FC United slip to defeat at home to Nantwich Town
FC United of Manchester slipped to a disappointing 0-2 home defeat against fellow Northern Premier League side Nantwich Town on Saturday afternoon, during a competitive game played in front of a crowd of 1,927 supporters.
Two goals in quick succession from former FC United players Dan Cockerline and Sean Cooke were enough to give the visitors all three points as the home side endured yet another difficult afternoon, despite enjoying the bulk of possession and creating plenty of chances in front of goal during the course of the game.
The afternoon had started brightly for The Reds, who looked comfortable on the ball and enjoyed good chances early on, with striker Cedric Main and captain Michael Potts both unlucky not to open the scoring for their side. Winger Regan Linney enjoyed what was possibly United's best chance during the first half, weaving his way into the penalty box and sending a swerving shot goalwards, only to see it palmed away by Nantwich goalkeeper, Matthew Gould.
On the sidelines, manager Neil Reynolds went through no less than three outfit changes during the first half. It was raincoat on, then off, then suit jacket on, then off, then a long sleeve shirt for a brief spell, before finally reverting to the rain coat again. This was surely a new record for the Reds boss, as he paced the touchline with intent.
The visitors had spent much of the first half looking happy to allow FC United possession, absorbing any attacking pressure, before trying to hit the home side on the break. In the final minutes of the half, opportunities flowed for the Dabbers during a fine spell of play. Firstly, midfielder Thommy Montefiori thought that he'd scored the first goal of the game, only for his effort to be ruled out by the referee who judged that FC United goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe had been fouled in the build up to his effort. This was quickly followed by a good opportunity for forward Connor Heath, who found himself in a one-on-one with an onrushing Lavercombe, but could only manage to stab his effort wide of the goal.
After the restart, both teams enjoyed good periods of play, but with FC United perhaps looking the more likely of the two sides to take the lead. With an attacking triumvirate of Ennis, Linney and Potts dictating much of the play, the home side again enjoyed most of the possession, but were unable to convert their chances in the final third. Striker Cedric Main – at this point sporting a strip of nasal gauze after an earlier blow to the face – did find himself with two good chances, but was unable to convert either from within the penalty area.
In the 71st minute, FC United thought they'd found the game's opening goal, as Regan Linney rose above his marker to head home from a brilliant ball crossed in by defender Adam Dodd. However the celebrations were short lived for the home side, as the referee again ruled out the opening goal. This time, he felt that Linney had pushed his marker in the back when rising to meet the ball for his header.
The home team's misery was compounded when, quite against the run of play, Nantwich stole the lead in the 72nd minute. Former FC United striker Dan Cockerline latched onto a good through ball before outpacing the FC defence, and calmly slotting the ball into the net to give his side the lead.
Just two minutes later, The Dabbers doubled their lead, when, after advancing into the penalty area, Cockerline went down under a robust looking challenge close to the six yard box, and the referee quickly pointed to the penalty spot. Nantwich's number ten, Sean Cooke duly stepped up and thundered the ball into the roof of the goal to seal all three points for his side.
Depsite making a number of changes later in the game, and continuing to create down either wing and inside the penalty box, the home team were unable to find a way back into the fixture. After the match FC United manager Neil Reynolds congratulated the away side on their win, but felt that his side had been unlucky with some of the refereeing decisions during the afternoon, particularly with the ruling out of Linney's goal, which he felt had taken the momentum away from his side's performance at a time when they were in the ascendency.
Man of the Match: Regan Linney. An action packed afternoon for the rejuvenated Reds' winger, whose passion, desire and ingenuity were again on display during the game. The look of disappointment on his face at the final whistle told its own story.
Report by Sam Turner
FC United slip to defeat at home to Nantwich Town
FC United of Manchester slipped to a disappointing 0-2 home defeat against fellow Northern Premier League side Nantwich Town on Saturday afternoon, during a competitive game played in front of a crowd of 1,927 supporters.
Two goals in quick succession from former FC United players Dan Cockerline and Sean Cooke were enough to give the visitors all three points as the home side endured yet another difficult afternoon, despite enjoying the bulk of possession and creating plenty of chances in front of goal during the course of the game.
The afternoon had started brightly for The Reds, who looked comfortable on the ball and enjoyed good chances early on, with striker Cedric Main and captain Michael Potts both unlucky not to open the scoring for their side. Winger Regan Linney enjoyed what was possibly United's best chance during the first half, weaving his way into the penalty box and sending a swerving shot goalwards, only to see it palmed away by Nantwich goalkeeper, Matthew Gould.
On the sidelines, manager Neil Reynolds went through no less than three outfit changes during the first half. It was raincoat on, then off, then suit jacket on, then off, then a long sleeve shirt for a brief spell, before finally reverting to the rain coat again. This was surely a new record for the Reds boss, as he paced the touchline with intent.
The visitors had spent much of the first half looking happy to allow FC United possession, absorbing any attacking pressure, before trying to hit the home side on the break. In the final minutes of the half, opportunities flowed for the Dabbers during a fine spell of play. Firstly, midfielder Thommy Montefiori thought that he'd scored the first goal of the game, only for his effort to be ruled out by the referee who judged that FC United goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe had been fouled in the build up to his effort. This was quickly followed by a good opportunity for forward Connor Heath, who found himself in a one-on-one with an onrushing Lavercombe, but could only manage to stab his effort wide of the goal.
After the restart, both teams enjoyed good periods of play, but with FC United perhaps looking the more likely of the two sides to take the lead. With an attacking triumvirate of Ennis, Linney and Potts dictating much of the play, the home side again enjoyed most of the possession, but were unable to convert their chances in the final third. Striker Cedric Main – at this point sporting a strip of nasal gauze after an earlier blow to the face – did find himself with two good chances, but was unable to convert either from within the penalty area.
In the 71st minute, FC United thought they'd found the game's opening goal, as Regan Linney rose above his marker to head home from a brilliant ball crossed in by defender Adam Dodd. However the celebrations were short lived for the home side, as the referee again ruled out the opening goal. This time, he felt that Linney had pushed his marker in the back when rising to meet the ball for his header.
The home team's misery was compounded when, quite against the run of play, Nantwich stole the lead in the 72nd minute. Former FC United striker Dan Cockerline latched onto a good through ball before outpacing the FC defence, and calmly slotting the ball into the net to give his side the lead.
Just two minutes later, The Dabbers doubled their lead, when, after advancing into the penalty area, Cockerline went down under a robust looking challenge close to the six yard box, and the referee quickly pointed to the penalty spot. Nantwich's number ten, Sean Cooke duly stepped up and thundered the ball into the roof of the goal to seal all three points for his side.
Depsite making a number of changes later in the game, and continuing to create down either wing and inside the penalty box, the home team were unable to find a way back into the fixture. After the match FC United manager Neil Reynolds congratulated the away side on their win, but felt that his side had been unlucky with some of the refereeing decisions during the afternoon, particularly with the ruling out of Linney's goal, which he felt had taken the momentum away from his side's performance at a time when they were in the ascendency.
Man of the Match: Regan Linney. An action packed afternoon for the rejuvenated Reds' winger, whose passion, desire and ingenuity were again on display during the game. The look of disappointment on his face at the final whistle told its own story.
Report by Sam Turner
