FC United continue FA Cup march by beating Kendal

Two Dean Stott penalties and an Adam Jones header gave FC United a 3-1 victory over Kendal Town in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup sponsored by Budweiser on Sunday afternoon at Gigg Lane.

United looked sloppy in the first half and went in a goal down at the break after Kevin Leadbitter’s well taken opener in the first quarter of an hour. But the Reds fought back in the second period and fully deserved to book their place in the hat for Monday’s draw.

United started the game brightly enough looking dangerous in the early part, with the most noticeable move being a linkup between Lee Neville and Jerome Wright on the left which eventually came to nothing.

But, as was the case in the FA Carlsberg Trophy tie against Mossley a week previously, United were a bit sloppy in the middle of the park, and were given a bit of a scare when Leadbitter had a free-kick from 25 yards out rattle the United crossbar.

Throughout the afternoon both sets of players were frustrated to say the least with the decisions of referee Steven Meredith, and the man in black (or even a bib on this occasion) made no friends in the home crowd when he turned down a penalty appeal from Jerome Wright after the United winger as pulled down in the box.

Seconds later and United were punished further as Leadbitter took his chance coolly putting the ball over goalkeeper Jon Worsnop and into the United net to put the visiting team a goal to the good.

Kendal were the busier of the two teams in the first half and rushed into every challenge, closing United down at every available opportunity and the Reds needed to knock it up a gear or two in the second half if they stood any chance of staying in the competition.

The second half began in the same way much of the first had been played. And so, never one afraid to make a decision, Margy decided to bring on Chris Amadi for Jake Cottrell to give United more of a presence in the final third of the pitch.

Almost immediately Amadi got into the game. The young forward’s pace and physical presence on the ball gave the visiting defenders something to think about and some good work on the left saw Amadi fire the ball across the box with Nicky Platt almost connecting inside the six yard box.

United looked more dangerous and were attacking with real intent and when Wright’s shot was seemingly stopped by a hand in the box – the Reds were given a lifeline in the form of a penalty. Up stepped Stott who fired the ball to the right of Kendal ‘keeper Craig Dootson to level the scores.

The home side looked a different team in the second half and carried on pressing forward looking for the second, and nearly had it when Wright had a great effort from outside the box just tipped over by Dootson.

The Reds didn’t have long to wait though as Jones rose well from the resulting corner and powerfully headed home to give United a 2-1 lead, and one foot in the next round.

With the prospect of heading out of the cup hanging over them, Kendal pushed forward to find a route back in the game but this just played to United’s strengths as the Reds looked dangerous on the counter. In the closing minutes, Wright found himself with the ball in the box, he coolly sold Dootson the dummy before seeing his strike at goal stopped by the hands of Kendal defender Paul Alexander.

Alexander was shown the red for a save his ‘keeper would have been proud of, and Stott was presented with the opportunity to grab his second and seal the victory. The centre-back fired the ball into the opposite corner to make it 3-1 and put United into the next round.

The Reds now await the draw for the fourth qualifying round on Monday and stand just 90 minutes away from reaching the first round proper for the second time in three seasons.

Website man of the match: Jerome Wright – was involved in everything United did, and was only denied a goal by the fingertips of the visiting ‘keeper and defender.

Report by Craig Phillips

Kendal Town
7th October 2012
Played at Gigg Lane, Bury
Won: 3-1
Half Time: 0-1
Attendance: 1186

FC United

1. Jon Worsnop
2. Kyle Jacobs (capt)
3. Lee Neville
4. Dave Birch (cautioned 57)
5. Adam Jones
6. Dean Stott
7. Phil McGrath
8. Jake Cottrell (cautioned 36)
9. Mike Norton (cautioned 17)
10. Jerome Wright
11. Nicky Platt
Subs

12. Chris Amadi (for 8 55)
13. Ryan Howley
14. Cedric Krou (for 11 72)
15. Scott Cheetham
16. Greg Daniels (for 9 89)
17. Charlie Anderson
18. Mathew Carr

Scorers: Stott 61 pen 87 pen, Jones 71

Kendal Town

1. Craig Dootson
2. Rory Winters
3. Danny Wisdom
4. Paul Alexander (sent off 86)
5. Marc Joseph (capt)
6. Ian Kilford
7. Alex Randell (cautioned 65)
8. Alex Taylor
9. Scott Harries
10. Danny Williams
11. Kevin Leadbetter

Subs

12. Ben Fishwick (for 8 29)
13.
14. Dave Foster
15. Naim El-Harratti (for 6 76)
16. Chris Mason (for 3 23)
17. Liam Shields
18. Edward Williams
GK Josh Welsby

Goals: Leadbetter 14