Former Red Coulton comes back to haunt FC as Lancaster leave it late
FC United fell to a late defeat as Lancaster City overturned a half time deficit to come away 3-2 winners at Broadhurst Park.
Dom Lawson gave the Dolly Blues the advantage early on, before goals from Adam Le Fondre and Jordan Buckley initially saw the hosts in front at the interval. However, second half goals from Lewis Mansell and former FC player Lewis Coulton saw Lancaster take the points in an end-to-end affair.
In only the sixth minute of play, Lancaster managed to take the lead with their first attack of the game. City striker Mansell held off several challenges just outside the FC area before slipping through to Lawson, who found Charlie Casper’s right hand corner with a low, placed effort.
After a handful of FC half-chances followed the early concession, Jordan Buckley went close 10 minutes after the Lancaster goal. A clipped ball into the right channel sent Charlie Ennis away down the flank with the captain playing across the box for Buckley, whose flicked effort narrowly found the wrong side of the near post.
FC shook off the effects of the early goal, and in a matter of minutes, Mark Beesley’s side turned the game on its head. For the equaliser, a well-executed reverse ball from left back Guy Hall allowed Le Fondre to take the ball in his stride inside the area, lashing home across goal to make it 1-1 in the 23rd minute.
Three minutes later, it was Le Fondre’s strike partner who gave United their first lead of the match. A timely run in behind from Buckley was met with a defence-splitting, lofted ball through the middle. Buckley composed himself before slotting past visiting ‘keeper James McLenaghan at his right side to make it 2-1 to the hosts.
Chances were not a regularity at either end, with the best opportunity through the remainder of the first half falling to FC’s first goal scorer of the afternoon. Charlie Munro’s corner delivery was floated to the back post where Le Fondre had curled away into space, however the forward’s header fell kindly into the ‘keeper’s arms.
Half Time: FC United 2-1 Lancaster City
Lancaster had a great chance to draw level ten minutes after the restart with Mansell squandering a golden opening for the visitors. Former FC man Aaron Bennett looked certain to shoot when the ball fell to him from 25 yards, yet the midfielder picked out Mansell with space inside the area. With time and space on his side, the forward could not make the most of the chance, skying over to the jeers of the home supporters.
On the stroke of an hour, however, Mansell atoned for the miss by heading Chris Willcock’s side level. With a number of pink shirts crowding the hosts’ penalty area, Sam Bailey’s curling delivery from the left was met by a glancing header from Mansell which nestled in the far corner to make it 2-2.
Despite Bennett having the largest involvement of the former Reds throughout the entirety of the 90 minutes, it would be another Broadhurst returnee who would come up with the all-important blow.
Lancaster retook the lead in the 84th minute, with Coulton coming up with City’s third of the afternoon. FC failed to clear their lines as the ball made its way into the box, and with Casper drawn off his goal-line, a fortunate touch into the path of Coulton allowed the substitute to place a side-footed finish into the net.
The home side’s late attempts at moving the ball forward where ineffective, as Lancaster held on to claim their first ever league win away at FC United, all the while condemning Beesley to his first league defeat in charge at Broadhurst Park.
Former Red Coulton comes back to haunt FC as Lancaster leave it late
FC United fell to a late defeat as Lancaster City overturned a half time deficit to come away 3-2 winners at Broadhurst Park.
Dom Lawson gave the Dolly Blues the advantage early on, before goals from Adam Le Fondre and Jordan Buckley initially saw the hosts in front at the interval. However, second half goals from Lewis Mansell and former FC player Lewis Coulton saw Lancaster take the points in an end-to-end affair.
In only the sixth minute of play, Lancaster managed to take the lead with their first attack of the game. City striker Mansell held off several challenges just outside the FC area before slipping through to Lawson, who found Charlie Casper’s right hand corner with a low, placed effort.
After a handful of FC half-chances followed the early concession, Jordan Buckley went close 10 minutes after the Lancaster goal. A clipped ball into the right channel sent Charlie Ennis away down the flank with the captain playing across the box for Buckley, whose flicked effort narrowly found the wrong side of the near post.
FC shook off the effects of the early goal, and in a matter of minutes, Mark Beesley’s side turned the game on its head. For the equaliser, a well-executed reverse ball from left back Guy Hall allowed Le Fondre to take the ball in his stride inside the area, lashing home across goal to make it 1-1 in the 23rd minute.
Three minutes later, it was Le Fondre’s strike partner who gave United their first lead of the match. A timely run in behind from Buckley was met with a defence-splitting, lofted ball through the middle. Buckley composed himself before slotting past visiting ‘keeper James McLenaghan at his right side to make it 2-1 to the hosts.
Chances were not a regularity at either end, with the best opportunity through the remainder of the first half falling to FC’s first goal scorer of the afternoon. Charlie Munro’s corner delivery was floated to the back post where Le Fondre had curled away into space, however the forward’s header fell kindly into the ‘keeper’s arms.
Half Time: FC United 2-1 Lancaster City
Lancaster had a great chance to draw level ten minutes after the restart with Mansell squandering a golden opening for the visitors. Former FC man Aaron Bennett looked certain to shoot when the ball fell to him from 25 yards, yet the midfielder picked out Mansell with space inside the area. With time and space on his side, the forward could not make the most of the chance, skying over to the jeers of the home supporters.
On the stroke of an hour, however, Mansell atoned for the miss by heading Chris Willcock’s side level. With a number of pink shirts crowding the hosts’ penalty area, Sam Bailey’s curling delivery from the left was met by a glancing header from Mansell which nestled in the far corner to make it 2-2.
Despite Bennett having the largest involvement of the former Reds throughout the entirety of the 90 minutes, it would be another Broadhurst returnee who would come up with the all-important blow.
Lancaster retook the lead in the 84th minute, with Coulton coming up with City’s third of the afternoon. FC failed to clear their lines as the ball made its way into the box, and with Casper drawn off his goal-line, a fortunate touch into the path of Coulton allowed the substitute to place a side-footed finish into the net.
The home side’s late attempts at moving the ball forward where ineffective, as Lancaster held on to claim their first ever league win away at FC United, all the while condemning Beesley to his first league defeat in charge at Broadhurst Park.
