Match Preview : Classic cup tie beckons for FC United

We're hoping to extend our FA Cup odyssey this Saturday as we welcome Curzon Ashton to Broadhurst Park. 

Just four miles and one division separate the clubs as we lock horns in the second qualifying round of England’s greatest cup competition. 

Neil Reynolds’ men dumped Curzon out of the cup on their own turf two years ago, with Regan Linney and Charlie Ennis propelling the side to a 2-1 victory behind closed doors.

And now, with the force of the fans behind them, they set their sights on another memorable victory. FC United have a strong FA Cup record since 2015, making it past the current stage in all but one season and reaching the First Round Proper twice. Their best run came in 2010-11 when they surged to the Second Round Proper, where they lost in a replay against Brighton. 

Curzon Ashton are National League North mainstays and sit snugly in 11th after three wins, two draws, and three losses so far this campaign. 

On Tuesday evening, The Nash visited Spennymoor in the heart of the County Durham countryside, and were held to a 0-0 draw, though they did create the lion’s share of goalscoring chances.

They were menacing in the game before that, snatching a 3-0 victory away at Gloucester City. The glut of goals came in the space of ten second-half minutes, with leading marksman and ex-FC striker Tom Peers bagging a brace and Josh Hancock netting from the penalty spot. 

Peers is definitely one to watch for Curzon. The centre-forward has four goals to his name this season and has previous experience at National League level with Altrincham, though he never quite wrestled his way into being a consistent starter. 

At the other end of the park, The Nash look solid. They have one of the most watertight defences in the National League North this season and have kept three clean sheets. Stopper Chris Renshaw was one of the best custodians in the league last season and has carried that form into this campaign, making some critical one-on-one saves in recent games. 

But the FC United faithful who attended the game against Matlock Town on Tuesday night should be optimistic after a quietly promising display. 

It wasn’t all plain sailing. The Reds met a good counter-attacking side in Matlock and the score was 1-1 going into stoppage time, but a spectacular 92nd-minute free-kick from Callum Gribbin glided into the top corner to plunge Broadhurst Park into hysteria.

Reno’s red army played with a passing swagger and bedded multiple new signings into the starting line-up: Dontai Gabidon, Will Russ, and Joe Rodwell-Grant. All three put in impressive displays. 

Rodwell-Grant and Russ, both forwards, arrive with pedigree from the upper echelons of football, joining from Fleetwood and Wigan Athletic respectively. 

Gabidon, a silky-footed winger, has joined from West Didsbury and Chorlton, where he became a fan favourite. One admirer on Twitter even went as far as labelling him ‘the greatest footballer in the world’ as he stunned Barnoldswick Town with a hat-trick in August. (For comparison, other candidates for the greatest footballer tag, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, have a combined haul of zero goals against Barnoldswick.)

FC United’s victory against Matlock was much-needed after a tricky spell, having previously lost three league games on the bounce against Radcliffe Borough, Witton Albion, and Hyde United and failing to register a home win all season. 

And so Saturday calls. If it counts for anything, FC United have a storied history against Curzon: ten wins, five draws, and two defeats have come out of this Manchester rivalry extending back to 2006. At their own stomping ground, The Reds have never lost to Curzon. 

Will Curzon’s curse continue? Will Reno’s men add another memorable story to our FA Cup folklore? Get yourselves down to Broadhurst Park at 3pm on Saturday to find out! 

By Luke Power