Match Report

Three goals and three red cards saw FC United down to eight men and out this season’s Emirates FA Cup 2-1 at the hands of Witton Albion.

Goals by James Foley and Rob Hopley for Albion sandwiched a fine Jack Banister effort for FC. Kurt Willoughby was dismissed in the first half for violent conduct whilst Harry Winter and substitute Elliot Simoes received their matching orders moments before fulltime.

It wasn’t hard to see how Witton had progressed this far in the competition as straight from the kick off they looked a lively, well organised outfit and they had United on the back foot early.

With better finishing they could have been two up within the opening minutes. Whilst there build play was good they also had another weapon in the form of long throw specialist Anthony Gardner who launched the ball into the Reds area at every opportunity.

One of these long throws was headed on and finished neatly from just inside the area by Foley to give Witton the lead only 10 minutes into the game.The goal seemed to galvanise United into action who had their best spell of the match thus far.

This passage of play saw several corners and Kurt Willoughby and Jack Banister both have half chances saved by keeper Greg Hall. Banister in particular was starting to look dangerous down the left flank and one such attack led to him cutting inside and rifling a low drive into the corner of the goal for the equaliser. The goal being well received by the majority of the 1,234 fans in attendance.

United looked in the ascendancy at this point when Willoughby was on the receiving end of a couple of niggly fouls and fell into a heap under a challenge from Billy Smart.

The referee gave the FC striker a straight red card and a yellow to Smart. The rest of the half passed with no further incident much to the chagrin of a vociferous home crowd.

Two substitutions were made by FC during halftime, keeper Dave Carnell being replaced by new loan signing Jordan Perrin and Lewis Mansell coming on for Michael Donohue.

Albion intelligently spread play seeking to use their man advantage. Again Gardner was taking throw ins from either side of the pitch as the away side pressed.

Perrin was called into action and pulled off a great save one on one with Witton’s Delial Brewster which went out for a corner. From the resulting corner the ball found its way to Hopley who made no mistake putting the visitors back in front on 63 minutes.

The game opened up and 10 men United had a decent spell as they through caution to the wind and had a few half chances but equally Witton had chances of their own. Neither side took them.

As the game entered its final stages it took a turn for the worse for the home side as Harry Winter was shown a second yellow and forced to leave the field on 86 minutes.

More drama followed when Mansell looked to be brought down in the box but the referee gave the free-kick to Witton. One final nail in FC’s coffin followed in added time when substitute Elliot Simoes received his marching orders having picked up two yellow cards within a minute.

And so the match ended with United a goal and three men down. Witton can look forward to the FA Cup draw on Monday whilst FC United travel to Glossop on Tuesday in the Manchester Premier Cup before hosting Darlington next Saturday in the league.

Man of the Match: Without doubt Jack Banister’s best game in a red shirt. He was a constant threat and deserved his goal.

Report by Neil Lees