Match Report

FC United booked their place in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and a trip to the Fylde Coast to take on Fleetwood on Saturday 15 September after demolishing Trafford 5-2 at Altrincham’s Moss Lane stadium in front of 2,238 supporters.

The Reds were quick out of the blocks and appeared to be champing at the bit to get their FA Cup debut underway. Rob Nugent headed the first from a corner after only 11 minutes and Josh Howard doubled the lead just six minutes later, side footing home from close range after a precise move from Shaun Roscoe and Jerome Wright.

Wright could have made it 3-0 seconds later as United looked like they were going to run riot, but keeper Martin Campbell made an impressive point blank save. And if anyone in the United team or the sizeable crowd was getting carried away about a trip to the seaside in the next round of the competition, Trafford soon brought them back down to earth with a bump - scoring two goals in five minutes to level the match.

A Chris Mackay strike left Sam Ashton floundering at his near post and a delicate chip from Andy Lundy was bordering on being unstoppable as Trafford made it clear to their former North West Counties Division One rivals that they wouldn’t have everything their own way.

The home side dug their heels in and enjoyed their best spell of the match giving a shell shocked United cause for concern. However, the Reds regrouped and got back to doing what they do best - playing fast, attacking football down the wings.

Nicky Platt coolly converted a penalty on the stroke of half time and the result was put beyond doubt in the second half when Simon Carden got on the score sheet after 69 minutes and hard working substitute Anthony Hargreaves got his well earned second for the club in injury time to complete the rout.