Match preview: FC United welcome neighbours Salford City to Broadhurst Park

FC United welcome our neighbours and rivals Salford City to Broadhurst Park for the first time this Saturday for an intriguing match.

The clubs have met six times before, with United ahead four wins to two in those encounters. But for many, the prospect of hosting some of Manchester United’s all conquering Class of ’92 for the first time creates a unique occasion. For others, our opponents’ owners are not overly important, Saturday simply brings another match that FC United will be aiming to win.

As has been well documented, five of Fergie’s Treble winning Fledglings Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Phil and Gary Neville each own 10% of Salford City after buying the club outright in 2014, before selling 50% to Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim just a few months later.

The sometimes controversial takeover has gained a lot of media attention but it has also seen the Ammies win two consecutive promotions under joint managers Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson.

After taking the Northern Premier League Division One North title in 2015, Salford won promotion to the Vanarama National League North at the first attempt by finishing third and beating Workington in the play-off final last season. City are looking to complete a hat-trick of promotions this year and are currently in fourth place, despite this being the highest level the club has ever played at in its 77 year history.

Salford come to Broadhurst Park in a good run of form with four wins and one defeat in the last five. The loss came last Saturday 4-2 at promotion rivals Halifax Town but the Ammies bounced back with a 4-0 win at home to Nuneaton Town on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, FC United have won one, drawn three and lost one in our last five games. However, the mid-table Reds have shown they can compete at this level and the one defeat in those matches was at league leaders, Fylde.

Salford won the reverse of this fixture 1-0 at Moor Lane back in August but FC United won’t be too concerned about that and will see Saturday as an opportunity to continue their good head-to-head record against their neighbours.

The Reds will be without Luke Ashworth and Scott Kay for one more match as they complete suspensions. But teenage centre-back Sam Baird has shown he can more than cope with their absence and midfielder Harry Winter is available to return after his one game ban.

United will be looking to keep quiet Salford’s main danger man, Michael Phenix. The striker scored the winner in August and is the Ammies’ top-scorer with 11 goals so far this season. Meanwhile, FC United’s George Thomson will be looking to add to his impressive tally of 14 goals from midfield.

FC United of Manchester versus Salford City is this Saturday afternoon at Broadhurst Park with the traditional and supporter-friendly kick-off time of three o’clock. It’s pay on the gate as usual with prices at £9 for adults, £5 for concessions, and £2 for under-18s. Get yourself to that football ground.