FC United slip to second defeat of the season at home to Hyde United

FC United lost their second game of the season 2-1 at home to Hyde United on a rainy Tuesday evening at Broadhurst Park.

After Saturday’s narrow defeat in the season’s opening game at Grantham, the Reds were hoping to bounce back but they found themselves 2-0 down at halftime.

Despite a valiant attempt in the second half, which produced a goal for substitute Chris Sharp, Neil Reynolds’ side could not find an equaliser.

The hosts started well and could have been two goals to the good inside the first five minutes. Paul Ennis fired a free-kick just wide and, moments later, he had a shot beaten away by Luke Mewitt in The Tigers goal.

However, the visitors took the lead on 12 minutes when they broke done the left with Jack Dyche, his hot was parried by Paddy Wharton but the ball fell to Dan O’Brien who tapped home.

On 31 minutes Hyde broke again. Captain Mike Potts challenged former FC United player Joel Logan right on the edge of the box and referee Mr Rogers adjudged this to be in the box and pointed to the spot.

O’Brien struck the penalty well but Wharton pulled off a great save. The ball dropped to O’Brien again and somehow Wharton again pulled off a remarkable save to keep the score at 1-0.

Five minutes later, the lead was doubled when the ball was played through the FC defence with ease to feed Liam Tongue who finished well into the far corner.

On 38 minutes, Curtis Jones came close with a flying volley that flew just wide. It was a strange half with FC playing some great football but it seemed to fall to pieces around the Hyde 18-yard box.

The Reds started the second half well and saw plenty of ball but it took to the 66th minute for to get on the scoresheet. A long shot by Regan Linney took a touch off a visiting defender and nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

This led to FC laying siege to the Hyde penalty area. Sharp shot at the keeper and fellow substitute Rhain Hellawell saw a long throw headed towards his own goal by former FC United centre-back Jordan Fagbola. However, the ball was cleared off the line.

With five minutes left on the clock, fullback James Joyce saw a first time shot well saved by Luke Mewitt. On 88 minutes a free-kick was flicked goalwards by Linney, who saw the chance acrobatically cleared off the line.

With the clock ticking into the 90th minute, Mewitt yet again pulled off a great save, tipping a Craig Carney shot over the bar.

It was a perplexing night for FC United. There was moments of great football let down by poor final balls, lapses in the defence that allowed Hyde in for goals and a second half played mainly in the Hyde half but with only one goal to show for it.

Full credit must be given to the Hyde defence, Fagbola in particular, who stood firm against the second half onslaught from FC.

Report by Steven Wood

Website man of the match: Paddy Wharton. Pulled off a work class double-save from the penalty to keep FC United in the game.