticated passing game was out of the question. This was a game that would be won by the side that wanted it most. In the first half that was clearly the home side, who would perhaps consider themselves unlucky to have only a sixth minute effort from Wilkie to show for it.

By choosing to play with a headwind the home side were determined to be first to every ball and then turn the FC defence before trying to play. Despite being warned what to expect FC allowed this to happen, on far too many occasions wanting to take too many touches to try and set up the perfect pass. Through this the visitors probably only had three shots throughout the first half and only two last ditch saves by Chris Taylor kept the half time score to 1-0.

In the dressing room the talk was of desire and the need to step up to earn the right to play and a half time substitution saw Jon Poizer take over from Josh Smethurst at left back, simply in the hope that his extra height would be able to cut off what had been an obvious attacking route for Bootle. Improved communication between defenders Dee, Lyons and Musialowski along with increased effort by all meant that the second half was a much more even contest.

It still wasn’t pretty because by then the rain had returned and the pitch got heavier, but slowly FC started getting a chance to chase balls played beyond the home back four. Even so it wasn’t until midway through the half that the reward of an equaliser arrived. When Frank van Gils appeared to be caught heavily from behind, the bench rose as one for a free kick and some disciplinary action. The ball however had broken for Jean Biansumba and the referee chose to play advantage. His cross found its way to Jason Fowles to fire back across the keeper and into the net.

The visitors had started to dominate but clear chances were few and far between and Bootle could have taken the lead in the 82nd minute when a long distance free kick was only just over. FC did get the decisive strike soon after though. The referee in his desire to help the game flow, chose not to stop the game when a Bootle player was on the floor in the right back position. The ball to Kuba Kuba came from the other side of the pitch and he swept it home from 25 yards.

Injury time could have seen both sides score, Bootle with another long shot could have equalised and Matthew Boland could have sealed the game as he beat an offside trap and cut in from the right and ran towards goal. What transpired was a lofted delivery took far too long to control rather than a shot or a pass rolled inside.

So it was that the game ended with FC United victorious and praise for a second half in which the players should be delighted to take away an important lesson in how to earn the right to play on a heavy pitch; dogged, organised defending and tenacious midfield tackling combining and eventually creating the chances for the forwards to convert.

Bootle FC:
1. Matthew Lea
2. Jack McDowell
3. Luke Atkinson
4. Chris Lowe
5. Joel Powell
6. Sam Wilkie
7. Grant Pruden
8. John Cheetham
9. James Riley
10. Connor Christiansen
11. Tom Peterson

Substitutes:
12. Carter Costello
13. Danny Wise
14. Danny Laughlin
15. Jack Charnock
16. Joe Kelly


FC United of Manchester :
1. Chris Taylor
2. Matt Musialowski
3. Josh Smethurst
4. David Kuba Kuba
5. Ryan Lyons
6. Sam Dee
7. Frank van Gils
8. Charlie Doyle
9. Jean Biansumba
10. Matthew Boland
11. Robbie Robertson

Substitutes:
12. Medi Bakinama (for 7, 89m mins)
14. Justin Johnson
15. Jon Poizer (for 3, 45 mins)
16. Jason Fowles (for 11, 54 mins)

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