Match Report
A 6:30 kick off at Rochdalians may or may not have caught out some spectators, for there were two goals before most had time to blink. The home side took the lead in the second minute, taking advantage of a defensive lapse. With less additional time gone FC United were level as Matthew Boland found Liam Ellis in the home area, he fired home with minimal fuss. Then with still less than five minutes gone there was a claim for an FC penalty as Richard Smith felt he was dispossessed unfairly, unfortunately even one of FC’s favourite referee’s John Walton was unconvinced.
FC United went on to control the game from then on with Rochdalians having chances but being unable to test Ryan Barker. After Jon Poizer had managed to create three chances for himself Daniel Maynard gave the visitors the lead, Liam Ellis was in the process of rounding the keeper to score his second when he was suddenly on the floor. Daniel was on hand to make sure a goal was scored so whether the referee was going to award a penalty or not became irrelevant.
Midway through the half it was 3-1 as Poizer was given space on the left wing to cross. Maynard had the first shot which was saved but Mike Taylor scored with the rebound; a shot that in his words “Ripped the net pegs out of the ground.??? Mike turned provider on half an hour for Liam Ellis to get his second and FC fourth and just before half time Rochdalians fashioned a chance for themselves but a header cleared the bar.
The second half started almost as brightly as the first, as Rochdalians hit the post and with the rebound heading across the goal, substitute keeper Tom Whitehurst pounced gratefully. Then a Sam Fitzgerald ball to Yousif Yousif allowed him to break clear of the defence and shoot home.
From then on, the pace of the game dropped and further chances were at a premium. Whitehurst pulling off a fine save midway through the half and Yousif heading wide after Frank van Gils and Sam Fitzgerald had combined to cross from the right seemed to be the best efforts of the half. That was until the 85th minute when the home side beat an offside trap to run on and slot home.
Website man of the match: Jason Fowles for a fine holding midfield performance where he was always available for a pass and was link with forwards.
FC United of Manchester:
1. Ryan Barker
2. Sam Fitzgerald
3. Josh Smethurst
4. Jason Fowles
5. Richard Smith
6. Jordan Dainty
7. Daniel Maynard
8. Mike Taylor
9. Liam Ellis
10. Matthew Boland
11, Jon Poizer
Substitutes:
12. Yousif Yousif
13. Tom Whitehurst
15. Frank van Gils
16. Josh Burke
Changes
12 for 9 (45 mins)
13 for 1 (45 mins)
15 for 7 (45 mins)
16 for 8 (45 mins)
Rolling sub
8 for 11 (63 mins)
Match Report
A 6:30 kick off at Rochdalians may or may not have caught out some spectators, for there were two goals before most had time to blink. The home side took the lead in the second minute, taking advantage of a defensive lapse. With less additional time gone FC United were level as Matthew Boland found Liam Ellis in the home area, he fired home with minimal fuss. Then with still less than five minutes gone there was a claim for an FC penalty as Richard Smith felt he was dispossessed unfairly, unfortunately even one of FC’s favourite referee’s John Walton was unconvinced.
FC United went on to control the game from then on with Rochdalians having chances but being unable to test Ryan Barker. After Jon Poizer had managed to create three chances for himself Daniel Maynard gave the visitors the lead, Liam Ellis was in the process of rounding the keeper to score his second when he was suddenly on the floor. Daniel was on hand to make sure a goal was scored so whether the referee was going to award a penalty or not became irrelevant.
Midway through the half it was 3-1 as Poizer was given space on the left wing to cross. Maynard had the first shot which was saved but Mike Taylor scored with the rebound; a shot that in his words “Ripped the net pegs out of the ground.??? Mike turned provider on half an hour for Liam Ellis to get his second and FC fourth and just before half time Rochdalians fashioned a chance for themselves but a header cleared the bar.
The second half started almost as brightly as the first, as Rochdalians hit the post and with the rebound heading across the goal, substitute keeper Tom Whitehurst pounced gratefully. Then a Sam Fitzgerald ball to Yousif Yousif allowed him to break clear of the defence and shoot home.
From then on, the pace of the game dropped and further chances were at a premium. Whitehurst pulling off a fine save midway through the half and Yousif heading wide after Frank van Gils and Sam Fitzgerald had combined to cross from the right seemed to be the best efforts of the half. That was until the 85th minute when the home side beat an offside trap to run on and slot home.
Website man of the match: Jason Fowles for a fine holding midfield performance where he was always available for a pass and was link with forwards.
FC United of Manchester:
1. Ryan Barker
2. Sam Fitzgerald
3. Josh Smethurst
4. Jason Fowles
5. Richard Smith
6. Jordan Dainty
7. Daniel Maynard
8. Mike Taylor
9. Liam Ellis
10. Matthew Boland
11, Jon Poizer
Substitutes:
12. Yousif Yousif
13. Tom Whitehurst
15. Frank van Gils
16. Josh Burke
Changes
12 for 9 (45 mins)
13 for 1 (45 mins)
15 for 7 (45 mins)
16 for 8 (45 mins)
Rolling sub
8 for 11 (63 mins)
