Late blow for Red Reserves at Hyde

FC United reserves came away from Ewen Fields empty handed as a scrambled late goal saw Hyde United take all three points with a 2-1 win, Francesco Frangillo scoring for the reds.

The home side were quicker out of the blocks, forcing a corner after just 36 seconds. A thirty yard free kick from Kane Hickman on five minutes was saved by Sajjad before FC United got going; a ball through to Frangillo saw him with a run on goal but sadly starting from an offside position.

Hyde should have taken the lead on 20 minutes but ex red reserve Tunde Owolabi contrived to head wide from scarcely more than a yard. FC had their best chance some five minutes later when Mike Jones played a ball from his own half to Kisimba Kisimba via Frangillo but his shot ran across goal and wide.

From that move Hyde broke forward and threatened. Two diving saves from Sajjad kept the scoreline blank, but that wasn’t to last for long. A move between Marcus and Lewis Haydock saw the latter shoot home after 33 minutes.

Frangillo levelled the score shortly before half time when a ball forward gave him the chance to run in at goal. His strength in holding off the Hyde defenders was in keeping with his whole display as he finished calmly.

The second half was equally tight, possession statistics, if they existed might show that Hyde had the better of possession but it was FC United who showed the greater adventure. Kisimba and Will Shawcross had chances without truly testing Ryan Crump in the visitors net. Hyde mostly played in front of the visitors defence, Mason Davis and Steve Eddy provided a solid central pairing whilst Mike Jones and Sam O’Donnell as holding midfielders scarcely put a foot wrong. Elliott Simoes on the right of midfield was an ever willing source for attacking ideas, Brown and Razavet as full backs were excellent.

The Hyde winner came in the 88th minute from a corner. The ball bounced around so much in the area it was quite impossible to see from the half way line who got the final touch. Indeed it was only the shouts from the Hyde players that confirmed the ball had, however briefly, crossed the line.

The two sides reconvene on the 3G at Broadhurst Park next Saturday. A 2pm kick off provides a prelude to the Austria Salzburg game on the main pitch. Your support would be most welcome as the lads seek a reversal of fortunes.