In a game of four halves...

Collyhurst and Damhead defeat the Outcasts in game of four halves

This Saturday the FC Outcasts took on Collyhurst and Damhead in an 11-a-side community cohesion fixture at a rain sodden Goshen Sports Centre. The FC Outcasts were joined, as they frequently have been this season, by six players from the Barnardo’s Making it Work project who train with the FC United community coaches. Collyhurst and Damhead while training regularly together had struggled to find teams to play against in competitive matches, so the game represented an excellent opportunity to test themselves against different opposition. Both teams had large squads so a format of four 20 minute ’halves’ was decided upon allowing everyone to get a game. Community volunteer Andrew Serraillier took on refereeing duties, with regular ref Phil Schofield busy taking pupils from Old Trafford Primary School and Stretford High School to the FC game.

The Match

The first period of the game was one of few chances with both sides struggling to come to terms with the tricky conditions, the Outcasts had the only clear chance to break the deadlock with a one-on-one but sadly the effort went wide. The second half saw Collyhurst and Damhead’s greater experience of training together start to pay off with them increasingly dominating possession and territory and, following a foul on the edge of the Outcasts box, they chalked up the game’s first goal with a fine free-kick. A second goal quickly followed, although this one was not without controversy, with the Outcasts appealing in vain for an offside decision that never came following a through-ball and neat finish from Collyhurst and Damhead. The third period continued in a similar vein with Collyhurst and Damhead well on top. Three further goals came including a fine long range effort from outside the box and an intricate passing-move and strong shot leaving the score at the end of the third period as 5-0 to Collyhurst and Damhead. At this point Collyhurst and Damhead were threatening a very large score, but a superb defensive effort from the Outcasts, particularly their centre-backs who were excellent throughout the match, meant Collyhurst and Damhead were restricted to just one further goal in the final period meaning the final score was FC Outcasts 0 Collyhurst and Damhead 6.

The players from Collyhurst & Damhead were, of course, very pleased with the result and are more determined than ever to set up a team to compete in a league next season, possibly with help from FC United’s community team. The Making It Work players are also planning to set up a team and, again, they hope to be working with FC United coaches.
The final community Cohesion event of the season will be on Youth United Day - the 24th of April. Along with an 11-a-side fixture we are organising a 7-a-side tournament for 16-19 year olds involving 6 teams. If you know of any group of young people or youth project that may be interested in entering a team in the tournament, please contact robinpye@fc-utd.co.uk

Keep checking the new FC United in the community website at www.fc-utd.co.uk/community for more updates on the club’s latest community work as well as reports and photos from previous FCUM community activities.