Reserves win their top of the table clash
Club AZ 1 (O Brian 42) v FC United Reserves 2 (Roscoe 8 penalty, Rothwell 57)
22/03/08 - 3.00pm @ Mulberrys Sports Centre, Nether Alderley
A ding donger of a game that had it all, controversy, Easter bunnies, penalties scored and saved, a flurry of cautions, sending offs and the two title challengers. The match itself was played in contrasting conditions - starting off with a snow blizzard and ending in bright sunshine.
FC took the game to AZ in the early stages and deservedly went a goal up, Shaun Roscoe coolly slotting a penalty home after Martin Cosgrave was brought down when through on goal. Cosgrave then missed a chance from close range and AZ stepped up the pace, pressing forward and overall looked a better side than we faced back in December with a more physical approach. Confrontations were sparking all over the pitch and the referee seemed in his element and much of the match was a stop and start affair as a result. The home side finished the first half on top and equalised through midfielder O Brian just before the break.
FC showed the necessary urgency at the start of the second half and put the AZ goal under pressure and were rewarded in the 57th minute through new boy Jamie Rothwell scoring his third goal in four games. Danny Allen recently back from Woodley Sports came on for the goalscorer two minutes later due to a head injury.
The game was still punctuated with free kicks and cautions, then in the 74th minute the other returnee Shaun Roscoe was sent off for what looked like an inocuous challenge and his second yellow card. AZ went close from a driven free kick but the ten men were still dangerous going forward and captain Jamie Rother was more than holding his own in central midfield.
Several free kicks later and entering the 95th minute Kyle Harrop was routinely shepherding the ball over the line for a goal kick when bizarrely he picked up the ball before it had crossed the line. A stunned Adam Turner then also got his marching orders for dissent.
The well struck penalty was saved by the legs of the diving Tompos cueing celebrations on the FC bench and small pockets of the crowd.
Standout performances from Adam Turner, Jamie Rother, Martin Cosgrave and of course Tony Tompos.
The title looks to be going to the wire but the pressure is now on Club AZ to win all of their remaining twelve games.
Club AZ
1. Matt Townes
2. Martin Quigley
3. Martin Firth
4. Andrew Forbes
5. Duncan Forbes
6. Neil O Brian
7. Omar Lamptey
8. Andrew Quigley (captain)
9. Jono Campbell - cautioned 4 minutes
10. Harry Wheetman
11. Jordan Pearson
12. Craig Scott (for 3, 78 minutes)
13.
14. Greg Mathers (for 11, 79 minutes)
15. John Whitehead
16. Steve Lawson
17. Rick Mottershead
Club AZ Man of the Match - Omar Lamptey
FC United Reserves
1. Tony Tompos
2. Kyle Harrop - cautioned 4 minutes
3. Craig Corneille
4. Adam Turner - sent off 90 minutes
5. Mike Sacks
6. Shaun Roscoe - cautioned 53 minutes, sent off 74 minutes
7. Warren Collier
8. Jamie Rother (captain)
9. Jamie Rothwell
10. Martin Cosgrave
11. Aaron Walters
12. Renee Mike (for 7, 80 minutes)
13. .
14. Anthony O Neill (for 11, 65 minutes) - cautioned 90 minutes
15. Lee Ellis
16. Danny Allen (for 9, 59 minutes)
17. Daniel Watson
FCU Man of the Match - Martin Cosgrave
Attendance - 75
Reserves win their top of the table clash
Club AZ 1 (O Brian 42) v FC United Reserves 2 (Roscoe 8 penalty, Rothwell 57)
22/03/08 - 3.00pm @ Mulberrys Sports Centre, Nether Alderley
A ding donger of a game that had it all, controversy, Easter bunnies, penalties scored and saved, a flurry of cautions, sending offs and the two title challengers. The match itself was played in contrasting conditions - starting off with a snow blizzard and ending in bright sunshine.
FC took the game to AZ in the early stages and deservedly went a goal up, Shaun Roscoe coolly slotting a penalty home after Martin Cosgrave was brought down when through on goal. Cosgrave then missed a chance from close range and AZ stepped up the pace, pressing forward and overall looked a better side than we faced back in December with a more physical approach. Confrontations were sparking all over the pitch and the referee seemed in his element and much of the match was a stop and start affair as a result. The home side finished the first half on top and equalised through midfielder O Brian just before the break.
FC showed the necessary urgency at the start of the second half and put the AZ goal under pressure and were rewarded in the 57th minute through new boy Jamie Rothwell scoring his third goal in four games. Danny Allen recently back from Woodley Sports came on for the goalscorer two minutes later due to a head injury.
The game was still punctuated with free kicks and cautions, then in the 74th minute the other returnee Shaun Roscoe was sent off for what looked like an inocuous challenge and his second yellow card. AZ went close from a driven free kick but the ten men were still dangerous going forward and captain Jamie Rother was more than holding his own in central midfield.
Several free kicks later and entering the 95th minute Kyle Harrop was routinely shepherding the ball over the line for a goal kick when bizarrely he picked up the ball before it had crossed the line. A stunned Adam Turner then also got his marching orders for dissent.
The well struck penalty was saved by the legs of the diving Tompos cueing celebrations on the FC bench and small pockets of the crowd.
Standout performances from Adam Turner, Jamie Rother, Martin Cosgrave and of course Tony Tompos.
The title looks to be going to the wire but the pressure is now on Club AZ to win all of their remaining twelve games.
Club AZ
1. Matt Townes
2. Martin Quigley
3. Martin Firth
4. Andrew Forbes
5. Duncan Forbes
6. Neil O Brian
7. Omar Lamptey
8. Andrew Quigley (captain)
9. Jono Campbell - cautioned 4 minutes
10. Harry Wheetman
11. Jordan Pearson
12. Craig Scott (for 3, 78 minutes)
13.
14. Greg Mathers (for 11, 79 minutes)
15. John Whitehead
16. Steve Lawson
17. Rick Mottershead
Club AZ Man of the Match - Omar Lamptey
FC United Reserves
1. Tony Tompos
2. Kyle Harrop - cautioned 4 minutes
3. Craig Corneille
4. Adam Turner - sent off 90 minutes
5. Mike Sacks
6. Shaun Roscoe - cautioned 53 minutes, sent off 74 minutes
7. Warren Collier
8. Jamie Rother (captain)
9. Jamie Rothwell
10. Martin Cosgrave
11. Aaron Walters
12. Renee Mike (for 7, 80 minutes)
13. .
14. Anthony O Neill (for 11, 65 minutes) - cautioned 90 minutes
15. Lee Ellis
16. Danny Allen (for 9, 59 minutes)
17. Daniel Watson
FCU Man of the Match - Martin Cosgrave
Attendance - 75
