Reserves held at New Mills

FC United Reserves headed to New Mills and came away with a 1-1 draw. The now player/manager Rhodri Giggs hit a free kick equaliser shortly after a Daniel Jackson goal for the home side. The game started quietly, almost 15 minutes passing before the first real scoring chances. An FC United corner was cleared to Anthony Stanton who was just off target before a New Mills attack which saw them have three corners in succession before the ball was cleared.

Then there was a spell of FC United pressure in which several chances were created, the best of which being when Dean Hope drew a smart save from Andrew Scott in the home goal. Both sides had further chances although the first half ended goalless. The best chance came near the break when Giggs took a free kick near the right hand corner flag; his low driven cross escaped everyone when it seemed the easiest thing would be to stretch a leg to just deflect it in.

The second half started with the home side looking more likely to score, indeed Derren Bozkurt probably should have done so, getting beyond the Reds defence only to be thwarted by Philip Pole more than once.

Giggs, who had been playing defensively in the first half, moved up front for the second, taking charge of free kick duties. His first effort on the hour was fumbled by Scott. The second from around 30 yards nestled in the corner of the net for the equaliser and a third was clawed awy from the top corner by Scott.

New Mills had taken the lead on 72 minutes when a free kick of their own was bundled in by Jackson at the far post. The game finished tamely, Cameron Thorpe had two chances, the first from the third free kick drew a save from Scott and he had a goal disallowed near the end when shooting in from an offside position. Frank van Gils was sent off for a second yellow card as he caught a New Mills player in response to being fouled. Honourable mentions go to debutantes Anthony Stanton and 16-year-old Darius Palma who looked well able to cope with the demands of this level.

The draw means that the Reds close their season against Hyde at Abbey Hey on Thursday evening. By then Colne, now three points clear with four games to play, may well have wrapped up the title against Lancaster on Monday. A vastly superior goal difference however means that even losing those four games probably won’t be enough to bring the title back to FC United. Our congratulations go to the East Lancashire side.

Prior to the game starting there was a minute’s applause in memory of the father of New Mills player Aaron Bird.

New Mills: 1.Andrew Scott 2.Jacob Kelly 3. Rhys Crossland 4. Anthony Williamson 5. Jordan Cooper 6. Daniel Jackson 7. Andrew Ramwell 8. Jack Emerson 9. Derren Bozkurt 10. Tunde Owolabi 11. Chris Prodromis Substitutes: 12. Keane McDonald 14. Phil Etchells 15. Ben Smith 16. David Whelan.

FC United of Manchester: 1. Philip Pole 2. Cameron Thorpe 3. Leo Magnone 4. Jason Fowles 5. Charlie Doyle 6. Rhodri Giggs 7. Frank van Gils 8. Dean Hope 9. Keenan Tuck 10. Chris Hill 11. Anthony Stanton Substitute 12. Darius Palma (for 9, 69 mins).