Match Report

Joe Fox volleyed home a priceless winner as FC United moved up to fifth place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division by recording their second consecutive victory with a 1-0 win at Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night.

Fox struck in the 34th minute after a Liam Brownhill cross had caused confusion in the penalty area. The result means the Reds are now unbeaten in six and growing in confidence.

United created several good chances and could have had more goals but Karl Marginson’s side will be pleased to have successfully defended their slender lead and emerge with three points from a long midweek away trip to the North-East.

Jerome Wright started brightly down the left and on four minutes had a great chance to find a Red shirt in the six yard box but instead played an aerial ball that drifted out for a goal kick. The Spartans were looking for success of their down their right wing with the dangerous Arran Wearmouth. He was causing all sorts of problems and goalkeeper Dave Carnell had to be alert to his shot on nine minutes.

FC were still creating chances of their own, Fox shooting at Peter Jeffries and a Brownhill cross-cum-shot that Jeffries had to punch from under his bar.

Just after the half hour, Danny Maguire was put through beyond the FC defence but he screwed his shot wide of the goal. Four minutes later, FC United took the lead. Brownhill put in a fantastic cross that cut out the whole defence, the ball was headed against the Blyth bar and found its way to Fox via a Matthew Wolfenden miskick. Fox kept his cool to fire the ball into the net.

Right on the half-time whistle the Reds almost doubled the lead when a goal bound header from Mike Norton was unwittingly blocked on the line by teammate James Knowles.

Straight after the restart, Blyth had a great chance when Maguire fired in a shot that stung the fingers of Carnell. Down at the other end, a mistake in the home defence let in Norton. His shot was saved but the rebound fell to Tom Greaves who saw his shot come back off the post.

Spartans were still causing concern for the FC backline, Paul Robinson seeing a shot well saved by the feet of Carnell but United were growing in confidence and protecting the lead well. The last couple of minutes saw Greaves have a couple of chances to seal victory with a shot deflected wide and a glorious chance in injury time that he rolled wide of the far post.

Overall, it was a good performance from FC that saw the unbeaten start to the season continue. Next up it’s Marine away this Saturday.

Website man of the match: Joe Fox. Took his chance with a goal and a busy all round performance until he limped off late on. He has certainly given Margy something to think about.

Report by Steven Wood