Match Report

FC United were knocked out of the Carlsberg FA Trophy 3rd round qualifier 3-1 by Boston United on Wednesday night at Gigg Lane as the Reds failed to convert chances – gaining a mere consolation goal from Papis Dieyte.

United missed early chances to put them in front and Ollie Ryan made them pay by putting Boston ahead on 33 minutes. The home side continued to have possession and more chances until Boston put in a dangerous corner to meet the free header of Liam Parker who made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time.

The Reds came out strong after the interval but Boston put the final nail in the coffin 20 minutes after the restart when Parker grabbed his second goal of the match with another free header from a corner to make it 3-0.

Karl Marginson’s side hit back quickly with a deflected long range shot by Dieyte in the 70th minute but they had left themselves too much to do to get the match back on level terms and so the cup campaign came to a premature end.

The match kicked off on a cold night at Gigg Lane with both sides trying to reach the 1st round of the Carlsberg FA Trophy where AFC Telford where waiting to play the victors. United started strong, keeping possession and putting together long runs of passes.

Kyle Wilson had the first chance of the match in the second minute after Jerome Wright and Carlos Roca linked up well. Wilson volleyed the ball through a crowded penalty area to produce a brilliant from Boston’s keeper Martyn Margarson.

Margarson was soon troubled again in the eigth minute when a great through ball by Wright released Wilson down the right. The striker’s cross to the back post was met by a thunderous shot from Roca but the keeper was equal to it.

Minutes later Boston’s Adam Millson made a run down the wing and put a ball in for an unmarked Jon Froggatt to miss at the far post.

United soon had another opportunity when a short header by Boston fell to Roca to fire a ball to the back post for Wilson to miss the header.

It was in the 33nd minute where a 50-50 ball spun loose between Simon Garner and Adam Millson to fall to Jon Froggatt who put in a back post cross. Sam Ashton was left back pedalling and was unable to get there before Wes Parker, who headed across goal for the unmarked Ryan to tap in.

Matters were made worse 10 minutes later when Adam Turner had to be substituted after picking up an injury, fortunately Rob Nugent was able to slot straight in as the young defender’s replacement.

United nearly got an equaliser in the 44th minute when a superb ball by Jerome Wright fell neatly at Roca’s feet who fired a shot at Boston’s keeper who could only and parry and was cleared off the line by Boston’s defence.

However, United’s pressure did not phase Boston who went on the counter attack and long range shot led to Ashton back pedalling again to push the ball behind for a corner. United’s lack of clinical finishing was soon punished by Boston’s number 6 Parker who was left unmarked from the resulting corner to make it 2-0.

After the break, the Reds continued their attacking drive from the first half and a great free kick by Wilson nearly gave them a way back into the game but was narrowly wide. United looked certain to score when Rob Nugent put a ball into the six-yard box for Simon Carden to head over the bar.

Despite the pressure, Boston closed out the game by a adding a third in the 67 minute after United failed to clear another corner allowing an unmarked Parker to head home his second goal of the night.

Reds manager Karl Marginson quickly made changes bringing on Nick Robinson for Garner and Chris Baguely for Simon Carden.

Two minutes later, United grabbed a consolation goal which gave the fans something to cheer about. After a run of seven consecutive passes Dieyte unleashed a shot which deflected off a Boston defender - wrong footing the keeper and looping into the bottom corner.

This gave United some spirit and they nearly added another as they desperately tried to claw the game back. A weighted ball to the back post from Wright saw Robinson slide the ball across the keeper and the goal mouth only for his shot to narrowly miss the bottom corner.

The visitors continued to press forward and at the other end a clever chip from Lee Beeson produced a superb save out of Ashton to keep FC United in the match. Boston closed the game out with few chances for either team meaning the Reds were knocked out of the cup at last hurdle before the first round proper.

Report by Joel Duncan.