Match Report

A brace from Jerome Wright and one from Simon Carden saw FC United record their fifth straight victory with a 3-0 win in West Yorkshire on Tuesday night.

All three goals came in the last 20 minutes of the match as the Reds completed a league double over Ossett Town following a 4-1 victory at Bower Fold earlier in the month.

The game started in a fairly even manner with the first chance falling to Nicky Platt who lobbed the ball straight at Neil Bennett in the Ossett goal. Bennett was also equal to Platt ten minutes later when he spilled a cross from the left and Platt fired the ball goalwards.

The hosts were playing with the strong wind behind them and had their first real chance on 27 minutes, Daniel Maw firing a shot that Reds ‘keeper Sam Ashton did well to tip over. A minute later Town defender Paul Sykes had a good chance but placed his header straight at Ashton. In first half injury time, Mike Norton had a weak header easily saved by Bennett.

The second half started with some off the ball handbags between United centre-back Scott McManus and Maw following a challenge by the Ossett no 9 which resulted in a yellow for the home player after the referee spoke to his assistant.

The best chance of the game thus far fell to Wright on 60 minutes when the ball was played over the top for him to run onto, sadly though his shot rolled wide of the far post. But it was a sign of what was about to come.

Seven minutes later it was the turn of Carden to go close, when his flying volley was fired into the side netting. FC were making good use of the wind and it only looked a matter of time before they took the lead.

The Reds did exactly that in the 72nd minute when captain Kyle Jacobs knocked the ball into the box. The cross flew over Norton’s head but happily Wright was anticipating the ball and his volley flew into the bottom corner of the net.

The lead was extended just a minute later when a goalkick by Ashton ball was flicked on by Norton into the path of Carden who coolly lobbed the oncoming keeper. The two quick goals didn’t totally kill off the home side and they had a good chance on 78 minutes but Ashton did well to tip the ball over.

There was a very controversial moment with eight minutes to go when a poor Ashton clearance fell straight to David Boardman who ran into the box and tried to round the FC keeper. He fell under the challenge of Ashton and the ground held its breath waiting for the penalty and possible red card for the FC custodian, only for the referee to give a yellow card to Boardman for a dive.

With five minutes to go, the goal of the night sealed the game. A swift break by FC United saw Norton lay the ball out to substitute Chris Ovington who cut inside and seemed to lose the ball. It ran loose to Wright to drive an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net.

It was a good victory for the Reds on a night when the euphoria of the previous Sunday could still have been hanging over the team. The performance was good and was improved even more with the appearance of club captain David Chadwick in the second half, albeit as a striker.

Report by Steven Wood.