Match Report

A 5-1 away win at Grantham on Saturday 31 August saw FC United go top of the Evo-Stik Premier League with goals from Lee Neville, Tom Greaves, Jerome Wright and a brace from Matthew Walwyn.

Karl Marginson’s side overwhelmed their hosts and powered their way to the top spot after just five matches.

It looked like it was going to be a busy day for The Gingerbreads keeper, Dan Haystead, as he was called into action as early as the third minute when he pushed wide a Greaves shot. The home side were certainly contributing to the game and a quickly taken free-kick found the United defence napping but Karl Demidh saw his shot saved by James Spencer.

On 19 minutes, the FC United defence were again slow to react when Greg Smith found himself through, Spencer again saving.

Just before the half hour The Reds took the lead when a free-kick was floated to the far post for Neville to head home. Four minutes later, a good move saw Matthew Wolfenden cross to Greaves who saw his flying volley just go wide of the far post.

With five minutes to go in the half, the lead was doubled when Dean Stott played in Greaves who finished emphatically into the far corner.

The Gingerbread’s started the second half on top and pulled a goal back when FC conceded a soft free-kick on the angle of the box. The ball was floated in for Smith to head unchallenged into the far corner.

Just after the hour, Olly Banks had a good chance thanks to great work by Neville on the left but he tried to place his shot, which was saved by Haystead. Grantham were certainly still in the game and could have drawn level with a scramble in the FC box but the shot was wide.

The hosts were punished a minute later when a ball over the top found Walwyn who fired into the far corner with his first touch of the game. The game then went into a lull until the last ten minutes with FC United extending their lead when a mistake in the home defence allowed Michael Norton and the striker unselfishly squared for Walwyn to side foot into the net.

Deep into injury time the score was increased to 5-1 when a ball over found Wright who lobbed Haystead to put FC United on top of the table.

Report by Steven Wood

Website man of the match - Liam Brownhill. Cool and calm when defending, putting in some important challenges and used the ball well when in possession.