Fantastic FC United fightback earns FA Cup replay against Stockport County
A superb second half fight back saw FC United come from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Stockport County in the Emirates FA Cup, forcing what looked like an unlikely replay at Broadhurst Park on Tuesday night.
At the break a comeback seemed nothing but a pipe dream but goals from Jason Gilchrist, Tom Greaves and Steve Irwin sealed a memorable result.
The home team settled into the game quicker, looking dangerous going forward on a few occasions with Adam Thomas on the right looking particularly dangerous.
The opening goal was a bit of a gift with Fagbola and Corbett running into each other just inside the FC half, missing the interception and allowing Marty Warburton a free run in on Allinson’s goal; an opportunity he calmly took to put County a goal up.
FC were immediately under pressure following the goal, with the defence looking shaky, and the home team and crowd fired up, but managed to come through the spell without giving away anything else.
Just after the half hour mark a clumsy and heavy challenge by Fagbola gave away a free kick at the edge of the box. Warburton once again took full advantage of the opportunity drilling a low free kick past Allinson to make it 2-0.
Things went from bad to worse just before the break as a ball from the left was put away on the volley by Jason Oswell. A well taken goal, but with your team already two goals down in a cup tie you’d probably be looking for more fight from your defence in scenarios like this.
Knowing that any slight hope of a comeback would need a fast start Margy opted to bring on Tom Greaves, Joel Logan and Matty Hughes at the start of the second half.
The three changes had the desired effect as a quick break away early in the second half was finished well by Gilchrist from outside the box to cut the deficit to two, with well over half an hour left to play.
Daniel Wisdom should have cut it to just one seconds later putting his effort from inside the box just wide.
With the momentum definitely behind them FC looked a completely different team, winning the ball and moving it with real speed and purpose. So it was no surprise when Tom Greaves grabbed a second for the Reds finishing off a beautiful team move to set up a grandstand finish.
There was a real sense of panic around Edgeley Park as the home team looked disorganised at the back and couldn’t string anything together going forward, the game was there for the taking for FC and both Gilchrist and Corbett forced saves from Ben Hinchcliffe in the County goal.
Hinchcliffe had a moment of madness challenging Greaves in the box, leaving the referee no option but to point at the spot. Steve Irwin stepped up and fired home to make it 3-3 with seven minutes plus stoppage time remaining and complete what looked the most unlikely of comebacks after a poor first half showing.
Both teams seemed to be stuck between going for the win or taking the replay, but neither created any clear cut chances in a nail biting last five minutes.
The two teams will now meet again in Moston on Tuesday evening, with a place in the fourth qualifying round up for grabs. If it’s half as good a game as the first tie then you definitely don’t want to miss this one.
Website man of the match: Tom Greaves - Scored one and won the penalty late on, brought something fresh to the second half with the triple substitution proving to be a catalyst for the comeback.
Report by Craig Phillips
Fantastic FC United fightback earns FA Cup replay against Stockport County
A superb second half fight back saw FC United come from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Stockport County in the Emirates FA Cup, forcing what looked like an unlikely replay at Broadhurst Park on Tuesday night.
At the break a comeback seemed nothing but a pipe dream but goals from Jason Gilchrist, Tom Greaves and Steve Irwin sealed a memorable result.
The home team settled into the game quicker, looking dangerous going forward on a few occasions with Adam Thomas on the right looking particularly dangerous.
The opening goal was a bit of a gift with Fagbola and Corbett running into each other just inside the FC half, missing the interception and allowing Marty Warburton a free run in on Allinson’s goal; an opportunity he calmly took to put County a goal up.
FC were immediately under pressure following the goal, with the defence looking shaky, and the home team and crowd fired up, but managed to come through the spell without giving away anything else.
Just after the half hour mark a clumsy and heavy challenge by Fagbola gave away a free kick at the edge of the box. Warburton once again took full advantage of the opportunity drilling a low free kick past Allinson to make it 2-0.
Things went from bad to worse just before the break as a ball from the left was put away on the volley by Jason Oswell. A well taken goal, but with your team already two goals down in a cup tie you’d probably be looking for more fight from your defence in scenarios like this.
Knowing that any slight hope of a comeback would need a fast start Margy opted to bring on Tom Greaves, Joel Logan and Matty Hughes at the start of the second half.
The three changes had the desired effect as a quick break away early in the second half was finished well by Gilchrist from outside the box to cut the deficit to two, with well over half an hour left to play.
Daniel Wisdom should have cut it to just one seconds later putting his effort from inside the box just wide.
With the momentum definitely behind them FC looked a completely different team, winning the ball and moving it with real speed and purpose. So it was no surprise when Tom Greaves grabbed a second for the Reds finishing off a beautiful team move to set up a grandstand finish.
There was a real sense of panic around Edgeley Park as the home team looked disorganised at the back and couldn’t string anything together going forward, the game was there for the taking for FC and both Gilchrist and Corbett forced saves from Ben Hinchcliffe in the County goal.
Hinchcliffe had a moment of madness challenging Greaves in the box, leaving the referee no option but to point at the spot. Steve Irwin stepped up and fired home to make it 3-3 with seven minutes plus stoppage time remaining and complete what looked the most unlikely of comebacks after a poor first half showing.
Both teams seemed to be stuck between going for the win or taking the replay, but neither created any clear cut chances in a nail biting last five minutes.
The two teams will now meet again in Moston on Tuesday evening, with a place in the fourth qualifying round up for grabs. If it’s half as good a game as the first tie then you definitely don’t want to miss this one.
Website man of the match: Tom Greaves - Scored one and won the penalty late on, brought something fresh to the second half with the triple substitution proving to be a catalyst for the comeback.
Report by Craig Phillips
