Match Report

Le Fondre strike cancels out Emley's first half lead as FC come back to claim a point at Broadhurst Park

It was a cagey start to the contest with both sides unable to maintain possession.

However, it would be the visitors who would create the first big chance of the game. In the 9th minute, a cross was delivered to the back post calling FC's number 1 Dan Atherton into action to deny the opposition’s headed effort at goal with the rebound being dragged narrowly wide of the near post. FC were given an early wake up call.

FC's best chance of the game came in the 14th minute with Jordan Buckley breaking down the left flank before popping it inside to Adam Le Fondre who opened his body on the edge of the box producing a powerful strike towards goal, which was spilt by Emley's number 1 with the rebound falling to FC's Niall Watson whose effort was blasted over the bar.

FC then had an even better opportunity to take the lead just 3 minutes later through a Dec Evans long throw. It was flicked on by Buckley into the 6-yard box landing at the feet of Watson, whose effort at goal was deflected off a defender comfortably landing in the hands of opposition’s keeper.

The next big opportunity came in the 20th minute for visitors when they saw a headed attempt at goal from a corner be cleared off the line by FC's Le Fondre to keep the scores level.

2 minutes later FC's next opportunity came when Buckley broke down the left beating his man and cutting in just dragging his shot wide of the far post.

It was the visitors who came close again to taking the lead in the 26th minute but were unable to beat Atherton who produced a spectacular double save. First at his near post after nearly being caught out by a cross, before getting across his goal and down low to the left corner to deny Girolamo’s  rebounded effort.

It was Emley who started to grow into the game with Atherton being called into action on a couple of occasions.

And with a minute left of the half, it was the visitors who took the lead. Created by Alexander Kiwomya who ran through the FC midfield before slipping a pass in behind the FC defence to Aaron Haswell whose well placed shot across goal was well matched by Atherton, with the ball unfortunately falling to Gabriel Johnson whose effort at goal was blocked on the line before bouncing up and being forced into the net by Rinor Ejupi to put the visitors into the lead with almost the last kick of the half.      

HT: FC United 0-1 Emley

With the disappointing end to the first half, FC made a triple change at the break which saw Andre Wisdom, Donald Chimalilo and Matt Fearnley and replacing Ruben Grewal, Jay Harris and Niall Watson.

The changes saw an instant impact as a flurry of chances came FC's way with Chimalilo's looping effort from distance being smartly tipped over the bar by the visitor's number 1. From the resulting corner Buckley saw his headed effort tipped just past the post as FC continued to push for the equaliser.

Almost immediately afterwards, Chimalilo’s attempt just grazed the bar as the hosts came closer to the equaliser.

There was a slight scare for FC as a slip from Evans allowed Coban Bird through Luckily striking the crossbar with the rebound being put wide by the visitors.

In the 59th minute FC finally found their equaliser. A clever cross from Matthew Devine was smartly laid off by Buckley to Adam Le Fondre whose fabulous effort from outside the box sailed into the top right corner of the net, instantly lifting the mood of the home crowd.

With FC pushing for the win, the home side thought they’d found the net again when Evans precise pass split the visitor’s defence and sent Le Fondre through 1 on 1 with the keeper. Le Fondre took it round him only for his attempt to be denied by a last-ditch block on the lone from Charles Barks.

A minute later FC were forced into a substitution, with Charlie Finney replacing Jordan Buckley.

FC continued to push for the win in the last 15 minutes of the game but were unable to capitalise on the chances. There was a slight scare in added time when Bird was played into the FC box however his effort was well wide of the target, much to the relief of the FC faithful. 

In the end FC had to settle for a well-earned point. The Reds go again in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday at 3:00pm against National League side Altrincham, as they look to make the First Round Proper of the competition for the first time since 2020.

FT: FC United 1-1 Emley

Match report by Theo Kimmins