Match Report

A first half goal from player/manager Tom Greaves was enough to give FC United a 1-0 victory over Southport in front of 2,863 supporters at Broadhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.

In a tight contest, the strike from December’s Vanarama National League North player of the month made it six games without defeat in the league for FC United and extended our current unbeaten home record to 10 games.

It certainly wasn’t the prettiest game of football you’ll ever see, but the important thing was getting the three points on the board and those points now see us sitting seven points off the play-offs as well as seven points clear of the bottom three.

Knowing a win would move them six points clear of today’s visitors, the Reds came out quickly and within the first 10 minutes Greaves had seen an effort hit the post and McCarthy saw a long-range effort saved by former Reds goalkeeper Jon Worsnop.

So when Greaves gave FC United the lead after just 11th minutes with a typically placed finish past Worsnop it was no surprise, even if it was the first time we had scored first in a league match since beating Nuneaton at the end of October.

The visitors had a good first half from that point, looking dangerous on the break with another former FC United man Jason Gilchrist forcing a great stop from Lloyd Allinson being the pick of the first half chances.

The visitors continued to look dangerous in the second half, but in Allinson they found a ‘keeper in top form. Not for the first time this season his stops proved as good as goals at the other end of the pitch and ultimately secured the three points on the day.

FC United had several great chances to double their lead in the second half. Connor McCarthy and Joel Senior were both denied goals by great saves from Worsnop. With the visitors pushing forward for opportunities late on the Reds became the counter attackers and McCarthy did well to get shots away on goal on a couple of occasions but couldn’t find a way past Worsnop.

In the reverse fixture in August, Southport scored twice late on to rescue a point from being 3-1 down but today there was no chance of that happening as the defence stayed focused, shutting down everything right to the final whistle and grabbing yet another valuable victory.

Tommy Greaves’ Red and White Army have next weekend off, but the week after sees them face trips to two of the top six - Blyth Spartans and Kidderminster Harriers - in the space of four days.

Website man of the match: Lloyd Allinson – pulled off several good saves over the course of the game, a first home clean sheet in the league this season was enough to see the Reds over the line.

Report by Craig Phillips