FC United beaten at league leaders AFC Fylde - Full report and Highlights

FC United went down 3-1 against AFC Fylde at Mill Farm on Saturday afternoon in front of 2,821 supporters but the Reds will be pleased with their performance despite the result.



FC United went down 3-1 against AFC Fylde at Mill Farm on Saturday afternoon in front of 2,821 supporters but the Reds will be pleased with their performance despite the result.

Karl Marginson’s side went toe-to-toe with the full time professionals who sit on top of Vanarama National League North and were unfortunate to trail 2-0 at halftime. The Reds worked hard throughout and found a way back into the match via a Harry Winter goal with 11 minutes to go.

However, just when it looked like FC United might have a chance of finding an equaliser, Fylde netted a third goal seven minutes later to cap a very professional performance.

The Coasters came into the game having only tasted defeat twice in 23 games and with a six-point lead over second placed Kidderminster. As such, it was always going to be a tough ask to come away with anything for the Reds, who themselves came into the game on the back of six league games without defeat.

But in the early going it was FC United who took the game to their hosts. Fired up for the challenge, the men in red closed everything down and started moving the ball at a high tempo, looking to create chances from the off.

Jason Gilchrist had a great opportunity to open the scoring early on as a free-kick was floated into the far post where Gilchrist rushed in but his powerful header went just over the bar.

The start was more than encouraging for the Reds but it was clear that the Coasters would be dangerous coming forward. The hosts fired a couple of early warning shots. First there was a free-kick, which was saved by Adriano Basso, and that was followed by an effort from outside the box that hit the bar moments later.

It was just before the half hour mark that Brendan Daniels gave the home team the lead. Fylde showed their class by quickly moving the ball around to create a simple opportunity for Daniels to clinically turn in at the near post after a low, hard ball was fired in from the right flank.

The goal didn’t reduce FC United’s efforts though and just seconds later it could; and should, have been level again. George Thomson connected with a controlled volley from just inside the box which was acrobatically turned over the bar by Fylde’s goalkeeper Rhys Taylor.

Sensing an immediate way back into the game, the Reds came on strong and had two glorious opportunities in the space of two minutes. Matthew Wolfenden saw is close range effort saved by Taylor before captain Jerome Wright hit the post. But it was the home team who found the net next.

A quick break allowed Dan Bradley to put the ball away to double the advantage seven minutes before halftime. Often a late goal in the first half can take the wind out of the sails, but Margy’s men still looked up for the fight in the second half and came out with the same tempo and drive which they had brought to the first 45 minutes.

Chances were harder to come by in the second half though as the home team looked to consolidate their lead and proved difficult to break down. But in the last fifteen minutes the Reds made a real fight of the game.

The best opportunity to get back into the game came when Gilchrist saw his effort pushed away by Taylor before the on-rushing Chantler fired the rebound over the bar.

Moments later, the lead was halved when Winter took the ball past Taylor in the box and slotted home to give FC the goal their performance had deserved and set up a grandstand finish.

Thomson then saw his effort deflected just wide as the Reds came on strong, looking to take something away from the game. However, another quick counter by the hosts saw Matty Hughes fire past Basso to restore the two-goal lead and kill off any comeback.

The scoreline may have flattered the home team a little and it was a much closer game than 3-1 would certainly suggest. The Reds will no doubt take the positives away from the performance and look to take that into the next games which will ultimately shape our season.

Website Man of the Match: Harry Winter – Another impressive performance from Winter, who capped it off with a goal.

Report by Craig Phillips.