Curzon overturn first half deficit as FC exit Manchester Premier Cup
Mark Beesley suffered his first defeat as FC United boss after the Reds were knocked out of the Frank Hannah Manchester Premier cup by National League North's Curzon Ashton.
Jay Fitzmartin gave FC a deserved lead at the interval, however Curzon turned the tide in the second half, enjoying a late flurry to see themselves into the second round at the expense of a youthful United side.
Mark Bradshaw made several changes to the Curzon side that beat Buxton 1-0 at the weekend, and were put on the back foot through the opening quarter of an hour. FC’s first attempt on goal came in the 15th minute, with Charlie Ennis firing low past ‘keeper Josh Ollerenshaw’s right post after the Reds skipper was found just inside the penalty area.
Early pressure from FC soon resulted in Beesley’s side taking the lead, as Fitzmartin opened the scoring for the hosts in the 19th minute. A perfectly-weighted pass from Dec Evans set Joe Ferguson away down the right flank, with the fullback playing the ball across the box to find the run of Fitzmartin, who finished high at Ollerenshaw’s near post.
Immediately after going a goal down, the Nash produced their best opening of the first half. Cameron Tetlow was afforded time on the left flank to deliver into the box, with Charlie Bingley meeting the cross with a header that looped just over Charlie Casper’s goal.
FC continued to apply pressure following the opener and came very close to doubling their advantage just shy of 25 minutes, hitting the bar twice in as many attempts. The first meeting with the woodwork came courtesy of Charlie Munro’s long range effort, which took a slight nick as it looped over the Curzon ‘keeper and skimmed the crossbar on its way out for corner. From said corner it was Jan Palinkas’ turn to hit the bar, meeting Ennis’ lofted delivery at the back post with a header.
Dec McLoughlin was a bright spark for the home side throughout the opening 45 minutes, with the midfielder twice testing Ollerenshaw with low efforts as a result of positive link-up play from the Reds.
United were dealt a blow just before half time; goalscorer Jay Fitzmartin, having only recently returned to the fold following a hamstring injury, was forced off in the 40th minute with a knock.
Half Time: FC United 1-0 Curzon Ashton
The visitors enjoyed more of the ball following the restart, with Bradshaw looking to the bench with the staggered introductions of Jordan Richards, Stefan Mols and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts. The crisp passing displayed by FC in the first half failed to click into place after half time, allowing the away side the chance to take a stronger hold on proceedings.
Curzon levelled the scoring just ahead of the 70 minute mark thanks to Luis Lacey’s equaliser. Michael Afuye, who had started the game on the right flank, flashed a low ball across the goalmouth from the left side, evading all inside the box until it reached Lacey at the back post.
United’s failure to replicate their first half performance eventually saw the lead turned around, with Afuye heading home a second away goal in the 79th minute. A cross towards the back post went undealt with by the Reds defensive, with Casper unable to keep out Afuye’s header back across goal as it looped over the FC ‘keeper and nestled inside his left-hand post.
The home side’s late attempts to restore parity were ineffective, as Curzon went on to put the tie beyond doubt in added time with two late goals from second half substitutes. The first, coming after Lacey’s driven effort fell straight into the path of Mols via the foot of the post. Moments after the restart, a mix-up at the back for FC saw Buckley-Ricketts pick up the ball at the edge of the area, finishing into a vacant net to further the visitors’ lead.
A disappointing score line in the end, however a quintet of teenage appearances in the second half provide means for optimism as FC continue to battle against an array of absentees.
Report by Finn Honeywood
Curzon overturn first half deficit as FC exit Manchester Premier Cup
Mark Beesley suffered his first defeat as FC United boss after the Reds were knocked out of the Frank Hannah Manchester Premier cup by National League North's Curzon Ashton.
Jay Fitzmartin gave FC a deserved lead at the interval, however Curzon turned the tide in the second half, enjoying a late flurry to see themselves into the second round at the expense of a youthful United side.
Mark Bradshaw made several changes to the Curzon side that beat Buxton 1-0 at the weekend, and were put on the back foot through the opening quarter of an hour. FC’s first attempt on goal came in the 15th minute, with Charlie Ennis firing low past ‘keeper Josh Ollerenshaw’s right post after the Reds skipper was found just inside the penalty area.
Early pressure from FC soon resulted in Beesley’s side taking the lead, as Fitzmartin opened the scoring for the hosts in the 19th minute. A perfectly-weighted pass from Dec Evans set Joe Ferguson away down the right flank, with the fullback playing the ball across the box to find the run of Fitzmartin, who finished high at Ollerenshaw’s near post.
Immediately after going a goal down, the Nash produced their best opening of the first half. Cameron Tetlow was afforded time on the left flank to deliver into the box, with Charlie Bingley meeting the cross with a header that looped just over Charlie Casper’s goal.
FC continued to apply pressure following the opener and came very close to doubling their advantage just shy of 25 minutes, hitting the bar twice in as many attempts. The first meeting with the woodwork came courtesy of Charlie Munro’s long range effort, which took a slight nick as it looped over the Curzon ‘keeper and skimmed the crossbar on its way out for corner. From said corner it was Jan Palinkas’ turn to hit the bar, meeting Ennis’ lofted delivery at the back post with a header.
Dec McLoughlin was a bright spark for the home side throughout the opening 45 minutes, with the midfielder twice testing Ollerenshaw with low efforts as a result of positive link-up play from the Reds.
United were dealt a blow just before half time; goalscorer Jay Fitzmartin, having only recently returned to the fold following a hamstring injury, was forced off in the 40th minute with a knock.
Half Time: FC United 1-0 Curzon Ashton
The visitors enjoyed more of the ball following the restart, with Bradshaw looking to the bench with the staggered introductions of Jordan Richards, Stefan Mols and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts. The crisp passing displayed by FC in the first half failed to click into place after half time, allowing the away side the chance to take a stronger hold on proceedings.
Curzon levelled the scoring just ahead of the 70 minute mark thanks to Luis Lacey’s equaliser. Michael Afuye, who had started the game on the right flank, flashed a low ball across the goalmouth from the left side, evading all inside the box until it reached Lacey at the back post.
United’s failure to replicate their first half performance eventually saw the lead turned around, with Afuye heading home a second away goal in the 79th minute. A cross towards the back post went undealt with by the Reds defensive, with Casper unable to keep out Afuye’s header back across goal as it looped over the FC ‘keeper and nestled inside his left-hand post.
The home side’s late attempts to restore parity were ineffective, as Curzon went on to put the tie beyond doubt in added time with two late goals from second half substitutes. The first, coming after Lacey’s driven effort fell straight into the path of Mols via the foot of the post. Moments after the restart, a mix-up at the back for FC saw Buckley-Ricketts pick up the ball at the edge of the area, finishing into a vacant net to further the visitors’ lead.
A disappointing score line in the end, however a quintet of teenage appearances in the second half provide means for optimism as FC continue to battle against an array of absentees.
Report by Finn Honeywood
