FC United slip to narrow defeat at Stafford Rangers
FC United lost 3-2 at Stafford Rangers on Saturday afternoon as a spirited late fightback by the Reds wasn’t enough to undo the damage of conceding three soft goals.
Despite playing some good football and creating enough chances to win the match, Neil Reynolds’ side paid the price of gifting the hosts a two-goal headstart inside the first 25 minutes.
The Reds’ talented new recruits will have to learn quickly that when FC United roll into town most of our opponents will be bang up for the contest right from the first whistle. Rangers were the much hungrier side in the opening exchanges, giving the visitors no time to settle into their natural passing game.
The hosts took the lead in the 14th minute when a defensive mix-up at a corner saw Luke Griffiths deflect the ball into his own goal. Things went from bad to worse 10 minutes later when Joe Willis, who enjoyed success down the right wing all afternoon, beat Guy Hall and crossed for Niah Payne to fire into Pat Boyes’ net to make it 2-0.
FC United were handed a way back into the match 10 minutes before the break when fullback Sam Bird handled Jay Fitzmartin’s low cross into the box. Griffiths stepped up and confidently fired the penalty straight down the middle to make it 2-1.
Both keepers then produced two fantastic saves to keep the score at 2-1. First Boyes denied Payne with an acrobatic low save, and, from the resulting corner, he was equal to Ethan Stewart’s header.
In the second minute of stoppage time, man of the match Michael Donohue made a brilliant weaving run past three defenders and dug out a cross into the box for Max Cane who hit it on the half volley. Former FC United keeper turned pantomime villain Cameron Belford made a great save at the near post and then produced a superb block to deny Donohue on the rebound.
Into the second half and United were still very much in the match as Belford was called into the action early on to make a save at his near post. However, on 57 minutes the Reds once again failed to deal with a fairly routine ball into the box.
A long throw-in from Bird was flicked on by Jake Moult and Nathan Blissett’s looping header evaded Boyes to find the far bottom corner to make it 3-1. United’s appeals for a free-kick for an apparent push in the build-up fell on deaf ears.
Reynolds soon rang out the changes with Keane Barugh and Nic Bollardo being introduced for Declan McLoughin and Cane in quick succession shortly after the hour mark. It took Barugh and Bollardo just 15 minutes to get United back into the match.
Bollardo made a dangerous run down the left before squaring the ball to Donohue, who released it to Barugh and the Stockport County loanee curled a magnificent effort over Belford into the back of the net for 3-2.
Charlie Ennis then came off the bench for Griffiths and United began to build momentum. Moments later, a corner by Hall was cleared off a crowded goal line when even the faintest of touches could have resulted in the equaliser.
The Reds were in the ascendancy and with 10 minutes to go, rightback Chiekh Thiam curled a tantalising cross to back post to the unmarked Fitzmartin but his glancing header wasn’t strong enough and went wide when the goal was at his mercy.
With a minute to go, right winger Elliot Morris was unleashed through on goal by Donohue. With two chasing defenders bearing down on him, Morris toe-poked a shot agonisingly over the top corner of the bar. Despite five minutes of stoppage time, the Reds couldn’t muster another meaningful chance and left Marston Road empty handed.
FC United must now pick themselves up with three fixtures this week against three teams who have won both their games so far – with visits to Broadhurst Park by Ilkeston on Tuesday and Macclesfield on Saturday, followed a trip to Radcliffe on Bank Holiday Monday.
Website man of the match: Michael Donohue. Played with guile and urgency throughout. Clearly the best player on the pitch and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.
Report by Matthew Haley
FC United slip to narrow defeat at Stafford Rangers
FC United lost 3-2 at Stafford Rangers on Saturday afternoon as a spirited late fightback by the Reds wasn’t enough to undo the damage of conceding three soft goals.
Despite playing some good football and creating enough chances to win the match, Neil Reynolds’ side paid the price of gifting the hosts a two-goal headstart inside the first 25 minutes.
The Reds’ talented new recruits will have to learn quickly that when FC United roll into town most of our opponents will be bang up for the contest right from the first whistle. Rangers were the much hungrier side in the opening exchanges, giving the visitors no time to settle into their natural passing game.
The hosts took the lead in the 14th minute when a defensive mix-up at a corner saw Luke Griffiths deflect the ball into his own goal. Things went from bad to worse 10 minutes later when Joe Willis, who enjoyed success down the right wing all afternoon, beat Guy Hall and crossed for Niah Payne to fire into Pat Boyes’ net to make it 2-0.
FC United were handed a way back into the match 10 minutes before the break when fullback Sam Bird handled Jay Fitzmartin’s low cross into the box. Griffiths stepped up and confidently fired the penalty straight down the middle to make it 2-1.
Both keepers then produced two fantastic saves to keep the score at 2-1. First Boyes denied Payne with an acrobatic low save, and, from the resulting corner, he was equal to Ethan Stewart’s header.
In the second minute of stoppage time, man of the match Michael Donohue made a brilliant weaving run past three defenders and dug out a cross into the box for Max Cane who hit it on the half volley. Former FC United keeper turned pantomime villain Cameron Belford made a great save at the near post and then produced a superb block to deny Donohue on the rebound.
Into the second half and United were still very much in the match as Belford was called into the action early on to make a save at his near post. However, on 57 minutes the Reds once again failed to deal with a fairly routine ball into the box.
A long throw-in from Bird was flicked on by Jake Moult and Nathan Blissett’s looping header evaded Boyes to find the far bottom corner to make it 3-1. United’s appeals for a free-kick for an apparent push in the build-up fell on deaf ears.
Reynolds soon rang out the changes with Keane Barugh and Nic Bollardo being introduced for Declan McLoughin and Cane in quick succession shortly after the hour mark. It took Barugh and Bollardo just 15 minutes to get United back into the match.
Bollardo made a dangerous run down the left before squaring the ball to Donohue, who released it to Barugh and the Stockport County loanee curled a magnificent effort over Belford into the back of the net for 3-2.
Charlie Ennis then came off the bench for Griffiths and United began to build momentum. Moments later, a corner by Hall was cleared off a crowded goal line when even the faintest of touches could have resulted in the equaliser.
The Reds were in the ascendancy and with 10 minutes to go, rightback Chiekh Thiam curled a tantalising cross to back post to the unmarked Fitzmartin but his glancing header wasn’t strong enough and went wide when the goal was at his mercy.
With a minute to go, right winger Elliot Morris was unleashed through on goal by Donohue. With two chasing defenders bearing down on him, Morris toe-poked a shot agonisingly over the top corner of the bar. Despite five minutes of stoppage time, the Reds couldn’t muster another meaningful chance and left Marston Road empty handed.
FC United must now pick themselves up with three fixtures this week against three teams who have won both their games so far – with visits to Broadhurst Park by Ilkeston on Tuesday and Macclesfield on Saturday, followed a trip to Radcliffe on Bank Holiday Monday.
Website man of the match: Michael Donohue. Played with guile and urgency throughout. Clearly the best player on the pitch and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.
Report by Matthew Haley
