FC United fight back against Matlock to stay top + HIGHLIGHTS

Tom Greaves scored two second half goals as FC United came from 1-0 down against Matlock Town at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon to remain top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division with seven games to go.

Midweek results had seen the Reds move to the summit of the league, so now the pressure was on to keep our destiny in our own hands.

The starting XI remained unchanged as United recorded their 11th consecutive league victory in front of a home crowd of 2,044.

FC United began well, pressuring early on and getting the ball forward. Despite this, there was little sign of an end product, and the game somewhat lacked spark and tempo in the opening stages as the Reds looked for the opener.

A spell of pinball inside the Matlock area should have provided FC with just that, however United could do all but get the ball over the line and the visitors were able to clear.

Matthew Wolfenden had perhaps the best chance of the half for United just prior to the half hour mark. Lee Neville and Jerome Wright linked up down the left before the latter found Greaves who brought the ball inside. A short ball to Wolfenden saw the forward take a touch before his curling shot on goal forced a good save from Jon Kennedy, palming the ball behind.

The Reds came close from the resultant corner; however stalwart centre-half, Charlie Raglan, received a head injury in the process and was unable to continue, Adam Jones came on as a like-for-like replacement.

The loss of Raglan disrupted the team somewhat and Matlock were looking to test, having come into the game considerably more.

The visitors came close with a free-kick as half time neared, before Wolfenden had his shot cleared off the line following good work from Wright.

Matlock had the final say of the first period on the stroke of half-time with Danny Holland taking his chance and giving the visitors the lead at a crucial point in the encounter. United lost the ball in the centre of the park and Joe Leesley picked out Holland who’d made a good run, leaving the defence behind. Holland beat Callum Byrne for pace and put the ball across Carnell from close range, making it 1-0.

United came out for the second half knowing that a quick way back into the game had to be on the cards, and had to wait only three minutes for Greaves to provide the all-important equaliser.

Neville headed a clearance from Kennedy straight back into the mix and Jones helped the ball onto Greaves who turned and controlled into the area, splitting the defence and firing between Kennedy and the upright for the equaliser. Game on.

Moments later, Jones came close with a header, putting it just over the bar, from Liam Brownhill’s corner, minutes before the centre-half was required in his own area to make a brilliant saving tackle to deny Shaun Tuton who’d gone through one-on-one with Carnell.

Excellent play down the left from Wright saw the winger run to the dead-ball line before finding Greaves who knocked the ball onto Mike Norton in the six yard box. The reaction of the crowd was telling that Norton surely should have put the Reds ahead but the striker somehow managed to put the ball over the bar and into the Manchester Road End.

On 64 minutes, Greaves scored his 32nd goal of the season and in doing so gave United the priceless three points that keeps us top of the league.

Brownhill’s throw picked out Jones who flicked the ball onto Greaves at the far post. The striker hit the ball on the half volley into the back of the net to the jubilation of the both the FC United faithful and the bench.

Jones, enjoying a brilliant second half, was soon the saviour for United again, denying Tuton an excellent chance. The defender was the involved in an almost carbon copy of FC United’s second goal, however Kennedy was this time able to claim.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, Tuton again broke and this time Neville had to be alert to the threat, getting back with a great challenge to put the ball out of danger.

United’s final substitutions came in quick succession with Greg Daniels replacing Greaves and then four minutes later Byrne making way for Joe Fox. The two added minutes proved tense for the home crowd as Matlock were far from giving up.

Stoppage time allowed the visitors one final attack but as FC hooked the ball away, the final whistle sounded another huge victory for the Reds.

True spirit and desire played a major part in a hard-fought win for FC United who now have just seven games left this season. Next up is the visit of Grantham Town, being played at Bower Fold on Tuesday.

Report by Victoria Fullen.

Website Man of the Match: Tom Greaves – although all played a part in another important win, Greaves provided two fantastic goals in a vital comeback.