Match Report

FC United finished their league away fixtures with a 1-0 defeat at Alfreton Town, a result that confirmed the home side’s participation in the National League North for another season.

The game started in a rather drab fashion, a mood that continued throughout the game though FC did have a good call for a penalty on 11 minutes. Adam Gilchrist clashed with a home defender in an innocuous looking challenge. The referee saw no issue but the assistant raised his flag for a foul to FC. It looked in the box, if a foul was indeed to be given, but the referee gave the decision a couple of yards outside. Luke Higham putting the free-kick just over the bar.

Neither side could get a grip on the game, Alfreton did have a couple of half chances with a shot blocked and one just over but it had a typical end of the season feel to it all. The deadlock was broken on 24 minutes when a throw in found Tom Platt who saw the ball bobble perfectly for him to fire a great shot past Lloyd Allinson and into the top corner of the net.

Two minutes later, the home side were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men when Cieron Keane clattered Sam Baird whilst getting nowhere near the ball. The referee produced a yellow card but on another day it could very easily have been red. The only shot on target from FC United was a long range Mike Jones opportunity that was early saved.

Just past the hour mark, substitute Elliot Simoes produced a lovely turn to create space for himself but fired the ball narrowly wide. This chance produced a mini flurry of chances with Allinson saving from Keane and Edward Wagner heading onto the top of the bar.

In the last minute, Nyal Bell went through but Allinson ushered the ball wide. An uninspiring game that started in bright sunshine and ended in rain pretty much sums u the fare on offer.

Report by Steven Wood

Man of the match: Sam Baird. Just pipping Kieran Glynn to the award with another great performance, especially in light of being up against physical attackers.