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Platt penalty starts promotion party

FC United sealed promotion to the new look Unibond Northern Premier League with a 2-1 victory in front of 1,653 jubilant supporters at Ramsbottom United’s Riverside Stadium thanks to goals from Jerome Wright and a Nicky Platt penalty.

As is often the case, the Reds were determined to make it hard work for themselves, going a goal down after 10 minutes and having top scorer Stuart Rudd sent off for an innocuous looking challenge midway through the first half.

The Rams were intent on trying to spoil the party and drew first blood when United’s defence was caught napping. Captain Steve Maden was allowed to ghost onto a through ball between Dave Brown and Rob Nugent and he made no mistake by sliding it past Sam Ashton.

Things got worst before they got better for United when Rudd found himself sent off for the first time in his career, apparently for stamping on a defender. The task of overturning the deficit undoubtedly became more difficult with a man less, but you wouldn’t have thought so with the way United played.

The Reds dug deep and not long after Rudd’s dismissal they back on level terms. Wright raced on to a bouncing through ball just before the half hour mark and skilfully lobbed the home ‘keeper Martin Campbell who had surged forward off his line in a bid to close the angle.

The interval came without any further major incidents as the Reds began to control game. The visiting supporters were in celebratory mood sensing that it was only a matter time before Margy’s men would take the lead and seal promotion.

And their confidence wasn’t misplaced. Just before the hour, Rory Patterson, who was stand-in captain for the injured David Chadwick, was brought down inside the box by Campbell after attempting to go round him.

The referee was awarded a penalty and despite a short delay, youngster Platt stepped up to fire home a cool, calm finish into the bottom left corner. Campbell guessed the right way, but such was the accuracy of Platt’s shot, the ‘keeper couldn’t keep it out.

There were a few nervy moments towards the end when the Rams won a succession of corners but they were mainly well dealt with, although Steve MacDonald Steve Mainwaring were guilty of wasting good chances for the hosts. Minutes later MacDonald was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

FC United could have gone further ahead with chances for Patterson and Wright but in the end the final score line was a fair result and enough to get the promotion party started.

Team line ups:
Ramsbottom United
1. M Campbell
2. N Rhodes
3. G Ormes
4. J Blackley
5. L McManus
6. P O’Shaunessy
7. S McDonald
8. S Maden (capt)
9. C Lomax
10. S Pearson
11. S Mainwaring
Subs
12. B O’Shaunessy (for 6 75)
14. G Price (for 3 64)
14. Steele (for 10 75)

Scorer: Maden 9.


FC United
1. S Ashton
2. M Taylor
3. A Mortimer
4. N Platt
5. D Brown
6. R Nugent
7. R Giggs
8. S Carden
9. S Rudd
10. J Wright
11. R Patterson (capt)
Subs
12. S Spencer (for 7 76)
15. G Sampson (for 8 88)
16. A Turner

Scorers: Wright 29, Platt 60 pen.



First Posted ~ 16:20 Sun 8 Apr 2007
News ID ~ 926
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021