FC United go into Fenix Trophy finals with victory in Valencia

FC United continued their 100% record in the Fenix Trophy by beating CD Cuenca Mestallistes 5-2 in Valencia on Tuesday night to finish top of Group A with a maximum of 12 points from four games.
 

Captain Charlie Ennis broke the deadlock early on with a wonder strike from the halfway line before a Michael Potts volley, a second half brace by Max Cane, and a Curtis Jones header secured a comfortable victory at the Campo de Futbol Serrans. 

The Reds will now wait on the conclusion of Group B to discover who their semi-final opponents will be this summer in Italy.

Around 200 FC United fans made the trip for the club’s first ever game in Spain and they were treated to another very enjoyable occasion against the oldest amateur club in Valencia, having been formed in 1925.

Making Friends Not Millionaires is the slogan of the tournament that has so far brought together supporter-owned clubs from no fewer than 10 European countries in the first two editions. 

However, despite the friendly nature off the pitch, the vast majority of games are still fiercely contested and the Reds will be pleased with another victory. 

Despite going behind to Ennis’ early goal, Cuenca fought back and drew level midway through the first half. However, the parity was short-lived as Potts put United back into the lead just two minutes later when he drilled home Sandro Da Costa’s left wing cross. 

Following a fairly even first hour, the visitors took the game away from their hosts in the final 30 minutes. 

Striker Cane, who joined the club two weeks ago, scored his first FC United goal with a penalty on 65 minutes after being upended in the box. 3-1.

Just three minutes later, he doubled his tally by pouncing on a rebound from an Alex Wollerton shot to make it 4-1. 

Jones headed home an Ennis corner at the back post with a little over 15 minutes to go to make it 5-1 before Cuenca bagged a well-deserved consolation goal inside the last five minutes. 

Website man of the man: Charlie Ennis. United’s captain led by example again, scored surely one of the best goals of his career and provided the fifth for Jones. 

Report by Matthew Haley