Match Report

FC United of Manchester 3

Patterson 27 (pen), 45
Orr 69

Padiham 2

Hill 29
Chadwick 90

Attendance: 2,498

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So, the momentous day arrives at last. Back in May, when this new club was nothing more than an idea, few could have imagined the sense of anticipation felt by so many as FC United of Manchester hosted it’s first home match in it’s very short life. We’ve already become accustomed to away matches as all of the preseason friendlies were played away from home and the opening league fixture last week was at Leek but this was going to be different again.

A sombre start to proceedings as a minutes silence preceded kick off. Nick McCool played for Padiham last season and tragically died last week whilst playing 5-a-side in Manchester. The Bury lad was only 20 years old.

Karl Marginson, as promised, introduced the clubs newest signing straight away. Dave Chadwick slotting into central defence, and straight into the captaincy too, the displaced Kev Elvin reverting to his preferred position of right back. This change allowed Mark Rawlinson to move into midfield after filling in as right back last week at Leek. Craig Fleury, who was subbed off last week, is still hobbling and may be out for a little while. The only other change from the Leek line-up was the introduction of Aidie Orr into the starting eleven. Orr took up the left wing mantle from Rory Patterson who moved central to partner Jos Mitten in the front two. The injured Steve Torpey made way, is this an early manifestation of the curse of the programme? The thong wearing one was the featured player in the day’s match programme.

The home team started much the stronger and threatened on several occasions to overrun the erstwhile league leaders. For their part Padiham were well organised and resolute with their defending. The first scare for the visitors came from a United corner on the right side on 7 minutes. It was taken by Patterson and quickly cleared but only back to the taker who angled in another right footed cross. Jos Mitten met this cross at the near post but his flicked header went harmlessly wide of the target.

On 11 minutes another United corner caused problems for the Padiham backline, this time Mark Rawlinson’s cross found Rob Nugent some 10 yards from goal. The United centreback couldn’t keep his header down and was seen to be muttering to himself as he returned to halfway to face the ensuing goal kick.

A minute or two later and Padiham finally exerted some pressure themselves and won a corner of their own. Excellent covering by Tony Coyne here as he stayed with a runner from deep who might have caused problems. The FC United number 8 was alive to the danger and was happy to concede the corner which was well cleared by the United boys.

On 15 minutes the request went out from the Manchester Road end, “Margy, Margy, give us a wave.â€?? The obliging FC United manager cheerily waved but I’m sure he was slightly less cheerful on the inside. His team were mounting wave after wave of attack but still hadn’t troubled the Padiham goalkeeper Rob Batty. On 22 minutes a nice FC United move still didn’t open the door. A Kev Elvin throw-in to Jos Mitten was turned on to Aidie Orr who wriggled before turning onto his right foot but his shot, from the edge of the area, was snuffed out by a closely attending defender.

The breakthrough arrived on 26 minutes courtesy of a rather soft penalty awarded to United. A free kick was launched into the area from near to halfway. Rory Patterson had eyes only for the ball but was sandwiched by a pair of defenders. The ‘man with no name’ tumbled to the ground and the referee, Mr Bromfield who was well positioned to make the decision, pointed straight to the spot. Patterson himself spotted the ball and audaciously ‘dinked’ the penalty kick high into the middle of the goal as Batty dived to his left, out of the path of the ball. 1-0.

The lead only lasted 2 minutes as Padiham took full advantage of a rare mistake from the home defence. Chadwick looked to be in control but was caught in possession, Gareth Seddon advanced into the area, on the right side, and hit a weak, scuffed shot across Barrie George in the home goal. Dennis Hill was alive to the possibilities and under pressure from Elvin managed to slide the ball in from 6 yards out. 1-1.

From the restart Mitten saw a first time, snap shot easily handled by Batty. This chance resulted from good work from the tricky Patterson again. Jos was unlucky to hit his effort straight to the keeper from only 8 yards out. Either side of him and the lead would have been restored.

Just after the half hour and Nugent saw a goal bound effort deflected beyond the far post, another header from another Rawlinson corner. The shaven headed centre back did nothing wrong this time and was very unlucky not to add his name to the scoresheet. On 38 minutes the old ‘3rd time lucky’ myth was well and truly exploded as Nugent again struck a goal bound effort which was again repelled. This time a left-footed shot from only 6 yards out was superbly blocked. Not today Rob, maybe Wednesday will be your night.

In between Nugent’s 2nd and 3rd efforts Aidie Orr had a couple of half chances. The first saw him hit a speculative right foot volley from 25 yards out that Batty gathered to his right. The second saw good work from Patterson again setting up Aidie but he dragged his shot wide of the near post this time.

On 41 minutes Aidie put the first ball of the season onto the Gigg Lane roof to rapturous applause from the nearly full Manchester Road end. Orr played his part a couple of minutes later as the home team retook the lead one minute before the break. Mitten fed the ball inside to Orr who had little time or room. Aidie managed a great spin turn to work his way into the area he then fed the ball inside to Patterson. Patterson controlled then struck a low, right-footed shot from 15 yards out, slightly right of centre. His effort was not powerfully struck but the placement was immaculate and, despite Batty just getting fingertips to it, the ball nestled into the net just in off of the left hand post. 2-1.

The second half started just as most of the first half had been played out with United attacking almost incessantly. Patterson again terrorised the Padiham defence on 47 minutes, he broke down the right flank and crossed low and early for Mitten. Big Jos just failed to connect as he slid in at the back post only 5 yards out with the goal gaping. Soon after, a terrific quick, long throw from Gareth Ormes found Patterson just outside of the area in the inside left channel. Mr Mystery snatched at this and volleyed wide of the near post when he probably had time to take a touch and advance further goalwards before striking.

On 52 minutes another nice move down the FCUoM left resulted in Adie Orr stealing into a great position to threaten the Padiham goal. In a move very reminiscent of the goal that he scored late on at Leek Orr saw his shot beaten away by Batty from a tightish angle, left of centre some 8 yards out.

Just before the hour and a good few minutes for Padiham. Barrie George called into action twice in 2 minutes, firstly to save low to his right from a deflected shot by Seddon and then to rush from his line to intercept a through ball at the feet of Fildes. Soon after these 2 attacks Padiham won a corner on their left side. This was taken short; the ball was then crossed in from near to the angle of the box towards the far post. Anderton rose well and looked certain to score but somehow contrived to head over from only a few yards out. A real let off.

With one quarter of the contest remaining United increased their lead. A neat move ended with Orr sliding the ball through for Patterson. Patterson’s effort was well blocked but the ball fell kindly for Aidie, who was following up. He slid in to tap the ball home inside the left hand post, from 8 yards out, with Batty helpless to intervene. 3-1.

Padiham still would not lie down and to their credit they very nearly got the goal back almost immediately. A free kick on their left driven in low managed to evade everyone as it crossed the goal mouth some 6 yards out. Just beyond the far post a Padiham player threw himself headlong at the ball and headed it against the outside of the right hand post.

A series of attack – counterattack then followed for a couple of minutes. United were very quick on the break and the ever troublesome Patterson was usually at the centre of most good things for the Reds. He made a great opportunity for the newly introduced substitute, Scott Holt, by using his speed and strength to get beyond his man on the left flank. Then, showing great vision, he picked out Holt who was galloping forward in the inside right channel. Patterson’s pass looked to be perfect but Holt snatched at his shot and sent it over the bar from only 15 yards out.

On 73 minutes a bit of a flash point on the touchline near to both benches. Aidie Orr launched into a very forceful tackle on the Padiham number 8, Liam Denning. One of the Padiham boys confronted Orr who was quickly protected by Phil Power who intervened from his position on the touchline. Power got between the two and for a moment or two it looked as though things might get out of control. Happily all soon reverted to calm and as Denning received treatment Orr received FCUoM’s second yellow card of the day. Tony Coyne having managed to talk his way into Mr Bromfield’s book in the first period.

Orr was subbed off a couple of minutes later. The remainder of the match passed with no further controversy although there were more taking points.

On 89 minutes Jos nearly got the goal that his tireless work seemed to deserve. A rasping left footed drive from the edge of the area was well saved by Batty with his outstretched right arm. Just on 90 minutes we saw what may well be the miss of the season when somehow Tony Coyne contrived to miss from only 3 or 4 yards out in front of goal near the left hand post.

It only remained for Padiham to complete the scoring some 2 minutes into stoppage time. A nice move and great finish by Craig Chadwick as he stole in on the Padiham left. He feinted to shoot and then waltzed around Barrie George before sliding the ball into the net. This turned out to be no more than a consolation for the visitors as the final whistle was blown soon after the restart. 3-2.

A thoroughly entertaining match with United picking up another 3 points. The match sponsors, Tempest Sports, awarded their man of the match award to Aidie Orr. The late consolation for Padiham brought them level with United at the top of the table on goal difference, but United, having scored one more goal, sit proudly atop the league.

The attendance announced at the match was 2,450. This was then revised upwards to 2,498 as latecomers were admitted, many will have come from Old Trafford after Manchester United’s match earlier in the day. A super day for all at FC United of Manchester, here’s to many more to come.