Match Report
FC United got back to winning ways in the Evo-Stik Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Burscough at Victory Park on Tuesday night with a goal from Michael Norton and an own goal.
Manager Karl Marginson made five changes to the team that lost 4-1 against Stocksbridge on Saturday and the bold move paid off with two second-half goals. Karl Munroe, Nicky Platt, Simon Carden, James Holden and Glynn Hurst were all brought into the starting 11 as the Reds packed the midfield.
It took just four minutes for the first clear chance of the game, when Norton was played through on goal but unfortunately the ball landed on his wrong side and he screwed his shot wide.
Six minutes later, FC had a shout for a penalty when Hurst was played through and collided with goalkeeper Sean Lake. The referee spread his arms out wide to wave play on and it seemed to be the correct decision.
Burscough had started slowly but did start to get into the game and Zac Riley had a good chance midway through the first half but he headed the ball over the bar.
FC were the team making most of the running and almost took the lead on the half hour when a good Lee Neville cross was headed back by Hurst into the path of Carden who hit a sweet volley that was tipped round the post.
From the resultant corner, Hurst was unlucky to see his shot go wide. The half ended with a flurry of chances for either side, Zach Hibbert saving well for FC United after a good Burscough move and Reds’ centre-back Scott McManus heading over from a corner.
As in the first half, FC started the second period well with Norton played through on goal but his shot was shinned wide. Captain for the evening, Kyle Jacobs also found himself forward and fired a shot straight at Lake.
Despite having most of the ball, FC did get a let off on 56 when Darren Byers beat the offside trap but fortunately his shot was well saved by Hibbert.
The deadlock was finally broken on 69 minutes. Holden and Neville combined superbly on the left with Neville putting in a great cross for Norton to slide into the net at the far post. The lead was extended just three minutes later with another break down the FC left. Holden’s cross was bundled in to his own goal by defender James Connelly.
The game then drifted towards its end, FC playing well, keeping the ball and creating chances with Platt shooting just wide and Holden seeing a shot fly just past the post.
It was a good win for FC at a ground where they played so poorly and slipped to a 1-0 defeat last season. The performance was solid with some very good passages of football played at times. The game was a timely tonic with the FA tie with Gainsborough Trinty looming on Saturday.
Report by Steven Wood
Match Report
FC United got back to winning ways in the Evo-Stik Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Burscough at Victory Park on Tuesday night with a goal from Michael Norton and an own goal.
Manager Karl Marginson made five changes to the team that lost 4-1 against Stocksbridge on Saturday and the bold move paid off with two second-half goals. Karl Munroe, Nicky Platt, Simon Carden, James Holden and Glynn Hurst were all brought into the starting 11 as the Reds packed the midfield.
It took just four minutes for the first clear chance of the game, when Norton was played through on goal but unfortunately the ball landed on his wrong side and he screwed his shot wide.
Six minutes later, FC had a shout for a penalty when Hurst was played through and collided with goalkeeper Sean Lake. The referee spread his arms out wide to wave play on and it seemed to be the correct decision.
Burscough had started slowly but did start to get into the game and Zac Riley had a good chance midway through the first half but he headed the ball over the bar.
FC were the team making most of the running and almost took the lead on the half hour when a good Lee Neville cross was headed back by Hurst into the path of Carden who hit a sweet volley that was tipped round the post.
From the resultant corner, Hurst was unlucky to see his shot go wide. The half ended with a flurry of chances for either side, Zach Hibbert saving well for FC United after a good Burscough move and Reds’ centre-back Scott McManus heading over from a corner.
As in the first half, FC started the second period well with Norton played through on goal but his shot was shinned wide. Captain for the evening, Kyle Jacobs also found himself forward and fired a shot straight at Lake.
Despite having most of the ball, FC did get a let off on 56 when Darren Byers beat the offside trap but fortunately his shot was well saved by Hibbert.
The deadlock was finally broken on 69 minutes. Holden and Neville combined superbly on the left with Neville putting in a great cross for Norton to slide into the net at the far post. The lead was extended just three minutes later with another break down the FC left. Holden’s cross was bundled in to his own goal by defender James Connelly.
The game then drifted towards its end, FC playing well, keeping the ball and creating chances with Platt shooting just wide and Holden seeing a shot fly just past the post.
It was a good win for FC at a ground where they played so poorly and slipped to a 1-0 defeat last season. The performance was solid with some very good passages of football played at times. The game was a timely tonic with the FA tie with Gainsborough Trinty looming on Saturday.
Report by Steven Wood
