


FC United of Manchester needed a 90th minute equaliser to claim a point in a hotly contested Greater Manchester derby against Hyde United at Broadhurst Park.
Hyde defender Joel Amado headed in from a corner with just over 20 minutes to play, yet with time running out, it was Dec McLoughlin who once again rescued a draw for FC, firing home in stoppage time to make it 1-1.
The draw preserves FC’s unbeaten home run stemming from the end of 2024, while Hyde’s search for a win extending to an eighth game in the Pitching In Northern Premier League.
In contrast to the frantic opening in this season’s reverse fixture at Ewen Fields, both sides saw few openings on goal through the first 45 minutes. Where the first half hour or so may have lacked in the way of chances at either end, the referee’s whistle or lack thereof made for an enticing dynamic in the local affair.
The first shot on target in the game fell to the visitors with just over a quarter of an hour played; Matthew Fearnley drilling low into the hands of Conor O’Keefe after the ball was cut back to the striker around the penalty spot.
While FC had a substantial amount of the ball in the first period, the quality of created chances rarely provided cause for concern for Callum Hiddleston in the Tigers’ goal. An excellent long ball by Charlie Hayes-Green set Gez Sithole in behind the Hyde backline, with the winger teeing up Adam Le Fondre who could not keep his first time effort on target.
Le Fondre would go on to force a save from Hiddleston in the 35th minute, setting his sights from distance before firing a low, stinging strike which the visiting ‘keeper managed to tip round his right hand post for a corner.
Hyde had the best chance of opening the scoring with only seconds before the interval; a turnover in midfield allowed Fearnley the chance to run at a retreating Reds defence, with the striker feeding Redshaw in space on the left side of the area. The Tigers’ captain would have had a clean opening at goal, had it not been for the breathless recovery of Hayes-Green to block the effort.
HT: FC United of Manchester 0-0 Hyde United
FC were spared a horror start to the second half, with Lewis Thompson firing a low shot wide of O’Keefe’s left post after the home side failed to clear the ball from inside their own box.
Hyde substitute Bradley Holmes made a near instant impact after coming on in the 65th minute, beating Guy Hall for pace to reach the byline and cut back for Fearnley, who could not arrange his feet quick enough to get any purchase on his shot.
Minutes later, after a promising period for Nick Spooner’s side, Hyde would go on to take the lead through a header from defender Joel Amado. Another of the Tigers’ substitutes, Frankie Sinfield, floated a corner delivery into the six yard box, with Amado rising highest to glance home from close range.
Charlie Ennis had a golden chance to equalise for FC United off the bench less than five minutes , seeing his first time shot turned just wide of the post after Josh Miles’ reverse ball invited the Reds skipper an opportunity for an uncontested attempt on goal from the left side of the box.
A largely strong second half showing from the visitors limited Mark Beesley’s side to only a handful of passages in the final third. Le Fondre skimmed the crossbar with an audacious chipped shot from the right side of the box, with Hiddleston rooted to the ground as it went behind via the woodwork.
Despite Hyde forcing FC into numerous errors in possession following the opener, the hosts continued to push whoever they could forwards, and with time running out, it was the turn of a home substitute to leave his mark on the game.
With normal time having only just expired, it was Dec McLoughlin who came up with the all-important equaliser, lashing home from the centre of the box after good work from Miles and Hayes-Green to keep the ball alive inside the Hyde penalty area.
A low-scoring yet entertaining spectacle for the 2000+ in attendance at Broadhurst Park, which saw FC United extend their unbeaten home run in the league to eight games.