Match Report
Goalless draw for FC United against AFC Telford United
FC United made it two draws from their first two league games with a goalless draw against AFC Telford United at Broadhurst Park on Tuesday evening in an exciting game that had everything apart from goals.
After Saturday’s six goal thriller at Chorley the Reds came home to Broadhurst Park knowing that if they were to build on what had to be considered a decent start they would need to overcome a team who had beaten them in three meetings last season.
As the sun slowly came down over Broadhurst Park the temperature on the pitch slowly built, with some of the tackles and delays in the game from an early stage displaying some of football’s darker arts and setting the tone for what would come towards the end of the game.
Neither team really got on top in the opening 45 minutes, and chances were few and far between but both teams would certainly look back knowing they each had one great chance to break the deadlock.
With both defences looking solid on the evening, set pieces looked to be the best opportunity for either to break the deadlock and when Luke Ashworth powerfully met a corner from the left he must have felt he’d made a connection for a goal but saw his effort tipped over by James Montgomery in the visiting goal.
Just before the break the Bucks almost took the lead when a low free kick looked to be easy for Dave Carnell to drop onto, but the ball slipped underneath his body hitting his trailing leg and just going wide of the post to spare the United shot stoppers blushes.
A close game going into the second half and with the men in red attacking the noisy St Mary’s Road End you felt that the home team would come on strong in the second half and after riding out a flurry from the visitors at the start of the half it was the home team who gradually took over the second half.
The build-up play was good from FC United but sacrificial tackles and the odd trailing leg on any counter attack of any note broke those chances up and built tensions between the two teams as the home players and supporters became increasingly frustrated.
New signing Jason Gilchrist came from the bench to replace Tom Greaves up front and was presented with the ball in space just outside the box, but the headlines were not to be for the debuting frontman as he dragged his effort wide of goal.
Looking for a late winner the Reds pushed on in stoppage time and when the ball had gone out for a throw in the Telford defender looked to waste a few more seconds by holding onto the ball and Sam Sheridan looked to get it back. With neither man backing down and tensions boiling over it all got a little silly, with pushing and shoving on the side lines which resulted in several players being booked, but killing off any momentum towards the end as both teams took home a point from the game.
Two draws from the first two games must be taken as a positive, with on field performances perhaps suggesting the two points may not actually reflect how those games went. In the two corresponding fixtures last season the Reds lost twice, so the two draws and two points taken has to be seen as a step forward.
FC United now welcome Stockport County to Broadhurst Park on Friday evening in what’s sure to be an entertaining battle against a local opponent who have started strongly with two wins on the bounce so far.
Website man of the match: Luke Ashworth – A solid defensive performance from the men in Red with Ashworth a leading example.
Match Report
Goalless draw for FC United against AFC Telford United
FC United made it two draws from their first two league games with a goalless draw against AFC Telford United at Broadhurst Park on Tuesday evening in an exciting game that had everything apart from goals.
After Saturday’s six goal thriller at Chorley the Reds came home to Broadhurst Park knowing that if they were to build on what had to be considered a decent start they would need to overcome a team who had beaten them in three meetings last season.
As the sun slowly came down over Broadhurst Park the temperature on the pitch slowly built, with some of the tackles and delays in the game from an early stage displaying some of football’s darker arts and setting the tone for what would come towards the end of the game.
Neither team really got on top in the opening 45 minutes, and chances were few and far between but both teams would certainly look back knowing they each had one great chance to break the deadlock.
With both defences looking solid on the evening, set pieces looked to be the best opportunity for either to break the deadlock and when Luke Ashworth powerfully met a corner from the left he must have felt he’d made a connection for a goal but saw his effort tipped over by James Montgomery in the visiting goal.
Just before the break the Bucks almost took the lead when a low free kick looked to be easy for Dave Carnell to drop onto, but the ball slipped underneath his body hitting his trailing leg and just going wide of the post to spare the United shot stoppers blushes.
A close game going into the second half and with the men in red attacking the noisy St Mary’s Road End you felt that the home team would come on strong in the second half and after riding out a flurry from the visitors at the start of the half it was the home team who gradually took over the second half.
The build-up play was good from FC United but sacrificial tackles and the odd trailing leg on any counter attack of any note broke those chances up and built tensions between the two teams as the home players and supporters became increasingly frustrated.
New signing Jason Gilchrist came from the bench to replace Tom Greaves up front and was presented with the ball in space just outside the box, but the headlines were not to be for the debuting frontman as he dragged his effort wide of goal.
Looking for a late winner the Reds pushed on in stoppage time and when the ball had gone out for a throw in the Telford defender looked to waste a few more seconds by holding onto the ball and Sam Sheridan looked to get it back. With neither man backing down and tensions boiling over it all got a little silly, with pushing and shoving on the side lines which resulted in several players being booked, but killing off any momentum towards the end as both teams took home a point from the game.
Two draws from the first two games must be taken as a positive, with on field performances perhaps suggesting the two points may not actually reflect how those games went. In the two corresponding fixtures last season the Reds lost twice, so the two draws and two points taken has to be seen as a step forward.
FC United now welcome Stockport County to Broadhurst Park on Friday evening in what’s sure to be an entertaining battle against a local opponent who have started strongly with two wins on the bounce so far.
Website man of the match: Luke Ashworth – A solid defensive performance from the men in Red with Ashworth a leading example.
