Match Report

FC United were knocked out of the FA Cup with Budweiser in the second qualifying round after losing 1-0 to Lancaster City at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon.

A defensive mix-up allowed Dolly Blues striker Lee Dodgson to score five minutes into the second half and although the Reds had a handful of chances to draw level, Lancaster held out for a deserved victory.

After needing a replay to overcome Woodley Sports in the first qualifying round, everyone at FC United was well aware that our exploits in the competition last season had made us a real scalp this term and Lancaster began the game in such a fashion that they were looking to pull off the ‘upset’.

It was the visitors who began the brighter of the two and had the first opportunity to take the lead when Dodgson lofted the ball over goalkeeper James Spencer’s head for what seemed to be a certain goal. It took an amazing effort from fullback Lee Neville to clear off the line to keep the game level.

The visitors always looked dangerous coming forward but United settled into the game and began moving the ball well through midfield. Jake Cottrell almost pulled off a spectacular effort from 30 yards out as he brought the ball down with great control before unleashing a ferocious effort which just didn’t come down enough to get under the crossbar.

United thought they had the lead after around half an hour when Carlos Roca jinked inside the box before his ball across was put away by Ben Deegan who was judged to have strayed into an offside position.

With neither team having taken control of the first period, the match was definitely up for grabs going into the second half but within five minutes United had gifted Lancaster the opening goal. Kyle Jacobs mis-controlled the ball in the box facing his own goal and left Dodgson the simplest opportunity to put the Folly Blues 1-0 up.

From this point on United showed they weren’t going to limp out of the competition and threw everything they could at getting the equalising goal. Deegan had several great opportunities climbing well and heading towards goal but just putting the ball wide before another similar effort from him was well saved.

The always vocal FC United faithful continued to encourage their team but many were beginning to wonder if it was just going to be one of those days where the Reds just didn’t get the rub of the green needed to get back into the game.

Cottrell controlled the midfield well and most of United’s most dangerous attacks began with Cottrell in the centre of the park. Michael Carr and Matthew Wolfenden were brought on to give the Reds a more attacking approach to the game, Carr fired an effort from range just over the bar towards the end of the game.

The best effort for Untied came from a corner with around ten minutes to go when Adam Jones saw his header cleared off the line before Neville’s return towards goal somehow stayed out as the Dolly Blues showed resilient defending while always looking more than dangerous on the counter as they looked for a second.

No matter how hard United tried they couldn’t penetrate the Lancaster. Resilient defending reduced a lot of the late attacks from United to deep balls into the box towards the heads of Deegan and Jones; who was playing as an emergency forward in the dying minutes, as well as long range efforts which never really tested the opposing goalkeeper.

The Reds could possibly have snatched a draw but Lancaster proved a quality side all afternoon, showing resilience and ability in their defending which ultimately saw them move onto the third qualifying round in two weeks time.

United will be looking to bounce back from this defeat next Saturday as we welcome Marine to Bower Fold. The Reds will be hoping to put together a decent run in the league as they look to get back into the top end of the table.

Website man of the match: Jake Cottrell – performed well in midfield, starting United’s best moves and getting back when needed, just edging Ben Deegan who looked like United’s main threat in the final third.

Report by Craig Phillips