Reds search for six out of six on Saturday

FC United go into Saturday’s FA Carlsberg Trophy fixture against Colwyn Bay looking to win their sixth game in a row, a competitive run of victories which hasn’t been achieved by the club since the 2007-08 season in the then UniBond Division One North.

The Reds are high on confidence at the moment and looking forward to an FA Cup sponsored by E.ON first round proper tie against League One side Rochdale but they cannot afford to overlook the task in hand against the weekend’s Welsh visitors.

The Seagulls, as they are nicknamed, were Divison One North play-off champions last season and currently sit in eighth spot in the Evo-Stik Premier Division – six places above FC United. Manager Karl Marginson knows his side need to remain focussed but he was pleased with how they responded when they returned to league action in midweek.

Margy said: "I was delighted with Tuesday’s performance as we recorded an excellent win over Ossett. Of course we’d beaten them comprehensively at home recently but it was always going to be a tricky game after Sunday’s exertions.

“We looked to freshen things up a bit by bringing in Mark Ayres, Simon Carden and Nicky Platt and stressed the need for us to match the fight which they’d inevitably show. The players did that and ultimately gave us a base to go on and win the game.

“Colwyn Bay are a good, experienced side and are doing well in the league. They lost a few players in the summer to Chester but I believe they’ve replaced them with what are very good capable footballers for this level so they’ll be no pushovers.

“The message we’ll be stressing on Saturday is to apply the same effort as last weekend - just because we’re playing a Football League side next week doesn’t mean we’re suddenly one of the big boys.

“We want to keep our winning streak going. It’s five games on the bounce now and we want to make it six and seven and eight. Winning gets to be a habit and victory on Saturday will take us nicely into next Friday’s game with confidence sky high."

With no fresh injury concerns but strikers Ben Deegan (hamstring) and Glynn Hurst (calf) both likely to miss Saturday’s match, FC United’s players go into the game knowing that as well as looking for victory they have the opportunity to cement a place in the team for next Friday’s big FA Cup tie.

Supporters at Ossett were treated to club captain David Chadwick’s first appearance of the season, albeit as a substitute striker, after battling back from a groin injury, so Chaddy will be hopeful of making the bench again on Saturday. As previously reported, Steve Torpey is still a few weeks away, Richard Battersby is taking a break from football and Ludovic Quistin has resumed light training after knee surgery which has kept him out of action since July.

FC United versus Colwyn Bay for a place in the third and final qualifying round of the FA Trophy is this Saturday at Gigg Lane with kick-off at 3pm. It’s pay on the gate with prices £8 for adults, £5 for concessions and £2 for under-18s. We’re on the march with Margy’s army...