Match Report
FC United move to within three points of league leaders Chorley with three games to go after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Grantham Town at Bower Fold, thanks to a second half brace from Matthew Wolfenden and well taken header from Tom Greaves.
After losing at home to Buxton on Saturday, the Reds successfully got back to winning ways but it took us until the 65th minute to break the deadlock when Wolfenden slotted in from close range. Three minute later, Greaves doubled the score by heading home an Astley Mulholland cross and Wolfenden put the icing on the cake two minutes from time by springing the offside trap to add the third.
With FC United now needing a major slip up from Chorley in order for us to win the title, the first half was a little flat on both the terraces and the pitch but when the Reds got going in the second half they eased past their opponents.
With a play-off pace already in the bag, manager Karl Marginson took the opportunity to make a few changes to the starting XI and some of the players who came in took their chance to give impressive performances.
Two such players were Greg Daniels and Mulholland who inked up well during the first period and could have well put United in front. Good interplay on the left flank before Mulholland’s cross come shot was snuffed out at the near post.
With large periods of the first half going by without United looking like they would take the lead, the Reds turned up the pressure just before the break with a Charlie Raglan header from a corner just going over the bar.
But it was in the second half where the Reds took it up another gear and once substitute Mike Norton got into the game he and Greaves linked up to their usual high standards. Soon after Norton’s introduction, Greaves showed great control in the box, switching the ball between his feet and rolling the ball just agonisingly wide of the post.
FC United eventually took the lead when a cross from the right saw Wolfenden get the ball in the box and show great composure to fire home, easing any nerves that may have been building after the weekend’s result.
With that pressure lifted, FC United started to click and soon they found themselves two goals up after a great cross from the left found Greaves at the far post, who nodded the ball down for a well taken goal.
From this point on, the Reds strolled to the finishing line, with a real positive coming down the left flank with the speed of Mulholland and substitute Wright giving the opposition defence all kinds of problems.
Wolfenden bagged his second and United’s third with seconds left on the clock to put the Reds three points off the top.
The two games over the Easter weekend will ultimately decide if United will have to settle for the play-offs for the fourth season in a row, or if they can go into the final weekend with a chance of catching Chorley at the top.
Man of the match: Matthew Wolfenden – showed great composure to give United the lead and in turn fired the Reds to another victory.
Report by Craig Phillips
Match Report
FC United move to within three points of league leaders Chorley with three games to go after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Grantham Town at Bower Fold, thanks to a second half brace from Matthew Wolfenden and well taken header from Tom Greaves.
After losing at home to Buxton on Saturday, the Reds successfully got back to winning ways but it took us until the 65th minute to break the deadlock when Wolfenden slotted in from close range. Three minute later, Greaves doubled the score by heading home an Astley Mulholland cross and Wolfenden put the icing on the cake two minutes from time by springing the offside trap to add the third.
With FC United now needing a major slip up from Chorley in order for us to win the title, the first half was a little flat on both the terraces and the pitch but when the Reds got going in the second half they eased past their opponents.
With a play-off pace already in the bag, manager Karl Marginson took the opportunity to make a few changes to the starting XI and some of the players who came in took their chance to give impressive performances.
Two such players were Greg Daniels and Mulholland who inked up well during the first period and could have well put United in front. Good interplay on the left flank before Mulholland’s cross come shot was snuffed out at the near post.
With large periods of the first half going by without United looking like they would take the lead, the Reds turned up the pressure just before the break with a Charlie Raglan header from a corner just going over the bar.
But it was in the second half where the Reds took it up another gear and once substitute Mike Norton got into the game he and Greaves linked up to their usual high standards. Soon after Norton’s introduction, Greaves showed great control in the box, switching the ball between his feet and rolling the ball just agonisingly wide of the post.
FC United eventually took the lead when a cross from the right saw Wolfenden get the ball in the box and show great composure to fire home, easing any nerves that may have been building after the weekend’s result.
With that pressure lifted, FC United started to click and soon they found themselves two goals up after a great cross from the left found Greaves at the far post, who nodded the ball down for a well taken goal.
From this point on, the Reds strolled to the finishing line, with a real positive coming down the left flank with the speed of Mulholland and substitute Wright giving the opposition defence all kinds of problems.
Wolfenden bagged his second and United’s third with seconds left on the clock to put the Reds three points off the top.
The two games over the Easter weekend will ultimately decide if United will have to settle for the play-offs for the fourth season in a row, or if they can go into the final weekend with a chance of catching Chorley at the top.
Man of the match: Matthew Wolfenden – showed great composure to give United the lead and in turn fired the Reds to another victory.
Report by Craig Phillips
