FC United come undone as Gainsborough Trinity go top
FC United of Manchester succumbed to a 3-1 home to Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday afternoon during a thrilling, competitive game of football.
Despite a spirited performance from the Reds and a goal courtesy of Dontai Gabidon in the 61st minute, Gainsborough left North Manchester with three hard-earned point, with goals from three different goal scorers – a result that sends them to the top of the Pitching In Northern Premier League.
Meanwhile, Neil Reynolds’ side have fallen to seventh place, after being top of the table just three weeks ago.
This was always going to be a tough game for The Reds as they came up against a physically imposing and competitive Trinity side, who were enjoying an unbeaten spell of 11 games going into the match.
For their part the home team were arguably the better side in terms of chances created and spells of possession, but they will rue their inability to take their chances, especially against a team increasingly looking like the league's real pace-setters going into the festive period.
A healthy crowd of 1,847 was in attendance as FC United made several changes to the side which started Tuesday's Fenix Trophy match against KSK Beveren. A debut was handed to Connor Stanley, a well-regarded young winger who has joined the club on loan from Bolton Wanderers.
Both sides enjoyed a bright start to proceedings with FC United missing an early chance at goal from Callum Gribbin, who aimed fire at the top left corner only to draw a clawed save from Gainsborough 'keeper Matt Yates.
At the other end, the Blues' Harry Lewis was unlucky not to connect with an incisive ball played across the area from forward Curtis Durose.
It wasn't long before the visitors took the lead, with midfielder Liam Waldock making the most of a ball that fell favourably to him through a scuffed clearance. He lifted a shot that sailed into the far, right corner of goal, past Dan Lavercombe.
After that early opener, FC United seemed stirred into action, but were plagued by a real inability to finish their opportunities in the first half. Stanley shot wide when the goal was at his mercy, the usually lethal Regan Linney curled a shot just wide of the top corner, and Gribbin forced Yates into a close range save right on his goal line moments before halftime.
The Reds deserved to be level at least, but frustratingly they drew a blank in the first 35 minutes, giving Reynolds plenty to chew over at half time.
Whatever the manager said to the team during the break, the home side were rocked just five minutes into the second half when Gainsborough had their second of the match. Some fine link-up play from the away side allowed Harry Lewis to receive the ball on the left side of the penalty area.
The Holy Blues' player deftly played himself into a pocket of space before sending a searing shot low and hard towards the opposite corner goal from a tight angle. United needed a quick response and, following on from a penalty shout for Linney, which was denied by the referee, salvation seemed to come via substitute Gabidon, who scored a mere 50 seconds after coming onto the pitch.
The Reds' forward chested down a beautiful lofted ball into the box from Gribbin, before calmly slotting his shot under an onrushing Yates to make it 2-1 and hand the Reds a lifeline in the game.
Mere moments later, Gabidon went close to grabbing an equaliser, as he sent a looping shot at goal from the left side of the box, only to force a fine save from Yates who stretched out to push the ball onto the bar and out of play.
If FC thought that they had earned a hard-won toehold back into the game they were brought back down to earth just moments later. Trinity played the ball around with real purpose before a well hit pass from deep midfield found Curtis Durose on the right wing, where he calmly chipped a cultured shot into the net over Lavercombe, for his side's third goal.
FC fought hard to get back into the game, and a flurry of good chances did open up for the hosts in the final 20 minutes. Another opportunity came for Gabidon, as the young winger ran at the defence from the righthand side of play, sending a shot spiralling towards the Trinity goal, only to meet a comfortable save from Yates.
Later, substitute Max McCarthy sent a well-placed shot fizzing at goal only to see it once again deftly dealt with by the impressive Yates.
Credit then goes to the away side, who played clinical football for the duration of the afternoon, playing the ball around with intent, unafraid to use their clear physical advantage and crucially, able to take their chances.
FC United can reflect on a dogged performance which, despite not yielding any return in terms of points, demonstrates that they can compete with the best teams in the league.
Website man of the match: Dontai Gabidon. An impact substitution who brought invention and movement to FC United's forward line.
Report by Sam Turner
FC United come undone as Gainsborough Trinity go top
FC United of Manchester succumbed to a 3-1 home to Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday afternoon during a thrilling, competitive game of football.
Despite a spirited performance from the Reds and a goal courtesy of Dontai Gabidon in the 61st minute, Gainsborough left North Manchester with three hard-earned point, with goals from three different goal scorers – a result that sends them to the top of the Pitching In Northern Premier League.
Meanwhile, Neil Reynolds’ side have fallen to seventh place, after being top of the table just three weeks ago.
This was always going to be a tough game for The Reds as they came up against a physically imposing and competitive Trinity side, who were enjoying an unbeaten spell of 11 games going into the match.
For their part the home team were arguably the better side in terms of chances created and spells of possession, but they will rue their inability to take their chances, especially against a team increasingly looking like the league's real pace-setters going into the festive period.
A healthy crowd of 1,847 was in attendance as FC United made several changes to the side which started Tuesday's Fenix Trophy match against KSK Beveren. A debut was handed to Connor Stanley, a well-regarded young winger who has joined the club on loan from Bolton Wanderers.
Both sides enjoyed a bright start to proceedings with FC United missing an early chance at goal from Callum Gribbin, who aimed fire at the top left corner only to draw a clawed save from Gainsborough 'keeper Matt Yates.
At the other end, the Blues' Harry Lewis was unlucky not to connect with an incisive ball played across the area from forward Curtis Durose.
It wasn't long before the visitors took the lead, with midfielder Liam Waldock making the most of a ball that fell favourably to him through a scuffed clearance. He lifted a shot that sailed into the far, right corner of goal, past Dan Lavercombe.
After that early opener, FC United seemed stirred into action, but were plagued by a real inability to finish their opportunities in the first half. Stanley shot wide when the goal was at his mercy, the usually lethal Regan Linney curled a shot just wide of the top corner, and Gribbin forced Yates into a close range save right on his goal line moments before halftime.
The Reds deserved to be level at least, but frustratingly they drew a blank in the first 35 minutes, giving Reynolds plenty to chew over at half time.
Whatever the manager said to the team during the break, the home side were rocked just five minutes into the second half when Gainsborough had their second of the match. Some fine link-up play from the away side allowed Harry Lewis to receive the ball on the left side of the penalty area.
The Holy Blues' player deftly played himself into a pocket of space before sending a searing shot low and hard towards the opposite corner goal from a tight angle. United needed a quick response and, following on from a penalty shout for Linney, which was denied by the referee, salvation seemed to come via substitute Gabidon, who scored a mere 50 seconds after coming onto the pitch.
The Reds' forward chested down a beautiful lofted ball into the box from Gribbin, before calmly slotting his shot under an onrushing Yates to make it 2-1 and hand the Reds a lifeline in the game.
Mere moments later, Gabidon went close to grabbing an equaliser, as he sent a looping shot at goal from the left side of the box, only to force a fine save from Yates who stretched out to push the ball onto the bar and out of play.
If FC thought that they had earned a hard-won toehold back into the game they were brought back down to earth just moments later. Trinity played the ball around with real purpose before a well hit pass from deep midfield found Curtis Durose on the right wing, where he calmly chipped a cultured shot into the net over Lavercombe, for his side's third goal.
FC fought hard to get back into the game, and a flurry of good chances did open up for the hosts in the final 20 minutes. Another opportunity came for Gabidon, as the young winger ran at the defence from the righthand side of play, sending a shot spiralling towards the Trinity goal, only to meet a comfortable save from Yates.
Later, substitute Max McCarthy sent a well-placed shot fizzing at goal only to see it once again deftly dealt with by the impressive Yates.
Credit then goes to the away side, who played clinical football for the duration of the afternoon, playing the ball around with intent, unafraid to use their clear physical advantage and crucially, able to take their chances.
FC United can reflect on a dogged performance which, despite not yielding any return in terms of points, demonstrates that they can compete with the best teams in the league.
Website man of the match: Dontai Gabidon. An impact substitution who brought invention and movement to FC United's forward line.
Report by Sam Turner
