FC United aim to keep pressure up by beating bogey team Buxton

Following the buzz of Tuesday night’s epic 2-2 draw against league leaders Chorley, FC United now have five games to go. If we win them all and The Magpies slip up just once in their four remaining matches – we will be champions of the Evo-Stik Premier Division and promoted to the Conference North.

However, despite enjoying an incredible run of 12 victories and two draws in our last 14 league matches, winning five more in exactly 15 days will not be easy, especially as manager Karl Marginson and his players may now need to keep one eye on saving energy for potentially two extra games in the play-offs.

For now though, they will be fully focussed on keeping the pressure up on Chorley by beating our next opponents Buxton on Youth United Day, where under-18s gain free entry to Gigg Lane and are invited to enjoy a whole host of other activities before kick-off.

Saturday also marks the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. Along with most leagues across the UK, the Evo-Stik League has agreed as a mark of respect to move all kick-off times to 3.07pm. The significance being it marks the exact time in 1989 when the tragic FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, which resulted in the deaths of 96 football supporters, was abandoned.

Back to this Saturday and United will be confident of gaining another three points having already beaten the 14th placed Bucks 2-0 in December with goals from Matthew Wolfenden and Mike Norton. However, nothing will be taken for granted.

Somewhat alarmingly for the statisticians and superstitious, Buxton have a hold over the Reds at Gigg Lane and Bower Fold. United have never beaten the Bucks at home in five attempts since 2009 and we have in fact lost the last four of those encounters.

So, if the Reds are to go onto win the title, they will need to beat Buxton at home for the first ever time. With Chorley entertaining the already relegated Stocksbridge Park Steels, the Magpies are odds on favourites to pick up another three points at Victory Park, so United will need to do just the same. If any FC United side of the past nine years can achieve that milestone then there is a sense that it will be this team who can do it.

Get yourself to that football ground as FC United head into the home straight of the title race. It’s pay on the gate as usual with ticket prices voted for by our members - £8 adults, £5 concessions and FREE tomorrow for under 18s.