Match Report

Can they score? They always score. Remember when teams in red, called United, from Manchester never knew when they were beaten? Today was one of those days. This week was one of those weeks.

Karl Marginson’s FC United rolled back the years by snatching a stoppage time 3-2 winner against North Ferriby United on Saturday afternoon through Craig Lindfield. Broadhurst Park went berserk.

The Reds came back from 1-0 down at halftime thanks to two poacher’s tap-ins by Matthew Wolfenden. But it looked like they would have to settle for a point against third place Ferriby when Tom Denton plundered home an 89th minute equaliser.

However, FC United still had time to pull off another comeback in a seemingly endless catalogue of comebacks. Three minutes later, substitutes Adam Thurston and Lindfield combined to send the vast majority of the 3,419 supporters in attendance into delirium.

The Reds fell behind to a soft penalty in the 19th minute. Liam King sent Dave Carnell the wrong way from the spot after Nathan Hotte had been bundled over in the top right corner of the area by Harry Winter.

The Villagers will feel they were worth their lead after having an early goal disallowed for a foul on Carnell. United should have been on the scoresheet too as the usually clinical George Thomson headed wide from close range.

United had a couple of half chances before an injury to referee Peter Wright caused a 10 minute delay. Play was resumed when linesmen Mark Doherty took centre stage and a volunteer from the crowd, Alex Byrom became a stand-in assistant.

United eventually drew level in the 52nd minute. Tom Brown linked up well with Liam Brownhill near the halfway line before slipping a great throughball to Tom Greaves. FC United’s captain drew the keeper Adam Nicklin to the near post and shot. Nicklin parried across his goalmouth and Wolfenden was on hand to roll the ball over the line for the equaliser.

The Reds went ahead with 20 minutes to go. Brownhill’s cross into the box was flicked on by Greaves, who crept round the blindside of the unsuspecting Nicklin. The deft touch was just enough to distract the goalkeeper and he spilled the ball into the ground. Wolfenden was the first to react and poked home his second.

The visitors looked shellshocked and United were defending well. Scott Kay and Tom Eckersley looked like they had been playing at centre-back together for years rather than being a debut partnership.

Carnell commanded his box well throughout and it looked like United were on course for a priceless 2-1 victory. However, substitute and man mountain Denton fired home a late equaliser at the second attempt after Carnell had saved his initial effort from the edge of the box.

Some of the Reds looked crestfallen as it may have felt 89 minutes of hard work would only result in a point. However, the fresh legs of Thurston and Lindfield came to the rescue. Thurston won a loose ball 30 yards out and he slipped in Lindfield who had raced unmarked to the edge of the box. The former Liverpool trainee evaded a desperate last ditch sliding challenge with great composure before stroking the ball into the net from just inside the area.

And that was that. FC United had triumphed and stopped the rot of a four game losing streak. The Reds are now 16th in the Vanarama National League North and six points clear of the relegation zone.

Website man of the match: Tom Greaves. Every FC United player was in for a shout but Greaves led the team well and played a vital role in the first two goals.

Report by Matthew Haley