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Match Report

26th December 2013

EvoStik League Premier Division

Hurst Cross, Surrey Street, Ashton-under-lyne, OL6 8DY


Ashton United

2 - 1

FC United of Manchester

Gee 76
Johnson 82
  Norton 39
Attendance: 1,008

Ashton United 2

Gee 76
Johnson 82

FC United of Manchester 1

Norton 39

Attendance: 1,008


Ashton United

1 Paul Phillips
2 Cavell Coo
3 Greg Pearson
4 Jay Gorton (capt)
5 Jack Higgins
6 Ash Young
7 Lee Rick
8 Gary Gee
9 Joe O'Neill
10 Dale Johnson
11 Kayde Coppin

Subs:
12 Martin Pilkington (for 9, 55 mins)
14 Matty Chadwick (for 7, 53 mins)

FC United of Manchester

1 Ed Wilczynski
2 Dean Stott (capt)
3 Liam Brownhill
4 Dave Birch
5 Tom Davies
6 Charlie Raglan
7 Matthew Wolfenden
8 Joe Fox
9 Mike Norton
10 Callum Byrne
11 Tom Greaves

Subs.
12 Greg Daniels (for 8, 59 mins)
15 Lee Neville (for 9, 77 mins)
16 Matthew Walwyn (for 11, 59 mins)


Match Report
FC United conceded two goals in the last 10 minutes to lose 2-1 at Ashton United on Boxing Day in an end-to-end encounter, which saw Michael Norton open the scoring in the first half and centre-back Tom Davies sent off late on.

The Reds went ahead in the 39th minute but their hardwork was undone when Davies blatantly handled on the goal-line, Gary Gee equalised from the resulting penalty and Dale Johnson scrambled home the winner five minutes later.

The Robins were the dominate team in the second half and deserved something from the match but United were left to wonder what might have been. Especially because the Reds missed chances to double their lead and the hosts were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes to go when Kayde Coppin struck Matthew Wolfenden in the face with his hand, the incident being missed by the officials.

After several great saves by on loan goalkeeper Ed Wilczynski and goal line clearances by Davies and Callum Byrne, it was beginning to look like Karl Marginson’s side had weathered a second half storm and would extend their unbeaten run to 11 matches.

However, when Wilczynski was caught out of position after failing to claim a high ball into the box, the covering Davies decided to tip a goalbound effort around the post with his hand and consequently United were a man down and up against it.

The 19-year-old goalkeeper had put in a potentially match winning performance up until that point and was incredibly unlucky not to save the penalty after getting two hands to the ball, but unfortunately his afternoon soon got worse.

With United desperately trying to hang on for a point, the Huddersfield Town youngster was cynically blocked from coming to collect a corner and as none of his team mates took responsibility for clearing the ball, Johnson forced home the winner.

It was cruel on the Reds, who could easily have been 2-0 up three minutes before Ashton forced their way back into the match when Byrne continued his knack of striking the cross-bar. Games can be decided by the smallest of margins, often woodwork margins.

United had found themselves a goal to the good six minutes before the break when Norton slammed home a close range rebound after Joe Fox’s low shot bobbled up and was deflected onto the bar by goalkeeper Paul Phillips.

But any hopes that United might be able to comfortably see out the second half were soon eradicated when Ashton, enjoying a run of three consecutive victories, came out like a steam train after the interval.

Ten minutes in, Wilczynski acrobatically denied substitute Matthew Chadwick’s 30 yard screamer, which looked like it was flying into the top right corner. The keeper then had to punch the in-swinging corner off his line and Davies flicked a goalbound header over the bar.

Three minutes later, Wilczynski tipped a good effort by Coppin over the bar and with 20 minutes to go the keeper had to make a point blank save with his feet when eventual match winner, Johnson should have scored.

It wasn’t all Ashton though, as well as Byrne hitting the bar, Fox had headed wide after being picked out by Norton and some last ditch defending by Cavell Coo denied substitute Matthew Walwyn a chance on goal after Wolfenden had used his speed to carve open the Robins down the right.

But United couldn’t find the vital second goal to kill the match off and the hosts took full advantage. United will aim to bounce back at Buxton on Saturday.

Website man of the match: Liam Brownhill. Put in some great last ditch covering challenges when United were stretched at the back and always looked to make things happen going forward.

Report by Matthew Haley
Match Report
FC United conceded two goals in the last 10 minutes to lose 2-1 at Ashton United on Boxing Day in an end-to-end encounter, which saw Michael Norton open the scoring in the first half and centre-back Tom Davies sent off late on.

The Reds went ahead in the 39th minute but their hardwork was undone when Davies blatantly handled on the goal-line, Gary Gee equalised from the resulting penalty and Dale Johnson scrambled home the winner five minutes later.

The Robins were the dominate team in the second half and deserved something from the match but United were left to wonder what might have been. Especially because the Reds missed chances to double their lead and the hosts were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes to go when Kayde Coppin struck Matthew Wolfenden in the face with his hand, the incident being missed by the officials.

After several great saves by on loan goalkeeper Ed Wilczynski and goal line clearances by Davies and Callum Byrne, it was beginning to look like Karl Marginson’s side had weathered a second half storm and would extend their unbeaten run to 11 matches.

However, when Wilczynski was caught out of position after failing to claim a high ball into the box, the covering Davies decided to tip a goalbound effort around the post with his hand and consequently United were a man down and up against it.

The 19-year-old goalkeeper had put in a potentially match winning performance up until that point and was incredibly unlucky not to save the penalty after getting two hands to the ball, but unfortunately his afternoon soon got worse.

With United desperately trying to hang on for a point, the Huddersfield Town youngster was cynically blocked from coming to collect a corner and as none of his team mates took responsibility for clearing the ball, Johnson forced home the winner.

It was cruel on the Reds, who could easily have been 2-0 up three minutes before Ashton forced their way back into the match when Byrne continued his knack of striking the cross-bar. Games can be decided by the smallest of margins, often woodwork margins.

United had found themselves a goal to the good six minutes before the break when Norton slammed home a close range rebound after Joe Fox’s low shot bobbled up and was deflected onto the bar by goalkeeper Paul Phillips.

But any hopes that United might be able to comfortably see out the second half were soon eradicated when Ashton, enjoying a run of three consecutive victories, came out like a steam train after the interval.

Ten minutes in, Wilczynski acrobatically denied substitute Matthew Chadwick’s 30 yard screamer, which looked like it was flying into the top right corner. The keeper then had to punch the in-swinging corner off his line and Davies flicked a goalbound header over the bar.

Three minutes later, Wilczynski tipped a good effort by Coppin over the bar and with 20 minutes to go the keeper had to make a point blank save with his feet when eventual match winner, Johnson should have scored.

It wasn’t all Ashton though, as well as Byrne hitting the bar, Fox had headed wide after being picked out by Norton and some last ditch defending by Cavell Coo denied substitute Matthew Walwyn a chance on goal after Wolfenden had used his speed to carve open the Robins down the right.

But United couldn’t find the vital second goal to kill the match off and the hosts took full advantage. United will aim to bounce back at Buxton on Saturday.

Website man of the match: Liam Brownhill. Put in some great last ditch covering challenges when United were stretched at the back and always looked to make things happen going forward.

Report by Matthew Haley

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