Match Report
30th April 2016
Vanarama National League North
Broadhurst Park, 310 Lightbowne Road, Moston, Manchester, M40 0FJ
FC United of Manchester |
2 - 2 |
Solihull Moors |
| Greaves 87, 90 (+2) |
Armson 11, 18 |
|
| Attendance: 3,914 | ||
|
FC United of Manchester
1 David Carnell |
Solihull Moors
1 Danny Lewis |
|
A late brace by Tom Greaves ensured a draw for FC United to take the edge off champions Solihull Moor’s promotion party at Broadhurst Park on Saturday afternoon in front of 3,914 supporters in the final game of the 2015/2016 season.
With Solihull already worthy champions by a comfortable margin and the midtable Reds already safe from relegation, there was nothing at stake other than pride and three slightly insignificant points.
United gave a guard of honour to a more than fitting champion as the teams came onto the pitch, but the pleasantries stopped there as James Armson gave the visitors a two goal lead within the first 20 minutes and it looked like FC United’s final game in their first season in the Vanarama National League North was going to peter out into a disappointing defeat.
However, Greaves had other ideas and was rewarded for another season of hard work by grabbing goals in the 87th and 92nd minutes to send Broadhurst Park into ecstasy for one final time this season.
In truth the team and atmosphere were both surprisingly subdued with little being created by the men in red in the first half and the slow, often laid back tempo gave the end of season game a pre-season feel.
The visitors looked like they could extend their lead at any point, but knowing the title and promotion was in the bag and probably feeling like the three points were in the bag too there wasn’t much decisive movement in the final third.
The second half was better from United, but only slightly for the most part. Good chunks of possession that wasn’t utilised in the final third has been much the same throughout most of the season and the last game followed this trend.
The match was interrupted by a dozen or so FC United supporters going onto the pitch to stage a midgame protest with banners demanding greater transparency at the club, amongst other things. There was a mixed reaction from the crowd before the protesters walked off of their own accord. The game restarted around five minutes later.
A never say die attitude is the United way and fighting until the end is what we do best, so when Greaves netted with four minutes left there was more than a glimmer of hope for a late equaliser.
Greaves duly obliged by getting his second of the day from a corner two minutes into stoppage time, completing the comeback and ensuring that FC United took four points from their two games against the champions this season.
With the point the Reds finished the season 13th with 53 points from their 42 games, but with relegation fears only a couple of months ago a mid-table finish in our first season at this level has to be regarded as a respectable season.
There’s now the small matter of a trip across the Atlantic to Motor City - Detroit - at the end of May, and then we go again in the league in August.
Website man of the match: Tom Greaves – Showed the United spirit by fighting and trying until the end, duly bagging a brace and a point for the Reds.
Report by Craig Phillips
With Solihull already worthy champions by a comfortable margin and the midtable Reds already safe from relegation, there was nothing at stake other than pride and three slightly insignificant points.
United gave a guard of honour to a more than fitting champion as the teams came onto the pitch, but the pleasantries stopped there as James Armson gave the visitors a two goal lead within the first 20 minutes and it looked like FC United’s final game in their first season in the Vanarama National League North was going to peter out into a disappointing defeat.
However, Greaves had other ideas and was rewarded for another season of hard work by grabbing goals in the 87th and 92nd minutes to send Broadhurst Park into ecstasy for one final time this season.
In truth the team and atmosphere were both surprisingly subdued with little being created by the men in red in the first half and the slow, often laid back tempo gave the end of season game a pre-season feel.
The visitors looked like they could extend their lead at any point, but knowing the title and promotion was in the bag and probably feeling like the three points were in the bag too there wasn’t much decisive movement in the final third.
The second half was better from United, but only slightly for the most part. Good chunks of possession that wasn’t utilised in the final third has been much the same throughout most of the season and the last game followed this trend.
The match was interrupted by a dozen or so FC United supporters going onto the pitch to stage a midgame protest with banners demanding greater transparency at the club, amongst other things. There was a mixed reaction from the crowd before the protesters walked off of their own accord. The game restarted around five minutes later.
A never say die attitude is the United way and fighting until the end is what we do best, so when Greaves netted with four minutes left there was more than a glimmer of hope for a late equaliser.
Greaves duly obliged by getting his second of the day from a corner two minutes into stoppage time, completing the comeback and ensuring that FC United took four points from their two games against the champions this season.
With the point the Reds finished the season 13th with 53 points from their 42 games, but with relegation fears only a couple of months ago a mid-table finish in our first season at this level has to be regarded as a respectable season.
There’s now the small matter of a trip across the Atlantic to Motor City - Detroit - at the end of May, and then we go again in the league in August.
Website man of the match: Tom Greaves – Showed the United spirit by fighting and trying until the end, duly bagging a brace and a point for the Reds.
Report by Craig Phillips
Previous Meetings
| 15/03/2016 | 1-2W |