Match Report
The reserves scored four goals in a high paced local derby against Stockport; sadly, two of those were in the wrong net and it took an injury time header from John Pritchard to rescue a point. The corresponding fixture at Edgeley Park saw a mid table County team work hard to dominate that first half and it was no surprise to see the same tactics at Nicholls, except this time the reds matched them for effort and would have been disappointed going in with only a one goal lead.
Dean Hope had the first chance of the game on four minutes, a break forward and shot from 35 yards was easily saved. Stockport had their first chance on ten minutes; a break down the left and cross in looked dangerous but was stopped by the referee awarding FC a free kick. This was to signal the start of a frenetic five minutes for FC United when they could have put the game out of reach for the visitors, but saw only one goal scored.
Straight from that free kick Dean Hope shot from slightly closer than his previous effort, Martin East in the Stockport goal was well beaten but sadly so was the post as it drifted just wide. That was merely delaying the inevitable as the reds did score with the next attack. Lee Green found Sam Summerbee who controlled the ball and picked his spot.
From the kick off the home side broke down the left wing, a cross evaded everyone but Pritchard ran out to the right to retrieve it. He crossed for Summerbee whose shot hit the bar. With the Stockport defence seemingly static it was Josh Smethurst who reacted to the rebound but unfortunately headed over.
In the next two minutes Green had a shot saved, then put a dangerous cross in from the left which East fumbled before Stockport cleared and finally the ball was in the visitors goal. Pritchard fashioned a chance for himself, hitting the post with Charlie Doyle firing the rebound home but being adjudged offside.
It is perhaps not surprising that the pace of the game dropped for the rest of the half, whilst FC United dominated there were no further goals and indeed it was 34 minutes before Stockport had a corner.
The second half was more evenly balanced, both sides could have scored in the first five minutes and for the next ten minutes FC had chances, Chris Hill had perhaps the best effort. Then midway through the half came two minutes of defensive misfortune that saw Stockport take the lead. Firstly as a home attack faltered in midfield the visitors broke forward. A cross into the box looked harmless but the attempted clearance by Hendrickx was merely sliced backwards into his own net. Two minutes later, defensive partner, Nathan Chorlton was the fall guy. A shot was blocked by Philip Pole but straight to Chorlton who without time to react merely saw the ball bounce off him and in to the goal.
For the rest of the game Stockport seemed happy to make the most of their good fortune and it was left to FC to regroup and chase the game. In truth they didn’t really look like doing it. The best effort was a Tunde Owolabi header, after a neat exchange of passes, easily saved as the game drew to a close. Still, there was to be one more chance, deep into added time. Dean Hope drove a corner kick firmly into a crowded box with Pritchard somehow finding the space to head home. The reds lined up keen to chase a winner but there was only enough time for the game to restart before the final whistle was blown.
FC United of Manchester:
1. Phillip Pole
2. Charlie Doyle
3. Josh Smethurst
4. Jason Fowles
5. Nathan Chorlton
6. Koenraad Hendrickx
7. Chris Hill
8. Dean Hope
9. Lee Green
10. John Pritchard
11. Sam Summerbee
Substitutes:
12. Tunde Owolabi (For 4, 68 mins)
14. Nick Truelove
15. Jordan Rutter (For 9, 85 mins)
16. Jacob Holt (For 3, 68 mins)
17. Rhodri Giggs.
Stockport County:
1. Martin East
2. Leon O’Malley
3. Jordyn Fitton
4. Joseph Noblett
5. Connor Hancock
6. Elliot Dickson
7. Jordan Arklie-Young
8. Duncan Capriotti
9. Michael Hampson
10. Will Hartley
11. George Blackwell
Substitutes:
12 Kieran Crosthwaite
14. Steven Higgins
15. Connor Thompson
Match Report
The reserves scored four goals in a high paced local derby against Stockport; sadly, two of those were in the wrong net and it took an injury time header from John Pritchard to rescue a point. The corresponding fixture at Edgeley Park saw a mid table County team work hard to dominate that first half and it was no surprise to see the same tactics at Nicholls, except this time the reds matched them for effort and would have been disappointed going in with only a one goal lead.
Dean Hope had the first chance of the game on four minutes, a break forward and shot from 35 yards was easily saved. Stockport had their first chance on ten minutes; a break down the left and cross in looked dangerous but was stopped by the referee awarding FC a free kick. This was to signal the start of a frenetic five minutes for FC United when they could have put the game out of reach for the visitors, but saw only one goal scored.
Straight from that free kick Dean Hope shot from slightly closer than his previous effort, Martin East in the Stockport goal was well beaten but sadly so was the post as it drifted just wide. That was merely delaying the inevitable as the reds did score with the next attack. Lee Green found Sam Summerbee who controlled the ball and picked his spot.
From the kick off the home side broke down the left wing, a cross evaded everyone but Pritchard ran out to the right to retrieve it. He crossed for Summerbee whose shot hit the bar. With the Stockport defence seemingly static it was Josh Smethurst who reacted to the rebound but unfortunately headed over.
In the next two minutes Green had a shot saved, then put a dangerous cross in from the left which East fumbled before Stockport cleared and finally the ball was in the visitors goal. Pritchard fashioned a chance for himself, hitting the post with Charlie Doyle firing the rebound home but being adjudged offside.
It is perhaps not surprising that the pace of the game dropped for the rest of the half, whilst FC United dominated there were no further goals and indeed it was 34 minutes before Stockport had a corner.
The second half was more evenly balanced, both sides could have scored in the first five minutes and for the next ten minutes FC had chances, Chris Hill had perhaps the best effort. Then midway through the half came two minutes of defensive misfortune that saw Stockport take the lead. Firstly as a home attack faltered in midfield the visitors broke forward. A cross into the box looked harmless but the attempted clearance by Hendrickx was merely sliced backwards into his own net. Two minutes later, defensive partner, Nathan Chorlton was the fall guy. A shot was blocked by Philip Pole but straight to Chorlton who without time to react merely saw the ball bounce off him and in to the goal.
For the rest of the game Stockport seemed happy to make the most of their good fortune and it was left to FC to regroup and chase the game. In truth they didn’t really look like doing it. The best effort was a Tunde Owolabi header, after a neat exchange of passes, easily saved as the game drew to a close. Still, there was to be one more chance, deep into added time. Dean Hope drove a corner kick firmly into a crowded box with Pritchard somehow finding the space to head home. The reds lined up keen to chase a winner but there was only enough time for the game to restart before the final whistle was blown.
FC United of Manchester:
1. Phillip Pole
2. Charlie Doyle
3. Josh Smethurst
4. Jason Fowles
5. Nathan Chorlton
6. Koenraad Hendrickx
7. Chris Hill
8. Dean Hope
9. Lee Green
10. John Pritchard
11. Sam Summerbee
Substitutes:
12. Tunde Owolabi (For 4, 68 mins)
14. Nick Truelove
15. Jordan Rutter (For 9, 85 mins)
16. Jacob Holt (For 3, 68 mins)
17. Rhodri Giggs.
Stockport County:
1. Martin East
2. Leon O’Malley
3. Jordyn Fitton
4. Joseph Noblett
5. Connor Hancock
6. Elliot Dickson
7. Jordan Arklie-Young
8. Duncan Capriotti
9. Michael Hampson
10. Will Hartley
11. George Blackwell
Substitutes:
12 Kieran Crosthwaite
14. Steven Higgins
15. Connor Thompson
