Resurgent Reds fight back to win five goal thriller against Alfreton
FC United’s mid-season revival continued on Tuesday night as they came from 2-0 down at halftime to win 3-2 against Alfreton Town at Broadhurst Park with goals from Kieran Glynn, Jason Gilchrist and a Tom Platt own goal.
The result is caretaker player-manager Tom Greaves’ fourth victory out of five games and puts the Reds up to 17th place, four points clear of the relegation zone and just six points from the expanding play-off places.
Craig Westcarr and Brendan Daniels put Alfreton in front but birthday boy Glynn led a fightback in the second half to take all three points for the Reds. The game started with the visitors winning a corner that was headed wide. For the next 20 minutes it was all FC United. Pass after pass found a teammate in a red shirt. There were raids down left from Joel Logan, a superb passage of play from Scott Kay to Glynn, who played in Gilchrist down the left, his pass to Greaves was put wide by the FC forward. Moments later, a Steve Irwin shot had Alfreton keeper Chris Elliot at full stretch, but the keeper held on.
On 21 minutes Alfreton won a throw in which was allowed to bounce twice in the home penalty box before Westcarr headed home to give the visitors the lead somewhat against the run of play. FC United didn’t panic and still tried to play football along the floor. Glynn and Joel Senior were having some success down the right which led to Irwin shooting over.
Glynn was then on the end of a Gilchrist square ball but from 12 yards out put his shot wide when he should have hit the target. The Reds were pressing all the time for an equaliser which led to a corner. A short corner by Glynn saw Logan’s effort sail over the stand, never mind the crossbar.
As the game went into added time at the end of the first half Sam Baird gave away a free-kick on the edge of the area. Up stepped Daniels to drive the ball low to Lloyd Allinson’s right but the keeper’s hand wasn’t strong enough to keep it out. Somehow the half had finished with the visitors two up.
United started the second half positively stringing numerous passes together which finished with Logan winning a corner. As Alfreton tried to clear the corner Glynn scored with an overhead kick on his 20th birthday. With 47 minutes on the clock and United were back in it.
Logan and Senior were both finding space down the flanks, Logan in particular giving his fullback a torrid time. The Reds were creating chances galore, Glynn firing one just wide, Gilchrist and Logan drawing fouls on the edge of the opposition area as the pressure mounted. As the game entered the final 10 minutes Logan was then booked for simulation which looked a harsh decision. More United pressure saw a Craig Lindfield effort parried wide, a Matty Hughes shot blaze over and finally the Reds got their reward when Glynn was brought down in the box to win a penalty. Gilchrist made no mistake from the spot. All square.
Luke Shiels was shown a yellow card for a shocking foul on Lindfield as the home team pressed on for a winner. More good work from Logan, now down the right, saw him cut into the box and the square ball was turned in to his own net by Platt. The majority of the 1,548 fans inside Broadhurst Park went wild.
As with the game on Saturday, United’s young side didn’t give up and stuck to their game plan, playing a passing game throughout to take a fully deserved three points.
Website man of the match: Joel Logan was a constant threat down both flanks causing panic in the Alfreton defence throughout the game.
Report by Neil Lees
Resurgent Reds fight back to win five goal thriller against Alfreton
FC United’s mid-season revival continued on Tuesday night as they came from 2-0 down at halftime to win 3-2 against Alfreton Town at Broadhurst Park with goals from Kieran Glynn, Jason Gilchrist and a Tom Platt own goal.
The result is caretaker player-manager Tom Greaves’ fourth victory out of five games and puts the Reds up to 17th place, four points clear of the relegation zone and just six points from the expanding play-off places.
Craig Westcarr and Brendan Daniels put Alfreton in front but birthday boy Glynn led a fightback in the second half to take all three points for the Reds. The game started with the visitors winning a corner that was headed wide. For the next 20 minutes it was all FC United. Pass after pass found a teammate in a red shirt. There were raids down left from Joel Logan, a superb passage of play from Scott Kay to Glynn, who played in Gilchrist down the left, his pass to Greaves was put wide by the FC forward. Moments later, a Steve Irwin shot had Alfreton keeper Chris Elliot at full stretch, but the keeper held on.
On 21 minutes Alfreton won a throw in which was allowed to bounce twice in the home penalty box before Westcarr headed home to give the visitors the lead somewhat against the run of play. FC United didn’t panic and still tried to play football along the floor. Glynn and Joel Senior were having some success down the right which led to Irwin shooting over.
Glynn was then on the end of a Gilchrist square ball but from 12 yards out put his shot wide when he should have hit the target. The Reds were pressing all the time for an equaliser which led to a corner. A short corner by Glynn saw Logan’s effort sail over the stand, never mind the crossbar.
As the game went into added time at the end of the first half Sam Baird gave away a free-kick on the edge of the area. Up stepped Daniels to drive the ball low to Lloyd Allinson’s right but the keeper’s hand wasn’t strong enough to keep it out. Somehow the half had finished with the visitors two up.
United started the second half positively stringing numerous passes together which finished with Logan winning a corner. As Alfreton tried to clear the corner Glynn scored with an overhead kick on his 20th birthday. With 47 minutes on the clock and United were back in it.
Logan and Senior were both finding space down the flanks, Logan in particular giving his fullback a torrid time. The Reds were creating chances galore, Glynn firing one just wide, Gilchrist and Logan drawing fouls on the edge of the opposition area as the pressure mounted. As the game entered the final 10 minutes Logan was then booked for simulation which looked a harsh decision. More United pressure saw a Craig Lindfield effort parried wide, a Matty Hughes shot blaze over and finally the Reds got their reward when Glynn was brought down in the box to win a penalty. Gilchrist made no mistake from the spot. All square.
Luke Shiels was shown a yellow card for a shocking foul on Lindfield as the home team pressed on for a winner. More good work from Logan, now down the right, saw him cut into the box and the square ball was turned in to his own net by Platt. The majority of the 1,548 fans inside Broadhurst Park went wild.
As with the game on Saturday, United’s young side didn’t give up and stuck to their game plan, playing a passing game throughout to take a fully deserved three points.
Website man of the match: Joel Logan was a constant threat down both flanks causing panic in the Alfreton defence throughout the game.
Report by Neil Lees
