FC up to third after 4-0 win over Stafford + HIGHLIGHTS

FC United are up to third place and three points from top in the Evo-Stik Premier Division after a convincing 4-0 win over Stafford Rangers at Gigg Lane tonight.

Two goals in each half, first from Tom Greaves and Charlie Raglan, followed by Greaves again and then Greg Daniels, gave the Reds all three points to keep our title challenge and automatic promotion hopes well and truly on track.

With Saturday’s opponents Skelmersdale United going down 3-1 at home to Witton Albion, United moved up to third place; just three points off the summit of the league, with a one sided victory that made it nine league games without defeat for the Reds.

With such form it was easy to see why United started the stronger of the two teams, looking confident from the off with Charlie Raglan seeing his header saved before Norton’s follow up was just kept out.

It wasn’t long until United had the lead when just seven minutes in a ball through the middle found Greaves who rounded the ‘keeper and slotted home to give the Reds an early lead.

Although the early goal and the one sided score line would lead you to believe it was all one way traffic this wasn’t the case as Dave Carnell was called into action not long after Greaves had given United the lead, showing good hands to parry the shot wide.

United though kept coming forward and had three great chances in the same move as the visiting ‘keeper kept Greaves then Norton out before Greaves nodded over, and despite good periods of pressure it looked like it would be just the one goal lead going into the break.

But right on the stroke of half time Charlie Raglan got the goal that he should have had in the opening minute to give Untied the two goal cushion and the comfort of possibly allowing one eye on the weekend’s fixture.

There was a delay of around about ten minutes for the second half to start as the assistant referee couldn’t carry on his duties due to injury, with a call going into the stands for a replacement official, which was duly filled and the second half got under way a little later than expected.

Long periods of the second half had a bit of a training match feel to it, as United enjoyed large amounts of possession with chances coming as and when they wanted them to, with the Reds seemingly having a few gears in the locker should they have needed to call upon them.

Greaves showed a real touch of class as he put the ball onto his right foot some 25 yards out and coolly placed the ball past the visiting ‘keeper to give United a 3-0 lead just before the hour mark.

Greaves was replaced not long after by Walwyn, who suffered an injury after only a few minutes and saw himself stretchered off to be replaced by Greg Daniels.

Daniels provided a little bit of magic for the final goal of the evening as he curled the ball around the ‘keeper with the outside of his right boot to round off what was another convincing victory for the form team of the league at the moment.

United move up to third in the league with the win, just one point behind Worksop in second and three points behind leaders Chorley (who still have to visit Gigg Lane in April) and know that a victory against Skelmersdale on Saturday could see them go top should other results go their way.

If United keep playing with the confidence they are doing at the moment it would be hard t bet against them but with ten games left and just four points covering the top five it’s certainly shaping up to be an entertaining end to the season.

Website man of the match: Tom Greaves – Two goals, showing his composure and class on both occasions gave the Reds the cushion their performance merited.

Report by Craig Phillips