FC United beat Ashton United in seven goal thriller
FC United are up to seventh in The Pitching In Northern Premier League after beating Ashton United 4-3 in front of 2,279 supporters at Broadhurst Park on Bank Holiday Monday with a penalty from captain Charlie Ennis, a brace from Joe Duckworth, and a sublime strike from Michael Donohue.
The Reds, playing in their yellow changed kit to support Shelter's No Home Kit campaign, ended 2021 on a high and deserved their fourth consecutive victory, but they were made to work hard for it by the Robins, who equalised twice.
Ennis put Neil Reynolds' side 1-0 up after seven minutes from the penalty spot, before Liam Tomsett levelled for the visitors on 15 minutes. Duckworth restored the lead two minutes before the break, but Florian Yonsian netted another equaliser six minutes into the second half.
Thankfully, United stepped it up a gear and a superb individual goal by Donohue made it 3-2 on 64 minutes. Duckworth then glanced home a header from a corner with just under 20 minutes to go, although centre-back Drew Baker seemed to get a touch before the ball crossed the line.
That should have been enough to put the game to bed, but Yonsian pulled another one back five minutes later to make it 4-3 and set up a what could have been a nervy finale. However, the Reds saw out the closing stages fairly comfortably without any major scares.
With goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe testing positive for covid this week, Reynolds drafted in former Ireland under-18 international George McMahon as an emergency signing. The 21-year-old shot stopper has previously been with Burnley and kept a cleansheet against FC United in a 1-0 defeat at Ashton United in January 2019.
The Reds got off to the perfect start with a penalty inside three minutes, but it was quite the opposite for centre-back William Hall, who brought down Linney in the box and seriously injured himself in the process. Unfortunately, after a four minute delay, the Ashton defender was stretchered off. Ennis stepped up and sent George Hartley the wrong way for 1-0.
However, Tomsett restored parity for 18th placed Ashton when he placed a ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. McMahon may have been unsighted through a crowd of players, but he will be disappointed to have been beaten by a fairly tame effort. 1-1.
United were dealt another setback on 21 minutes when Ennis had to be replaced by Adam Dodd, due to picking up a knock. Moments later, Linney was tripped inside the box again following some fancy footwork. However, referee Declan Brown waved away the protests for a second penalty.
On 27 minutes, McMahon made a fantastic save with his chest to keep the scores level after Osebi Abadaki raced clear of the United defence and weaved his way into a one-on-one position. It was end-to-end action and less than 10 minutes later Linney was through one-on-one, but he shot straight at Hartley.
But Linney made no mistake with his next chance. After being released on the right, he dribbled the ball into the box and squared to the unmarked Duckworth, who slotted the ball into the unguarded net for 2-1. Into the second half and Ali Waddecar should have made it 3-1, but he fired at Hartley’s legs.
United were then carved open and left exposed at the back with a simple ball down the right wing. Yonsian had acres of empty space to run into, shrugged off the attentions of Baker, and curled the ball into the far corner to give McMahon no chance. 2-2.
The Reds were in danger of ruing missed chances, but thankfully Donohue came to the rescue on 64 minutes. Leftback Harry Spratt tried to cut out a throughball by Linney, but Dononhue won it back midway in the Ashton half. The rightback raced to the edge of the box and as Hartley came rushing out to close the angle, Dononhue expertly chipped the ball into the net. A finish worthy of any level of football. 3-2.
Seven minutes later, it was 4-2. Linney curled a corner from the left into the corridor of uncertainty and Duckworth flicked it towards the back post where it struck the onrushing Baker. Both players claimed the goal, but it was awarded to Duckworth and – most importantly – FC United.
Ashton weren’t out of it though and four minutes later a curling shot by Abadaki from the edge of the area was parried back into the six yard box by McMahon and Yonsian reacted the quickest to slam home the rebound for 4-3. With 15 minutes left to play, plus the seemingly inevitable five minutes of stoppage time, United could have been forgiven for clinging on. However, the Reds played the closing stages with composure to seal all three points.
The win leaves in-form FC United five points from the play-off places heading into our New Year's Day fixture at Radcliffe Brough. With a good run of results on the pitch, and the highest attendance at Broadhurst Park since the visit of Stockport County on 26th Januray 2019, the red revolution is alive and kicking going into 2022.
Website man of the match: Regan Linney. Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Linney was at the centre of everything FC United did. He won the penalty, laid on the second goal, and had a hand in both the other goals.
Report by Matthew Haley
FC United beat Ashton United in seven goal thriller
FC United are up to seventh in The Pitching In Northern Premier League after beating Ashton United 4-3 in front of 2,279 supporters at Broadhurst Park on Bank Holiday Monday with a penalty from captain Charlie Ennis, a brace from Joe Duckworth, and a sublime strike from Michael Donohue.
The Reds, playing in their yellow changed kit to support Shelter's No Home Kit campaign, ended 2021 on a high and deserved their fourth consecutive victory, but they were made to work hard for it by the Robins, who equalised twice.
Ennis put Neil Reynolds' side 1-0 up after seven minutes from the penalty spot, before Liam Tomsett levelled for the visitors on 15 minutes. Duckworth restored the lead two minutes before the break, but Florian Yonsian netted another equaliser six minutes into the second half.
Thankfully, United stepped it up a gear and a superb individual goal by Donohue made it 3-2 on 64 minutes. Duckworth then glanced home a header from a corner with just under 20 minutes to go, although centre-back Drew Baker seemed to get a touch before the ball crossed the line.
That should have been enough to put the game to bed, but Yonsian pulled another one back five minutes later to make it 4-3 and set up a what could have been a nervy finale. However, the Reds saw out the closing stages fairly comfortably without any major scares.
With goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe testing positive for covid this week, Reynolds drafted in former Ireland under-18 international George McMahon as an emergency signing. The 21-year-old shot stopper has previously been with Burnley and kept a cleansheet against FC United in a 1-0 defeat at Ashton United in January 2019.
The Reds got off to the perfect start with a penalty inside three minutes, but it was quite the opposite for centre-back William Hall, who brought down Linney in the box and seriously injured himself in the process. Unfortunately, after a four minute delay, the Ashton defender was stretchered off. Ennis stepped up and sent George Hartley the wrong way for 1-0.
However, Tomsett restored parity for 18th placed Ashton when he placed a ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. McMahon may have been unsighted through a crowd of players, but he will be disappointed to have been beaten by a fairly tame effort. 1-1.
United were dealt another setback on 21 minutes when Ennis had to be replaced by Adam Dodd, due to picking up a knock. Moments later, Linney was tripped inside the box again following some fancy footwork. However, referee Declan Brown waved away the protests for a second penalty.
On 27 minutes, McMahon made a fantastic save with his chest to keep the scores level after Osebi Abadaki raced clear of the United defence and weaved his way into a one-on-one position. It was end-to-end action and less than 10 minutes later Linney was through one-on-one, but he shot straight at Hartley.
But Linney made no mistake with his next chance. After being released on the right, he dribbled the ball into the box and squared to the unmarked Duckworth, who slotted the ball into the unguarded net for 2-1. Into the second half and Ali Waddecar should have made it 3-1, but he fired at Hartley’s legs.
United were then carved open and left exposed at the back with a simple ball down the right wing. Yonsian had acres of empty space to run into, shrugged off the attentions of Baker, and curled the ball into the far corner to give McMahon no chance. 2-2.
The Reds were in danger of ruing missed chances, but thankfully Donohue came to the rescue on 64 minutes. Leftback Harry Spratt tried to cut out a throughball by Linney, but Dononhue won it back midway in the Ashton half. The rightback raced to the edge of the box and as Hartley came rushing out to close the angle, Dononhue expertly chipped the ball into the net. A finish worthy of any level of football. 3-2.
Seven minutes later, it was 4-2. Linney curled a corner from the left into the corridor of uncertainty and Duckworth flicked it towards the back post where it struck the onrushing Baker. Both players claimed the goal, but it was awarded to Duckworth and – most importantly – FC United.
Ashton weren’t out of it though and four minutes later a curling shot by Abadaki from the edge of the area was parried back into the six yard box by McMahon and Yonsian reacted the quickest to slam home the rebound for 4-3. With 15 minutes left to play, plus the seemingly inevitable five minutes of stoppage time, United could have been forgiven for clinging on. However, the Reds played the closing stages with composure to seal all three points.
The win leaves in-form FC United five points from the play-off places heading into our New Year's Day fixture at Radcliffe Brough. With a good run of results on the pitch, and the highest attendance at Broadhurst Park since the visit of Stockport County on 26th Januray 2019, the red revolution is alive and kicking going into 2022.
Website man of the match: Regan Linney. Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Linney was at the centre of everything FC United did. He won the penalty, laid on the second goal, and had a hand in both the other goals.
Report by Matthew Haley
