With this year’s pre-season campaign now five games old, FC United would have been hoping that Thursday night’s encounter against Abbey Hey would have provided an important first victory, however despite taking the lead through a Matthew Boland penalty, the Reds were defeated 4-3.

With the majority of the first team in training, a compliment of trialists and youth players turned out in an attempt to impress at the home of North West Counties side, Abbey Hey. Also in the team were the familiar faces of Rhodri Giggs, captaining the side on his first run out since returning to the club, and centre half Nick Swirad also back in a red shirt.

Things began to look positive for United as Boland converted a spot kick on 24 minutes, but an immediate equaliser from Liam Murray cut short any celebrations. The home side pressed to gain the advantage, with keeper Mike Smith dealing well with Wes Harney’s effort, before being beaten by Martin Pilkington who made it 2-1.
Smith was called into action once more before the break, superbly tipping Harney’s powerful effort onto the bar to deny the striker a second.

United needed to show some desire to draw level after the break, and as Theo Kidd outran the fullback to win a corner, heads in the box rose in anticipation of the set-piece, but unfortunately none were on target.

Boland managed to score his and United’s second, perhaps more due to the fault of the keeper as John McIwane allowed a weak scuffed shot from the edge of the area to roll over his hands into the back of the net.

Two goals in quick succession for Abbey Hey highlighted further the fact that the FC side were unused to playing with one another and lacked the understanding of a regular team. Abbey Hey’s third goal came from the spot through John Hardy before a defensive error allowed an easy finish to wrap things up.

Boland’s corner in the last few minutes set up Kial Callacher of the youth team for a powerful header into the bottom corner, which proved only a consolation as the full-time whistle signalled a fifth consecutive defeat for the Reds.

All concerned will now be hoping that the team can turn things round at the halfway point as FC United travel north to face Bishop Auckland on Saturday.


Abbey Hey
26th July 2012
Played at Abbey Hey Stadium, Gorton
Lost 4-3
Half Time: 2-1
Attendance: approx 120

FC United

1. Mike Smith
2. Josh Bardsley
3. Jordan Jacobs
4. Charlie Anderson
5. Adam Field
6. Nick Swirad
7. Owen Edgar
8. Andrei Zidic
9. Rhodri Giggs
10. Matty Boland
11. Sam Howells
Subs

12. Theo Kidd (for 9 46)
13. Josh Broadbent (for 1 70)
14. Cameron Murray (for 7 7)
15. Richard Smith (for 5 46)
16. Connor Naughton (for 8 21)
17. Kial Callacher (for 2 46)
18. Lewis Lacey (for 6 46)
19. Josh Smethurst (for 4 70) wore 7
Scorers: Boland 25 pen, 72, Callacher 82

Abbey Hey

1. J McIlwaine
2. L Gibson (returned for 4 76)
3. D Hewitt
4. N Finnigan
5. T Devlin
6. J Westmerland
7. L Murray
8. M O�€trade;Connor
9. W Harney
10. M Pilkington
11. J Hardy (returned for 2 68)

Subs
12. J Heap (for 3 50)
13. R Heywood) (for 1 68)
14. D Morris (for 6 50)
15. D McDonald (for 7 50)
16. P Smith (for 11 50)
17. S Jones (for 10 50)
18.
19. C Borrell
20. D Healey (for 9 50) wore 9)
Some subs swapped shirts with the player they replaced

Goals: Murray 26, Pilkington 33, Hardy 79 pen, Healey 80

---

News ID ~ 4327

First Posted ~ 12:53 Sun 29 Jul 2012

Last Updated ~ 12:53 Sun 29 Jul 2012

---

Previous Story

Index

Next Story