FC United in goalless draw at Warrington Rylands
FC United are seven points away from the Pitching In Northern Premier League play-offs with 10 games to go after drawing 0-0 away to Warrington Rylands on Saturday afternoon in front of 781 supporters.
Despite a stirring second half performance, with good goal-scoring chances falling to striker Matt Van Wyk and winger Dontai Gabidon, the Reds were unable to get the ball over the line in order to claim three valuable points.
Neil Reynolds’ side will be pleased with keeping a cleansheet and they encountered an organised and defensive performance from home side Rylands, who were watched over by their new manager Michael Clegg during his first home game in charge for the side.
As FC United’s support piled into the covered terrace behind the goal at Rylands’ Gorsey Lane ground, many were remarking how the stadium was a real throwback to our NWCFL days. The United faithful watched on as fresh-faced Ethan Vaughan and forward Keegan Hartley were named in the visitors’ starting line-up as Reynolds continues to adjust to a number of recent changes to the playing structure of his squad.
As the game kicked off, it was the hosts who made the stronger start to proceedings with Rylands looking eager to wrestle both points, and at times their opponents, during the afternoon’s opening exchanges.
Despite being refused a clear attempt on goal, former FC United forward Sean Cooke and striker Mo Touray presented FC’s defence with plenty of problems, and probably shaded the first half in terms of performance for the two teams.
FC United contained their hosts well, though, restricting their attacks on the box, and looking resolute in their back line in the process. Perhaps the best chance of the half for the visitors fell to winger Gabidon in the 32nd minute, as he weaved a path into the box from the right wing and aimed a shot at the near post, forcing a good save from Rylands’ keeper Luke Pilling.
During the halftime break, both sides were probably asked for more intensity from their managers, and pleasingly it was FC United who looked the more intent on taking the game to their opponents.
Following encouraging patterns of play from the visitors, the game started to fire into life as FC made a suite of changes, introducing Luke Griffiths and Alex Wollerton, which seemed to cause a change of focus and allowed the team to stretch play a bit more than at earlier points in the game.
As FC ramped up the pressure on their hosts, the visitors thought they had taken the lead in the 70th minute. Van Wyk had the ball in the back of the net following an error from keeper Pilling, who had rolled the ball to kick it out into play, only for Van Wyk to find it falling at his feet.
The Reds forward thought quickly, stealing the ball, promptly rounding Pilling, and striking the ball home, totally unopposed, into the back of the net. Both sides and their support seemed unsure about what had just happened, and despite the linesman being within clear sight of the incident, he remained impassive. This left the referee to rule the goal out from the half-way line as, rightly or wrongly, he deemed that Van Wyk had interfered with play.
The Reds kept pushing until the end but were unable to get the ball across the line again, at times looking slightly under-confident in front of goal.
Although good late chances fell for the visiting team, firstly for Gabidon who was unlucky not to connect properly with a ball which fell kindly for him at the back post, then for Keegan Hartley, who blazed a shot just inches over the bar from outside the area.
Finally, substitute Alex Wollerton rose well to meet an in-swinging cross from Donohue on the left wing, only to aim a powerful header narrowly off target. As the final whistle blew, the mood amongst the away support was one of mild frustration, but overall admiration for the commitment and application of a United side who are starting to slowly gel together.
In his post-match interview, Reynolds struck an optimistic tone. He said: “I was impressed with the boys today. We worked hard in training this week, on keeping our shape out of possession.
“We looked defensively sound, and good in both boxes, and on another day, we could have scored. We’re now two games unbeaten, so to come here and get a point ahead of the Liversedge game at home next Saturday, I’m happy with that.”
Website man of the match: Curtis Jones. A gritty performance in the heart of defence from FC’s captain for the afternoon. He managed to nullify the threat posed by Touray in the first half and was a key factor in the home side failing to register a shot on target during the afternoon.
Report by Sam Turner
FC United in goalless draw at Warrington Rylands
FC United are seven points away from the Pitching In Northern Premier League play-offs with 10 games to go after drawing 0-0 away to Warrington Rylands on Saturday afternoon in front of 781 supporters.
Despite a stirring second half performance, with good goal-scoring chances falling to striker Matt Van Wyk and winger Dontai Gabidon, the Reds were unable to get the ball over the line in order to claim three valuable points.
Neil Reynolds’ side will be pleased with keeping a cleansheet and they encountered an organised and defensive performance from home side Rylands, who were watched over by their new manager Michael Clegg during his first home game in charge for the side.
As FC United’s support piled into the covered terrace behind the goal at Rylands’ Gorsey Lane ground, many were remarking how the stadium was a real throwback to our NWCFL days. The United faithful watched on as fresh-faced Ethan Vaughan and forward Keegan Hartley were named in the visitors’ starting line-up as Reynolds continues to adjust to a number of recent changes to the playing structure of his squad.
As the game kicked off, it was the hosts who made the stronger start to proceedings with Rylands looking eager to wrestle both points, and at times their opponents, during the afternoon’s opening exchanges.
Despite being refused a clear attempt on goal, former FC United forward Sean Cooke and striker Mo Touray presented FC’s defence with plenty of problems, and probably shaded the first half in terms of performance for the two teams.
FC United contained their hosts well, though, restricting their attacks on the box, and looking resolute in their back line in the process. Perhaps the best chance of the half for the visitors fell to winger Gabidon in the 32nd minute, as he weaved a path into the box from the right wing and aimed a shot at the near post, forcing a good save from Rylands’ keeper Luke Pilling.
During the halftime break, both sides were probably asked for more intensity from their managers, and pleasingly it was FC United who looked the more intent on taking the game to their opponents.
Following encouraging patterns of play from the visitors, the game started to fire into life as FC made a suite of changes, introducing Luke Griffiths and Alex Wollerton, which seemed to cause a change of focus and allowed the team to stretch play a bit more than at earlier points in the game.
As FC ramped up the pressure on their hosts, the visitors thought they had taken the lead in the 70th minute. Van Wyk had the ball in the back of the net following an error from keeper Pilling, who had rolled the ball to kick it out into play, only for Van Wyk to find it falling at his feet.
The Reds forward thought quickly, stealing the ball, promptly rounding Pilling, and striking the ball home, totally unopposed, into the back of the net. Both sides and their support seemed unsure about what had just happened, and despite the linesman being within clear sight of the incident, he remained impassive. This left the referee to rule the goal out from the half-way line as, rightly or wrongly, he deemed that Van Wyk had interfered with play.
The Reds kept pushing until the end but were unable to get the ball across the line again, at times looking slightly under-confident in front of goal.
Although good late chances fell for the visiting team, firstly for Gabidon who was unlucky not to connect properly with a ball which fell kindly for him at the back post, then for Keegan Hartley, who blazed a shot just inches over the bar from outside the area.
Finally, substitute Alex Wollerton rose well to meet an in-swinging cross from Donohue on the left wing, only to aim a powerful header narrowly off target. As the final whistle blew, the mood amongst the away support was one of mild frustration, but overall admiration for the commitment and application of a United side who are starting to slowly gel together.
In his post-match interview, Reynolds struck an optimistic tone. He said: “I was impressed with the boys today. We worked hard in training this week, on keeping our shape out of possession.
“We looked defensively sound, and good in both boxes, and on another day, we could have scored. We’re now two games unbeaten, so to come here and get a point ahead of the Liversedge game at home next Saturday, I’m happy with that.”
Website man of the match: Curtis Jones. A gritty performance in the heart of defence from FC’s captain for the afternoon. He managed to nullify the threat posed by Touray in the first half and was a key factor in the home side failing to register a shot on target during the afternoon.
Report by Sam Turner
