United fire Frickley blank

Ten men FC United drew 0-0 with Frickley Athletic at Gigg Lane on Wednesday night as Adriano Rigoglioso saw red on his home debut after just 20 minutes.

The Reds gave a second debut to Kyle Wilson, back on a month’s loan from Macclesfield Town, and home debuts to Rigoglioso and Kyle Jacobs. The match started brightly with a cross from the left by Ludovic Quistin which was hooked over the bar by a Frickley defender.

The game’s main talking point came on 20 minutes when Rigoglioso went into a challenge with Frickley midfielder Jonathan Groome who stayed crumpled on the ground. The referee issued a straight red for the challenge which eventually saw the Frickley player stretchered off.

The former Doncaster Rovers midfielder probably can’t have too many complaints with the sending off but it showed up the inconsistency of the official, who had let a similar dangerous challenge on Jake Cottrell go unpunished only a few minutes earlier.

The best chance of the half fell to Frickley on 27 minutes when they sprung the United offside trap. Fortunately for the Reds, Sam Ashton pulled off a great one-on-one save but it was followed by a baffling, if technically correct, decision.

As Ashton was about to kick the ball up field he was continuing his protests about the offside decision which resulted in a caution and an indirect free-kick being awarded in the box to Frickley. Correct to the letter of the law but baffling all that same as it is something that is hardly ever given.

On 32 minutes, a great break by Jerome Wright playing on the right wing resulted in a cross just going behind an advancing Phil Marsh and shortly after Wilson fired just wide after a good solo run.

The second half continued in a similar way, with United having the lion’s share of the play but not converting the chances, with Wilson, Wright and Rob Nugent all having shots wide or over.

Late in the game, Wright, who was working tirelessly on the right hand side pulled the ball back but Wilson could only scuff his shot and it rolled harmlessly away. Frickley almost took the points late on but Ashton pulled off a save to keep them out.

So, a disappointing return to home action for FC United in the end but due to playing most of the game with 10 men it maybe looked on as a point gained as opposed to two lost, despite all the possession.

Report by Steven Wood.


FC United
1. S Ashton (cautioned 28)
2. K Jacobs
3. L Quistin
4. J Cottrell
5. A Tong
6. R Nugent (capt)
7. A Rigoglioso (sent off 20)
8. S Carden
9. K Wilson
10. J Wright
11. P Marsh
Subs
12. D Chadwick (for 2 90)
14. J Holden
15. J Yoffe (for 9 81)
16. B Deegan (for 11 70)
17. C Roca


Frickley Athletic
1. A Nicklin
2. C Fisher
3. D Grace
4. D Walsh
5. S Heath
6. P Lindley (capt) (cautioned 35)
7. D Clarke
8. J Groome
9. L Morris
10. N Towler
11. C White
Subs
12. M Bloor (for 8 22)
14. D Jones (for 6 59)
15. C Palmer (for 9 83)
16. S Pierrepoint
17. J Moody