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FC United up to fifth after putting four past Grantham Town

FC United up to fifth after putting four past Grantham TownFC United leapt up to fifth place in the Bet Victor Northern Premier Division after a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Grantham Town at Broadhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.

The game was over as a contest after just 16 minutes because FC United raced into a 3-0 lead courtesy of a brace by Tunde Owolabi and a goal from captain Michael Potts.

Aaron Morris put the icing on the cake in the 90th minute in a game that also saw FC United denied twice by the woodwork.

FC United’s fast paced, flowing, two-touch football proved far too much for the visitors to cope with throughout the match and victory could have been by a much bigger margin.

A passing interchange involving Luke Griffiths and Alex Curran led to Owolabi playing the ball out wide to Regan Linney on the right. Linney beat the left back before crossing the ball across the six yard box for Owolabi to break the deadlock after seven minutes.

Seven minutes later, Curran was played through one-on-one with Grantham goalkeeper Adnan Kanuric but he selflessly played in Owolabi, who slotted the ball home for 2-0.

Next up, Potts got in on the action by finishing a move he started. A trademark ball zipped across the field from the captain and saw Owolabi play in Curran on the left. The Stockport County loanee took on Kanuric before squaring to the back post for the arriving Potts to tap home. 3-0 on 16 minutes.

It was almost getting embarrassing for the visitors from Lincolnshire. However, credit to them, they tightened up at the back after conceding the third and they also briefly threatened to pull a goal back.

On 39 minutes, Reds goalkeeper Cameron Belford rushed off his line to make a superb point blank save with his feet from striker Francois Zoko. Prior to that, the most threatening thing to get near FC United’s goal had been a pitch invading squirrel.

Seven minutes into the second half, Linney almost scored an amazing solo goal but he was denied by the underside of the bar. The winger sprinted with the ball from the edge of his own area to Grantham’s box before cutting inside and curling a ferocious effort onto the woodwork.

United continued to pile forward and could have scored several more. Paul Ennis had a fierce drive deflected wide; Owolabi was twice denied his hat-trick - once for offside and then for a foul on Kanuric; substitute Jordan Buckley curled a good effort wide; and debutant Finlay Smith hit the post after coming off the bench.

However, United were rewarded for their efforts in the final minute when fullback Morris crashed Michael Donohue’s cross in off the bar for 4-0.

It was a comprehensive and thoroughly deserved victory for a team that is clearly enjoying playing football together. The Reds have now won five consecutive matches for the first time since February 2015. The good times are back on the pitch, on the terraces and in the bars.

Website man of the match: Alex Curran. Played an integral role in three of the four goals with intelligent, selfless teamwork. Demonstrating exactly what the club is all about.

Report by Matthew Haley



First Posted ~ 12:32 Sun 22 Dec 2019
News ID ~ 8594
Last Updated ~ 16:00 Fri 19 Feb 2021