Reserves sink Nelson

A two goal debut from Lee Green followed an early strike from Dean Hope as FC United reserves beat Nelson 3-1 at Nicholls.

It was Nelson that had the first chance, a shot off target in the fourth minute; but then the reds started to gain control of the game. Green had the first chance with a shot to the top corner that was well saved by Callum Wraith on 8 minutes. FC took the lead on 16 minutes when a ball into the box was controlled by Tunde Owolabi before dropping to Hope to smash home from the edge of the box.

FC United had a number of chances to add to the lead before half time but only once truly tested Wraith, midway through the half a green cross to the far post was met with a powerful Cheetham header which was turned out for a corner. Their only other real chance was when Charlie Doyle played a ball into the forward channel and Owolabi found himself clear. With Wraith advancing to meet the challenge the obvious first time lob was spurned for an attempt to control the ball and run round the keeper which was thwarted.

The second half saw Nelson start brightly, winning a corner in the first minute and only being denied an equaliser by a goal-line clearance. The home side respite only lasted fifteen minutes as on the hour Luke Pearson found himself unmarked at the far post to convert a right wing break and cross.

Nelson had one further effort as Jonathan Maulin tested Pole in the 76th minute but in truth it was only FC who looked likely to add to the score. Fowes and Summerbee had shots blocked and Hendrickx had a header from a corner scrambled off the line. It looked in from the technical area but in truth there wasn’t much protest on the pitch.

The lead was restored in the 73rd minute; Pritchard breaking down the left crossed low for Summerbee. His shot crashed against the bar, rebounding to Green on the edge of the area who fired home.

Green almost made it three soon after when cutting in from the right wing he tried to lift the ball over Wraith to the far top corner but the effort, just lacking in height and pace was turned away for a corner. On 83 minutes the Pritchard/Summerbee combination fashioned another chance but the far post came to the visitors rescue.

Green did cap his debut with his second and FC’s third goal as the game drifted into added time. Chris Hill’s pass allowed him to run in and slot home. Next week the lads have the chance to avenge their defeat as Edgeley Park as they welcome Stockport County to the Nicholls academy on Saturday29th November; kick off is again at 2pm.

FC United of Manchester: 1. Phillip Pole 2. Charlie Doyle 3. Scott Cheetham 4. Jason Fowles 5. Nathan Chorlton 6. Koenraad Hendrickx 7. John Pritchard 8. Dean Hope 9. Tunde Owolabi 10. Chris Hill 11. Lee Green Substitutes: 12. Josh Smethurst (for 4,72 mins) 14. Nick Truelove (for 5, 78 mins) 16. Cameron Thorpe 17. Rhodri Giggs 18. Sam Summerbee(for 9, 51 mins).

Nelson: 1. Calluum Wraith 2.Josh Walne 3. Paul Roberts 4. Reece Malone 5. Blazey Schmidt 6. Martin Hiller 7. Israr Abbas 8. Jonathan Maulin 9. Adam Nuttall 10. Charlie Carlin 11. Luke Pearson Substitutes:12. Ztrham Jabbar 14. Michael Worthington