Match Report

FC United lost 2-1 at home to Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday afternoon, meaning the Reds have begun a season with three consecutive defeats for the first time in our 12 year history.

Both teams came into the game without a point from their first two league games and neither would have really wanted to leave this game with nothing.

FC United started the game well and went a goal up inside 10 minutes when a corner wasn’t cleared from the Kidderminster box and Danny Wisdom managed to put the ball away to pick up his second goal in as many games.

Despite the strong start it wasn’t long until the visitors got on the front foot and started to apply the pressure. Just before the 20 minute mark they got their equaliser when Emmanuel Sonupe headed past Lloyd Allinson.

Allinson was perhaps the best performer of the afternoon pulling off a string of strong saves as the visitors carved out chance after chance. The most notable of the first half called for a good save from Allinson who could only push the ball into the path of Kidderminster captain Ryan Croasdale who somehow put the ball into the side netting when it looked easier to score than miss.

The second half began much better with FC United coming out quickly, obviously fired up from the break and knowing that despite large parts of the first half being against the ropes we were still in the game at 1-1.

Just five minutes into the half there was a great chance for FC to grab the lead but two quickfire reaction saves from visiting ‘keeper Brandon Hall meant we only came away with a corner from what would turn out to be our clearest opportunity of the second half.

Kidderminster quickly got on top in the second half but despite a string of half chances they couldn’t get the ball past Allinson or the goal frame. With the game still level going into the last 15 minutes it wasn’t unthinkable to envisage the Reds coming away with something.

But those thoughts were crushed with 10 minutes left when Sonupe capitalised on a poorly cleared corner to grab his second of the game and gave the visitors the three points their performance deserved.

Despite three defeats, Karl Marginson isn’t pressing any panic buttons yet. In fact, he spoke of positives to be taken from the first three games despite the results. He said: “I’ve seen enough in those three games to tell me we are better than the results we’ve gotten so far.

“Today we were beaten by a better team on the day but we showed our capabilities. Credit to Kidderminster for today but we will look to go again on Tuesday night (at Southport).???

Man of the Match: Lloyd Allinson – Gave a strong performance in between the sticks and gave FC United a real opportunity to take something away from the game.

Report by Craig Phillips