Match Report
FC United’s 14-game unbeaten run came to an end at Gigg Lane on Saturday when a well-organised Buxton side defeated Margy’s men 2-1, despite the home side racing into an early lead after just three minutes.
The defeat is a setback to FC’s automatic promotion hopes but still leaves the club in second place in the league ahead of a home fixture against Grantham on Tuesday.
In the knowledge that three points on Youth United Day would keep the pressure on at the top of the table, the Reds made a strong start through Tom Greaves.
Charlie Raglan played the ball in from the right side for Mike Norton to head into the path of Jerome Wright. The United winger skipped past the defender and took his opportunity at the near post. His effort was initially parried by Andy Warrington but Greaves, lurking in the box, leapt on the loose ball and opened the scoring with the Buxton keeper still flailing.
A minute later, the Bucks came close via a free kick on the edge of the area. Jamie Green was the target man at the far post and narrowly missed out on an immediate equaliser. The visitors didn’t have to wait much longer to level the scores, Sam Brooks the provider on 10 minutes through another set piece. A corner came in and the centre half rose at the far post to head beyond Dave Carnell with the United players in the area bystanders.
Spurred on by Brooks’ goal, Buxton came forward and looked a threat, headed up by a three-man attack. One of the trio upfront, Matt Thornhill, tested Carnell half an hour in with a powerful low drive which the Reds’ keeper did well to palm wide.
United were struggling to keep possession and the Bucks were taking advantage. Lee Neville did have a decent chance towards the end of the half with a well-struck effort from the edge of the area which forced Warrington into a good save on the line. His FC counterpart, Carnell, was then called into action, tipping Lee Morris’ header over the bar to deny Buxton taking the lead.
In spite of Greaves’ early goal, Buxton certainly seemed to be working the harder of the two sides and the Reds were perhaps lucky not to be behind at the break.
Within minutes of the restart, United again rode their luck as a free header from a free kick sailed just over the cross bar and then on the hour mark, Thornhill profited from poor FC defending and put his side ahead. Neil Stevens played a simple through-ball to the striker who broke through the back line and slotted the ball past Carnell.
Marginson waited only three minutes to make a bold triple substitution. Matthew Wolfenden, Callum Byrne and Norton made way for Astley Mulholland, Joe Fox and Greg Daniels respectively.
The visitors continued to be on top and were through on goal, if not for Tom Davies pulling back Thornhill and picking up a booking in the process and exposing his side to a further set piece which luckily this time did not threaten.
Looking back a few days to the late comeback against Chorley, the Reds were urged on to emulate a similar feat, however Buxton remained resolute and were equal to anything United threw their way. The final whistle signalled a disappointing defeat at a vital point in the run-in. All credit to the Bucks who out-performed United on the day and deserved to take three points back to Derbyshire.
Whilst the result on the pitch was an obvious spanner in the works for automatic promotion, a positive must be taken from another successful Youth United Day in which a fantastic attendance of 3330 was recorded.
Report by Victoria Fullen.
Website Man of the Match: Dean Stott – worked hard all afternoon to urge every effort from those around him.
Match Report
FC United’s 14-game unbeaten run came to an end at Gigg Lane on Saturday when a well-organised Buxton side defeated Margy’s men 2-1, despite the home side racing into an early lead after just three minutes.
The defeat is a setback to FC’s automatic promotion hopes but still leaves the club in second place in the league ahead of a home fixture against Grantham on Tuesday.
In the knowledge that three points on Youth United Day would keep the pressure on at the top of the table, the Reds made a strong start through Tom Greaves.
Charlie Raglan played the ball in from the right side for Mike Norton to head into the path of Jerome Wright. The United winger skipped past the defender and took his opportunity at the near post. His effort was initially parried by Andy Warrington but Greaves, lurking in the box, leapt on the loose ball and opened the scoring with the Buxton keeper still flailing.
A minute later, the Bucks came close via a free kick on the edge of the area. Jamie Green was the target man at the far post and narrowly missed out on an immediate equaliser. The visitors didn’t have to wait much longer to level the scores, Sam Brooks the provider on 10 minutes through another set piece. A corner came in and the centre half rose at the far post to head beyond Dave Carnell with the United players in the area bystanders.
Spurred on by Brooks’ goal, Buxton came forward and looked a threat, headed up by a three-man attack. One of the trio upfront, Matt Thornhill, tested Carnell half an hour in with a powerful low drive which the Reds’ keeper did well to palm wide.
United were struggling to keep possession and the Bucks were taking advantage. Lee Neville did have a decent chance towards the end of the half with a well-struck effort from the edge of the area which forced Warrington into a good save on the line. His FC counterpart, Carnell, was then called into action, tipping Lee Morris’ header over the bar to deny Buxton taking the lead.
In spite of Greaves’ early goal, Buxton certainly seemed to be working the harder of the two sides and the Reds were perhaps lucky not to be behind at the break.
Within minutes of the restart, United again rode their luck as a free header from a free kick sailed just over the cross bar and then on the hour mark, Thornhill profited from poor FC defending and put his side ahead. Neil Stevens played a simple through-ball to the striker who broke through the back line and slotted the ball past Carnell.
Marginson waited only three minutes to make a bold triple substitution. Matthew Wolfenden, Callum Byrne and Norton made way for Astley Mulholland, Joe Fox and Greg Daniels respectively.
The visitors continued to be on top and were through on goal, if not for Tom Davies pulling back Thornhill and picking up a booking in the process and exposing his side to a further set piece which luckily this time did not threaten.
Looking back a few days to the late comeback against Chorley, the Reds were urged on to emulate a similar feat, however Buxton remained resolute and were equal to anything United threw their way. The final whistle signalled a disappointing defeat at a vital point in the run-in. All credit to the Bucks who out-performed United on the day and deserved to take three points back to Derbyshire.
Whilst the result on the pitch was an obvious spanner in the works for automatic promotion, a positive must be taken from another successful Youth United Day in which a fantastic attendance of 3330 was recorded.
Report by Victoria Fullen.
Website Man of the Match: Dean Stott – worked hard all afternoon to urge every effort from those around him.
