The tropical weather of North Manchester would show its face once again as FC United began their pre-season campaign, hosting League Two side Barrow. It was a chance for the FC faithful to get their eyes on the new recruits for the first time as they watched FC go toe to toe with Barrow for the best part of 70 minutes, losing out 2-0 in the end thanks to a brace from Tyrell Warren.
It was Barrow that got the game underway, and immediately set the pace for the game by lumping the ball long. It was clear that as much as the fans were getting used to seeing the new faces in the squad, the squad were also having to adjust to each other.
It was the Cumbria side that would have the better of the early exchanges, hitting the woodwork and missing the target from point blank range, but FC would hit well with ling ball play almost releasing Charlie Munro, but that move came to nothing.
The game struggled to take any sort of shape with both sides adjusting to the rigour of pre-season, but FC had their best chance of the game came in the 16th minute as the ball was played to Jay Fitzmartin who delicately played the ball around the 18-yard-box, but the move and the resulting penalty appeals came to nought.
The best change of the game would fall the way of Ged Garner, the Barrow number six as his vicious strike from outside the box stuck the crossbar. FC managed to clear the ball and the game returned to its state of attrition.
Barrow emerged from the half time break looking the better side and forcing the early chances. They played a corner into the box in the early exchanges which whistled just over the bar.
FC were growing into the game as they looked to incorporate an entire bench of changes, and they were knocking the ball about with real confidence and swagger in the face of their League Two opponents.
Barrow appeared to carry the most threat from set plays, as they whipped corners into the box searching for the head of one of their marauding centre-forwards, but FC managed to defend well as a unit and nullify each threat.
The best chance of the second half would once again fall the way of the visitors, however the reflexes of the FC goalkeeper Pat Boyle were enough to push the ball away for a corner. This corner was played in quickly, and as the ball was worked onto the boot of the attacker, FC’s new number one got down to gather smartly.
The game would lose almost all of its momentum after this, and a spell of midfield play from both sides would become much more conservative. This was until the 76th minute where Tyrell Warren would finally manage to penetrate the FC defences as the ball was played in from the left-hand side, with Warren underneath it to tuck it in from close range.
An excellent run that came from the embers of an FC attack nearly led to a second for the away side as a trialist for Barrow managed to ride three challenges before the attack broke down thanks to a wayward pass.
Barrow would have a second moments later, as Tyrell Warren added to his personal tally by making it a brace. The ball fell to him just inside the box in the 86th minute, and it was stroked past the goalkeeper and in off the post.
The game was effectively over at this point as the wind was taken out of FC sails, but the reds still have much to be optimistic about after a solid overall display against a side three levels above them in the football pyramid.
Speaking after the game, FC Manager Neil Reynolds said:
“I’ve missed the place. The ground looks immaculate, the pitch looks good, and the game was good! I can’t speak highly enough of Pete Wild and his management staff and players. It’s clear that since we played Barrow in the trophy and got slapped by seven that we’ve come a long way.
“I thought in the first half we were excellent; we could have been one up if things had gone our way. We made changes at half time, and we tailed off a little in the last twenty minutes but that is to be expected.
“I’m going away a very happy manager tonight, there's lots there to build on and we look forward to the next test at home to Altrincham on Tuesday night.
Website Man of the match – Charlie Oliver
Match Report by Callum Scott
