Match Report

FC United gave a comprehensive display as they brushed aside Abbey Hey in a resounding 5-1 victory with goals from Simon Carden, Josh Howard and Stuart Rudd.

The match at Hyde United’s Ewen Fields was never in doubt as United looked in control from the start. The first goal came early on, when the ball came to Carden in the box he made the most of it and an acrobatic volley flew past the goalkeeper to give the Reds the lead.

That lead was doubled not long after when Howard broke free on the left and put the ball past the goalkeeper who had surged out of his box to close the angle, but the winger’s finish was calm and he placed the ball into the bottom corner.

When a good attack resulted in a goal for Abbey Hey scored by Lester, some of the fans were wondering whether there’d be a repeat of Thursday night’s game where United saw a two goal lead pulled back.

As the side came out for the second half with the scores at 2-1 Abbey Hey must have thought they had a real chance of getting something from the game. But when Jerome Wright broke down the left and put the ball across the box Rudd was there to put pay to any hopes that Abbey Hey had of getting back in the tie.

United controlled the game from then on with a good headed chance from Rudd going over, and then the top scorer also put a good chance over the bar from 12 yards out. He soon got his second goal though as he controlled the ball and turned to volley it into the bottom corner.

The fifth and final goal came when Josh Howard took on a few of the Abbey Hey defence and his 20 yard shot went into the bottom corner. The rest of the game saw few real chances with United knowing their work was done, and Abbey Hey knowing that a goal now would be a mere consolation.

Craig Phillips