FC United beat nine men Boston for first win of season
FC United beat nine men Boston United 2-1 at Broadhurst Park on Saturday afternoon to record our first win of season at the sixth attempt.
Nathan Lowe broke the deadlock on seven minutes from the penalty spot and Connor McCarthy added a well taken second goal eight minutes before the break.
Boston had two players sent off after the interval for two separate fouls before scoring a consolation goal one minute from the end through Adam Chapman.
Coming into the game, FC United were rooted to the bottom of the Vanarama National League North with just one point from five games. The Reds needed a win to get our season up and running, so it was fantastic that Lowe was able to settle any nerves with an early penalty.
Boston responded brightly and took the game to FC United. After a couple of half chances, the visitors should have been level when Greg Smith was played through one-on-one with goalkeeper Lloyd Allinson. However, the big forward took a terrible touch to force himself wide of the goal before aiming a hopeful shot high and wide of the far post. It was a major let off for the Reds.
Ten minutes before the break, Boston did have the ball in the net but only after Jack Cowgill had pushed Allinson over his goalline with the ball in his hands. The referee awarding a free-kick.
FC United went straight down the other end and doubled the lead. McCarthy was played in on the left and coolly slotted the ball home from the edge of the box to make it 2-0.
The Reds saw out the rest of the half and went into the break with a two goal cushion. Moments after the restart, Smith lunged in with a reckless challenge on Scott Kay near the halfway line and he was sent off for the second time this season.
The day went from bad to worse for the Pilgrims 12 minutes later when Brad McGowan was given a straight red card for pushing Jason Gilchrist in the back on the edge of the box when he was through on goal. It was arguably a soft foul but it could also be argued it was a cynical ploy to stop the United striker from getting a shot on goal. Either way, the referee and his assistant took a dim view of it and McGowan was off to join Smith in the dressing room.
As you’d expect, FC United controlled the game against nine men. But disappointingly they failed to show any real cutting edge to make the two man advantage count. The only chance of note came around 10 minutes before the end. Substitute James Hooper hit the underside of the crossbar with a ferocious drive from 20 yards out after some patient build up play across the pitch.
Perhaps letting nerves get the better of them as they tried to see out the first - and much needed - victory of the season, the Reds conceded a well worked goal. Chapman poked home from close range after a low hard cross from Kabongo Tshimanga on the right.
Thankfully, the late goal didn’t affect the outcome of the match. FC United ran out winners and lifted themselves off the bottom of the table.
Website man of the match: Connor McCarthy. A well taken goal capped a lively performance. Could possibly have done better if his team mates had picked out his runs more often.
Report by Matthew Haley
FC United beat nine men Boston for first win of season
FC United beat nine men Boston United 2-1 at Broadhurst Park on Saturday afternoon to record our first win of season at the sixth attempt.
Nathan Lowe broke the deadlock on seven minutes from the penalty spot and Connor McCarthy added a well taken second goal eight minutes before the break.
Boston had two players sent off after the interval for two separate fouls before scoring a consolation goal one minute from the end through Adam Chapman.
Coming into the game, FC United were rooted to the bottom of the Vanarama National League North with just one point from five games. The Reds needed a win to get our season up and running, so it was fantastic that Lowe was able to settle any nerves with an early penalty.
Boston responded brightly and took the game to FC United. After a couple of half chances, the visitors should have been level when Greg Smith was played through one-on-one with goalkeeper Lloyd Allinson. However, the big forward took a terrible touch to force himself wide of the goal before aiming a hopeful shot high and wide of the far post. It was a major let off for the Reds.
Ten minutes before the break, Boston did have the ball in the net but only after Jack Cowgill had pushed Allinson over his goalline with the ball in his hands. The referee awarding a free-kick.
FC United went straight down the other end and doubled the lead. McCarthy was played in on the left and coolly slotted the ball home from the edge of the box to make it 2-0.
The Reds saw out the rest of the half and went into the break with a two goal cushion. Moments after the restart, Smith lunged in with a reckless challenge on Scott Kay near the halfway line and he was sent off for the second time this season.
The day went from bad to worse for the Pilgrims 12 minutes later when Brad McGowan was given a straight red card for pushing Jason Gilchrist in the back on the edge of the box when he was through on goal. It was arguably a soft foul but it could also be argued it was a cynical ploy to stop the United striker from getting a shot on goal. Either way, the referee and his assistant took a dim view of it and McGowan was off to join Smith in the dressing room.
As you’d expect, FC United controlled the game against nine men. But disappointingly they failed to show any real cutting edge to make the two man advantage count. The only chance of note came around 10 minutes before the end. Substitute James Hooper hit the underside of the crossbar with a ferocious drive from 20 yards out after some patient build up play across the pitch.
Perhaps letting nerves get the better of them as they tried to see out the first - and much needed - victory of the season, the Reds conceded a well worked goal. Chapman poked home from close range after a low hard cross from Kabongo Tshimanga on the right.
Thankfully, the late goal didn’t affect the outcome of the match. FC United ran out winners and lifted themselves off the bottom of the table.
Website man of the match: Connor McCarthy. A well taken goal capped a lively performance. Could possibly have done better if his team mates had picked out his runs more often.
Report by Matthew Haley
