Match Report

FC United are up to fifth place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division with a 3-0 victory over Trafford on New Year’s Day.

Craig Lindfield broke the deadlock early in the first half, before late goals from Matthew Walwyn and Tom Greaves gave United the scoreline that reflected the control we had for most of the game.

The Reds showed no hangover as they began 2015 confidently taking the game to Trafford early looking to make it a collection of the full nine points from the three festive fixtures and carry on the climb up the table.

United had the lead after 15 minutes after Lindfield got the ball on the edge of the box of the left hand side, turned back on himself and floated the ball over Thomas Read in the Trafford goal.

United kept the pressure coming with Wolfenden’s low driven cross from the right just evading the three attackers in the box just minutes after the first goal and a Lindfield free-kick from the right causing problems for Read as the wind carried the ball further than intended forcing the Trafford stopper to tip the ball over the bar.

But for all the possession and good attacking play United held a one goal lead at the break not really reflecting how much United had been in control for the first 45 minutes.

As the second half began the conditions got worse with the strong wind blowing across the pith affecting anything that was played above waist height, making for a scrappy game.

Trafford went close just after the hour mark as a corner from the right was headed back across goal, just being cleared off the United goal line but this was a timely reminder that United couldn’t just think the one goal would be enough to see off what is always a difficult opponent.

There was a bizarre moment in the 66th minute when former FC United midfielder Will Aherne, now playing for Trafford, was shown a red card after being substituted. Aherne apparently tried to go back on the pitch after being substituted and as such the referee gave him his second yellow card of the match.

With 15 minutes left, Matthew Walwyn came onto the pitch for Craig Lindfield and almost instantly made an impact as he latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from Matthew Kay to slot home in the bottom corner and almost certainly wrap the three points up for United.

Walwyn was again involved in the final goal as his one on one effort was pushed away by Read into the path of Greaves who put the ball away to give United a 3-0 victory that in truth was a good reflection of a dominant performance from the Reds.

United move up to fifth in the league with the win and will look to keep the good run going as they make the short journey to sixth place Ashton United on Saturday in what could be a real six pointer.

Website man of the match: Lewis Lacy - Another strong performance at the back, giving the foundations for the rest of the team to get the victory and carry on the good run of form.

Report by Craig Phillips