Match Report
FC United will replay Chorley in the FA Trophy second round on Tuesday night at the Tameside Stadium after fighting back to draw a six goal thriller on Saturday afternoon at Victory Park in front of 2,254 supporters.
The Reds were 2-0 down at half-time due to an unfortunate own goal by Luke Ashworth and a superb strike by James Dean. But a classy Tom Greaves brace got us back on level terms by the 66th minute before Matthew Wolfenden looked like he might have scored the winner with nine minutes to go.
However, the lead was short lived as Dean got his second goal and the equaliser barely three minutes later for the Conference North side to prevent, or possibly just delay, FC United from causing another cup upset.
The conditions were certainly playing their part in the game with Chorley using the wind at their backs to their advantage. They came close on 10 minutes with Harry Winter firing over.
Six minutes later, The Magpies took the lead when the ball found its way to Paul Jarvis in the FC box. His cross-cum-shot found its way past Dave Carnell via Ashworth.
The direct style of play from the home side, playing to the strengths of Dean, was certainly paying off in the wind but as the half wore on FC United started to find their rhythm. On the half hour the Reds should have levelled when cross from Liam Brownhill was headed back by Wolfenden towards Greaves who didn’t make proper contact and the ball went wide with the goal begging.
Five minutes later the lead was extended when a long free-kick was chested down to Dean who fired an unstoppable shot past Carnell.
The general feeling was that with the wind at their backs in the second half the game wasn’t over for The Reds. Just 12 minutes into the half the lead was halved when the ball was chipped into the Chorley box for Greaves. He controlled the ball on his chest and fired a fierce volley past former FC United goalkeeper Sam Ashton.
The goal gave United confidence, Dave Birch shooting just past the post and Craig Lindfield putting a free-kick into the arms of Ashton.
On 66 minutes the pressure paid off with an equaliser when a free-kick was flicked to Greaves. He made himself room and finished well into the far corner. The Reds were in the ascendancy at this point but there was a scare in their box when another former FC favourite Jake Cottrell fired a overhead volley just wide.
With less than 10 minutes left on the clock, FC took the lead when a long throw found Wolfenden who kept his cool to score into the far corner. Unfortunately, the lead lasted barely three minutes as Dean equalised with a great header after a free-kick was headed towards him.
The home side applied pressure to find the winner but couldn’t find a way through the Reds defence. Deep in injury time, there was a big penalty shout in the Chorley box as Greaves seemed to have his legs taken from under him but the officials were unmoved.
This was a classic cup tie and FC United will hope they have the momentum going into the replay.
Website man of the match - Tom Greaves. Didn’t stop running for 90 minutes and his second half performance was outstanding, rewarded with two great goals.
Match Report
FC United will replay Chorley in the FA Trophy second round on Tuesday night at the Tameside Stadium after fighting back to draw a six goal thriller on Saturday afternoon at Victory Park in front of 2,254 supporters.
The Reds were 2-0 down at half-time due to an unfortunate own goal by Luke Ashworth and a superb strike by James Dean. But a classy Tom Greaves brace got us back on level terms by the 66th minute before Matthew Wolfenden looked like he might have scored the winner with nine minutes to go.
However, the lead was short lived as Dean got his second goal and the equaliser barely three minutes later for the Conference North side to prevent, or possibly just delay, FC United from causing another cup upset.
The conditions were certainly playing their part in the game with Chorley using the wind at their backs to their advantage. They came close on 10 minutes with Harry Winter firing over.
Six minutes later, The Magpies took the lead when the ball found its way to Paul Jarvis in the FC box. His cross-cum-shot found its way past Dave Carnell via Ashworth.
The direct style of play from the home side, playing to the strengths of Dean, was certainly paying off in the wind but as the half wore on FC United started to find their rhythm. On the half hour the Reds should have levelled when cross from Liam Brownhill was headed back by Wolfenden towards Greaves who didn’t make proper contact and the ball went wide with the goal begging.
Five minutes later the lead was extended when a long free-kick was chested down to Dean who fired an unstoppable shot past Carnell.
The general feeling was that with the wind at their backs in the second half the game wasn’t over for The Reds. Just 12 minutes into the half the lead was halved when the ball was chipped into the Chorley box for Greaves. He controlled the ball on his chest and fired a fierce volley past former FC United goalkeeper Sam Ashton.
The goal gave United confidence, Dave Birch shooting just past the post and Craig Lindfield putting a free-kick into the arms of Ashton.
On 66 minutes the pressure paid off with an equaliser when a free-kick was flicked to Greaves. He made himself room and finished well into the far corner. The Reds were in the ascendancy at this point but there was a scare in their box when another former FC favourite Jake Cottrell fired a overhead volley just wide.
With less than 10 minutes left on the clock, FC took the lead when a long throw found Wolfenden who kept his cool to score into the far corner. Unfortunately, the lead lasted barely three minutes as Dean equalised with a great header after a free-kick was headed towards him.
The home side applied pressure to find the winner but couldn’t find a way through the Reds defence. Deep in injury time, there was a big penalty shout in the Chorley box as Greaves seemed to have his legs taken from under him but the officials were unmoved.
This was a classic cup tie and FC United will hope they have the momentum going into the replay.
Website man of the match - Tom Greaves. Didn’t stop running for 90 minutes and his second half performance was outstanding, rewarded with two great goals.
