Match Report

FC United got back to winning ways with a 4-3 victory over Alfreton Town at Broadhurst Park thanks to a late Luke Ashworth goal after throwing away a three goal first half lead.

FC United raced into a 3-0 lead in the first half but the visitors drew level early in the second half before Ashworth fired home with less than 10 minutes’ left.

Neither team came into the game with the greatest form but both contributed to a fantastic afternoon of football. Following the disappointing draw and then subsequent defeat in the replay with Harrogate Town in the FA Cup earlier in the week, the Reds came out quickly looking dangerous from the off.

After just two minutes, Kieran Glynn scored his first goal for the club by taking advantage of some poor defending from a corner to fire home and give FC United the early lead.

After 11 minutes it was 2-0 as the home team kept the pressure on and were rewarded with a second goal. Matthew Wolfenden’s effort was deflected on its way to goal, wrong footing Alfreton goalkeeper Fabian Spiess.

A two goal cushion was comfortable but the three goal cushion the Reds had after 37 minutes should have made it game over. George Thomson’s effort from outside the box was a wonderfully struck shot which left Spiess with no chance and seemingly killed the game off at 3-0.

Anybody thinking a three goal advantage before half time was game over were quickly proved wrong as the away team found three goals either side of half time to level things up in what to this point had been a one-sided contest.

Adam Smith made a great solo run just before the break, cutting through the FC defence with ease before placing the ball past Dave Carnell to make it 3-1 at the break. Seconds after the restart it was 3-2 when Brad McGowan was allowed a free header from a corner and after eight minutes of the second half it was all level as more lackadaisical defending allowed Smith to get his second and bring the game back all square.

With the momentum clearly with the away team and FC United looking bewildered at throwing away a three goal lead, you would have been forgiven for thinking the game was now there for Alfreton to take. However, the men in red responded well and got back on top of the game almost immediately after the equalising goal.

There was a string of half chances which went close to the goal, but the Alfreton defence was holding tight and causing a nuisance breaking down attacks with the odd questionable challenge.

Going into the final 10 minutes the Reds had not turned the pressure into a goal and it looked as though they had thrown away a three goal lead and would come away frustrated with a draw.

But the breakthrough did come thanks to Ashworth who saw the ball come to his feet after a corner from the left wasn’t dealt with by the Alfreton defence. Ashworth fired home in front of the packed St Mary’s Road End to seal the victory.

The victory was the Reds first in five games in all competitions and will hopefully give the team some belief back ahead of a run of four away games in a row starting with AFC Telford (a team we’ve never beaten) next Saturday.

Website man of the match: George Thomson – Seemed to revel in the role of being the chief playmaker and dealt positively with some questionable challenges on him.

Report by Craig Phillips