United beat Salford hoodoo

United passed into Round Three of the FA Vase by taking revenge on Salford City for their previous league defeat, winning 3-2 in a high-noon encounter at The Willows with goals coming from Stuart Rudd, Simon Carden and captain David Chadwick.

The hosts, who are still the only team to beat United this season, took an early lead as United looked like they were still half asleep. But after the initial setback, the men from Manchester equalised through top scorer Rudd before adding two more to make the Salfordians wished they’d stayed at home in bed.

City scored a late goal to set up a tense finale, but the Reds were not going to be caught by a sucker punch from their local rivals again this season and a resolute performance ensured a deserved victory.

Despite the pre-match managerial war of words the cup-tie turned out to be a much tamer and scrappier affair than many expected. Salford took the lead within a couple of minutes. Striker Tommy Turner showed good close-control to create space for a great shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

But the Reds were swift to reply. After a mazy run Maty Taylor found Rudd with a diagonal ball that carved open the defence and the former Skelmersdale man calmly slid the equalizer underneath a now-freed Barrie George.

Within five minutes United had turned things round. The home side failed to hold their offside line and Carden calmly lobbed the ball over the stranded ‘keeper with a lovely deft finish.

Both teams seemed to cancel each other out for the rest of the first half, with Chadwick, Steve Spencer and Rob Nugent working tirelessly at the back. The Reds increased their lead early in the second half when a Josh Howard corner finally reached Chadwick and the big number five headed home to make it 3-1.

With Rhodri Giggs showing some great running, Rudd then missed a glorious chance to seal the game. City soon rang the changes and went close on a couple of occasions from long range.

And with the game seemingly over the home side pulled a goal back late on thanks to substitute Burrows. In the end time ran out for Salford and United deservedly hung on to secure their place in Monday’s Third Round Draw.

Mark Swanwick

Match information:

Salford City
1. B George
2. S Whitehead (Capt.)
3. M Eckersley
4. R Watson
5. A Watson
6. M Burke
7. N Robinson
8. J Bore
9. J Robinson
10. T Turner
11. J Bagguley

Subs Used
15. D Burrows (9, 54)
16. T Moses (8, 71)
17. D Whitehead (3, 64)

Goals: Turner (2), Burrows 86.
Bookings: Burke (27), Burrows (90+4)


FC United of Manchester
1. S Ashton
2. M Taylor
3. A Mortimer
4. S Spencer
5. D Chadwick (Capt.)
6. R Nugent
7. R Giggs
8. S Carden
9. S Rudd
10. J Howard
11. N Platt

Subs Used
14. D Allen (7, 90)
16. G Sampson (10, 78)

Goals: Rudd (8), Carden (13), Chadwick (54)
Bookings: Taylor (19), Rudd (36), Chadwick (65).