Ossett Town preview

It’s back to business on Wednesday evening at Gigg Lane as FC United take on Ossett Town, in a game they will be looking to win and carry on the ascent up towards the play-off positions. Craig Phillips provides this preview"¦

After going two goals down before half-time against North Ferriby on Saturday, United showed great heart and spirit to fight back to earn a 3-3 draw, and maintain an unbeaten run in 2010 that now stretches to an impressive seven games.

Margy’s men will no doubt be looking towards those play-off positions, and know that a win on Wednesday will not only see them leapfrog Ashton United (who went down 2-0 at home to Matlock Town on Monday) into eighth position in the league but also keep up the good form ahead of upcoming fixtures with teams around them including Matlock Town, Hucknall Town and Buxton this coming Saturday in what will surely be the make or break run of games in United’s season.

United have a 100% record against the visitors from West Yorkshire, winning 4-0 and 3-2, away and at home respectively last season, and have already been to the wonderfully named Stade France this season where a last minute goal from captain David Chadwick gave United the spoils in a 2-1 win.

The Town; as the club is known to its fans, were originally formed in 1936, and became members of the Northern Premier League in 1998 when they finished second behind near neighbours Ossett Albion in their very first season.

Although the club has been about since 1936, they have enjoyed their best years since the turn of the millennium; which saw them promoted to the premier division after the formation of the Conference North in 2005, and in that same season the Town had their best run in the FA Cup, reaching the fourth and final qualifying round only to lose out to Leamington.

The Town finished the 2008 season in eighteenth position, and only avoided relegation on goal difference, and after a slow start to last season they eventually put a good run together in the second half of the season which saw them finish the season in twelfth place.

Things haven’t been so good this season though as the club currently only have Durham City below them, and have only managed to pick up 22 points so far. Behind Durham City they have the worst defence, conceding 55 goals in 25 games, and have only managed to hit the back of the net 30 times this term.

Their current form doesn’t do much to inspire having won twice since a 3-1 victory at home to Buxton in September (both those subsequent victories being over Durham City) and have lost their last three games including a 7-0 thrashing at Boston United on Saturday.

Looking at the stats on paper the pools panel would say home win but we all know the problem with underestimating teams and Margy will be keen to impose on his players how tough the away fixture was earlier in the season, trying to rid the players minds of an easy night’s work.

Whatever the outcome Wednesday’s game should be an intriguing battle and is the first of 14 remaining games in a busy schedule before the 24 April. Kick-off is the usual 7.45pm and admission is the usual price on the gate. So get yourself to that football ground and help maintain the current run as the Reds go marching on.