FC United through to next round of the FA Cup with win over Witton Albion

The second qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup beckons for FC United after they defeated Witton Albion with a hard fought 1-0 win at The Wincham Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

In was no surprise that only one goal separated the two teams – the game was pretty turgid stuff with neither team showing any particular quality in front of goal. The only shot on target in 90 minutes was the winning goal. 

Albion were looking the busier of the two sides, with Harry McGee, just signed from FC United being the liveliest player on show. 

There was only two shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes, one from home midfielder Lee Jackson and one from Alex Wollerton – on his first competitive start for FC United – after a good one-two with Regan Linney. 

The other half chance came from McGee, who saw a shot blocked in first half injury time after a driving run.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first, the first thing of any note being a trip on Linney in the Witton box on 68 minutes, the referee unmoved by the appeal. 

Linney had a couple of shots and headers wide for The Reds. Taylor Kennerley was played in behind the FC defence but happily for the away side, he couldn’t collect the ball.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Elliot Rokka fired in a 30-yard free-kick that flew wide of the post. Even the slightest of touches from a home player would have created a worrying moment for FC.

With just three minutes to go, with a Broadhurst Park replay looming, the deadlock was finally broken when the ball was played through to Max McCarthy. With pretty much the only bit of class on the day, he finished well into the far corner to win the game.

The adage that a win is a win is certainly appropriate because in the end – the record books show a 1-0 victory for FC United and path into the next round.

Report by Steven Wood