Match Report

FC United followed up Saturday’s 1-0 win over Rushall Olympic with a frustrating goalless draw at home to Blyth Spartans on Tuesday evening.

A much bigger blow to United was seeing both Michael Norton and Scott Cheetham stretchered from the field with serious looking injuries.

United started the game well enough looking to build some momentum with Norton firing an early shot straight at Peter Jeffries in the visiting goal.

Matthew Wolfenden looked bright throughout and had a great chance to score when he raced through and got onto a ball, but saw his effort go just over the Spartans goal.

Norton was another who; as always, looked hungry going forward and perhaps should have scored when he got through one-on-one at the edge of the box but dragged his shot wide of the goal.

Norton’s injury came as he raced through trying to get onto another through ball and went into a 50/50 challenge with Jeffries. When FC United’s durable number nine stayed on the floor you got the feeling something had to be wrong.

For most of the first half United looked solid but not spectacular with moves breaking down all to often before they hit the final third of the pitch.

The second half began at a much better tempo with Craig Litchfield setting the tone with a cross fired in from the right which was just out of the reach of Wolfenden and then Cheetham at the far post. With Cheetham staying down at the far post, before being stretchered off the pitch.

Wolfenden had perhaps the best chance to get a goal, as he showed some great skill to make an opportunity out of nothing before seeing a wonderfully placed effort from outside the box beat Jeffries before bouncing clear off the crossbar.

Jerome Wright added his usual pace down the left after being brought on to replace the injured Cheetham and this brought something different to the United attack, with Daniels getting his head to a cross from the left but the chance went over the bar.

Everytime United got a little bit of momentum going forwardthe game was broken up by refereeing decisions that saw a free kick seemingly given every couple of minutes and the second half never really got going into any kind of flow as United frustratingly had to settle for yet another draw.

United now take a weekend off from league duties as they welcome on old foe in the form of Padiham in the FA Trophy on Sunday, before getting back into the swing of things away to Buxton next Tuesday.

Website man of the match: Matthew Wolfenden - In a frustrating game where it was hard to get into a flow, Wolfie looked to get his foot on the ball and make something happen. Coming closest of all with his second half effort hitting the crossbar.

Report by Craig Phillips