United finally see off bogey side Borough

FC United moved up to third in the table thanks to this vital league win against their bogey side Radcliffe Borough at the Inn2Gether Stadium on Tuesday night.

Two well-taken goals inside the first 20 minutes from Chris Baguley and Nick Robinson were enough to keep the Reds’ faint title hopes alive whilst strengthening their position should the season end with play-off action.

A man of the match performance from goalkeeper Sam Ashton also helped to keep at bay a Boro side in need of precious points to ease their relegation fears.

Having already held Margy’s men to two draws this season and with star strikers Stuart Rudd and Rory Patterson left on the FC bench, the home side obviously fancied their chances again and started strongly.

Weathering the early storm the Reds then looked to use the Stainton Park slope to their advantage, breaking quickly as they headed downhill to take the lead against the run of play.

A Robinson run seemed to hypnotise the Radcliffe defence, allowing the former Woodley Sports striker to march unchecked through the middle and hit a 30 yard grass-cutter that left ex-FC United keeper Phil Priestly firmly rooted to the spot.

Within a few minutes it was 2-0 as Chris Baguley was allowed to turn just inside the area before hitting a sweet strike into the top corner.

The home side rallied and could easily have gone into the interval all square but Ashton stopped a strong volley from Griff Jones before the Radcliffe striker hit the crossbar from a close range header.

Rudd and Patterson were introduced at half-time for both of the goalscorers and the more familiar strike duo should both have got on the score sheet when they were put through one-on-one but Priestly smothered their goalbound efforts.

With the threat of a comeback fading and Ashton snuffing out any possible attacks on his goal, United battled well against the gradient to calmly finish the job in the second half.

While Boro will now be out for revenge, the victory gives the Reds a psychological advantage as they look towards Thursday’s rematch in the President’s Cup Final.

Report by Mark Swanwick.


Radcliffe Borough
1. P Priestley
2. N Chappell
3. G Sampson
4. S Kelly (capt)
5. M Flynn
6. S Hill
7. A Waine
8. M Forrest
9. S Howson
10. G Jones
11. M Jones
Subs
12. M Oates (for 5 63)
13.
14. C Dawson (for 9 50)
15. B Manning (for 8 71)


FC United
1. S Ashton
2. K Harrop
3. S Roscoe
4. R Howarth
5. M Bleau
6. R Nugent (capt)
7. A Carden
8. J Rother
9. N Robinson
10. C Baguley
11. D Swarbrick
Subs
12. S Rudd (for 9 46)
13.
14. R Patterson (for 10 46)
15. W Collier (for 11 60)

Scorers: Robinson 14, Baguley 18