Match Report

FC and Trinity Fight It Out In The Manchester Rain

Sitting in third place with just three points separating FC and the top of the table, a victory against Gainsborough Trinity would see the Reds keep up the pressure on the leaders. However it would prove to be a difficult contest against the opposition sitting in fifth place and boasting the best away record in the league. 

In the opening stages, Trinity looked quite threatening on the right-hand side, though despite this they were not able to get through the United backline. 

A big opportunity fell to FC United in the 5th minute thanks to some magnificent play from Michael Donohue, beating his marker down the right-hand flank. His ball into the box fell to Charlie Ennis who forced David Robson into an early stop.

Just a few minutes later, Charlie Ennis had the ball on the right-hand side and looked to test Robson again, however it ended up in the keeper's hands. Promising signs in the early doors for the home side.

In the 22nd minute, FC United came even closer to breaking the deadlock, as a great ball from Donohue found top goal scorer Adam Le Fondre, whose shot forced Robson into making yet again another fine save from close range.

Two minutes later, referee Jake Burton handed out his first card of the game to Matthew Devine after a late tackle trying to deny a Trinity attacker getting into the box. 

The resulting free kick found the head of Sisa Tuntuwana, with it falling perfectly for Harrison Beeden who poked the ball past Dan Atherton at close range to break the deadlock.

The Reds immediately looked to get back into the game, with Donohue played through by Le Fondre, but he was again denied by David Robson who was having a blinder of a game between the sticks.

With the February weather playing its usual tricks, the heavy rain made it really difficult for both sets of teams to compete, with standing water pooling along the touchline. 

Whilst their lead was against the run of play, it was clear that the away side carried an abundance of threat going forward, as their counter attack led Tuntalwana testing Atherton at his near post. 

Referee Jake Burton blew for half-time, and despite FC United being the better side and creating some goal-deserving chances, they went in 0-1 down at the break.

Despite some discussion between the officials and both benches over the condition of the pitch, the game soon kicked back off under the traditional Manchester rain.

The Reds pressed forward straight from the kick-off. A good move saw Adam Sudworth find Le Fondre in space in the box. His shot across the face of the goal beat Robson but went inches wide of the far post. FC were very much on the front foot as they searched for that deserved equaliser.

With the rain continuing to fall, the conditions were leading to a cagey and physically-demanding contest with the pitch increasingly difficult to play on.

A scuffle ensued in the 55th minute after Donohue collided with goalkeeper Robson in an attempt to get to the ball. Robson, along with Matty Grivosti, were both cautioned by the referee for their part in the incident.

Continuing to grow into the game, the Reds pushed forward to find an equaliser, and in the 66th minute, they found it. An excellent play on the left hand flank saw the ball crossed into the box. It was left by substitute Jordan Buckley, finding Le Fondre in acres of space ten yards out. His shot sent Robson the wrong way, nestling into left hand corner, giving the main man his 12th goal of the season in his 28 appearances.

With the United faithful in full voice behind the goal, the equaliser gave the home side huge momentum as they went in search for another goal.

However the visitors were still well in the game. A back pass from a United defender back to the goalkeeper, got caught up on the soggy pitch slowed the ball up. The Gainsborough attacker kept the ball in play, and his shot drew an excellent stop from Dan Atherton to prevent the Holy Blues from retaking the lead.

Edging into the 82nd minute, a foul was committed on the edge of the box, giving the away side a chance to steal the points with a free kick in a dangerous position. However, Fraser Preston wasn’t able to convert the opportunity and the ball was bundled away by the Red shirts in the box.

Both teams were trying to find a winner, however almost every attack was slowed up by the ever-increasing amount of standing water on the pitch.

There was controversy in the 87th minute, as the Reds were denied what looked like a clear penalty after Buckley was pulled down in the area. The referee waved play on, with Le Fondre then firing a shot from 20 yards which was spilled by Robson, but he managed to recover and gather the ball ahead of the onrushing Buckley.

At the other end, the away side sent Williams through on goal, however excellent goalkeeping from Atherton stopped the visitors scoring a late winner. 

In the 93rd minute, it was FC who almost nicked it. With Robson way out of his goal, an attempted clearance was slowed up on the wet pitch and fell to the feet of Fitzmartin. His shot from the left flank flew agonisingly wide of the far post.

After a game with both teams showing their quality in increasingly difficult conditions, the referee blew for full-time, with the game ending 1-1.

Overall, it was a strong performance from Mark Beesley’s side to fight back to earn a well-deserved point against a strong Gainsborough Trinity. Beesley’s Reds remain in third place, four points behind leaders Hednesford Town, but with a game in hand.

Report by Ashley Potter