FC United lose seven goal thriller to Whitby Town
FC United slipped to their first league defeat in eight games on Tuesday evening against promotion hopefuls Whitby Town during an action packed, seven-goal-encounter at Broadhurst Park.
In a hugely enjoyable opening 45 minutes the two teams traded five goals as the away side took a narrow 2-3 lead into the half time break.
In the second half, FC United bravely battled their way back into the match, and found an equaliser through defender Aaron Morris, only to face heartbreak as The Seasiders stole all three points through former FC United forward Jacob Hazel – who briefly played for the club back in 2014 – when he struck home to give his side the winning goal.
As the match roared into life from kick-off, it took just five minutes for Whitby to bag the opening goal as midfielder Harry Green latched onto a low corner, sneaking a shot over the FC goal-line as the ball had bounced in off the post.
A mere two minutes later, FC United found an equaliser as defender Jonathan Smith rose above a pack of players in the middle of the penalty box to head home from a corner.
The game continued to be played at a frantic pace and shortly after Whitby took the lead for the second time as Bradley Fewster tapped the ball home for an easy finish, the away side working their way well through the FC defence.
In the 27th minute, Whitby appeared to have run away with the result as they extended their lead to 1-3. Fewster again found himself on the score sheet as he converted from yet another corner after heading home from the near post.
The home side would have felt particularly unlucky to have fallen further behind after Dan Lavercombe had performed heroics to push an earlier shot onto the crossbar and over the goal, only for United to concede from the resultant corner kick.
Just before the referee blew for half time, FC United had a second goal and a lifeline back into the game as Harry Wilson scored from another corner, leaping well to divert the ball across goal and into the far side of the Whitby net.
As the second half got underway the home side looked to maintain possession of the ball and play their way back into the tie and, following a flurry of opportunities for either side, found an equaliser from Morris.
The defender converted a relatively simple opportunity, after Wilson had played him in perfectly with a well cushioned header, and stabbed the ball home in the penalty area for his side's third goal of the evening.
Those in attendance could be forgiven for thinking that FC now had the momentum on their side, as the Reds pressed forward relentlessly in search of a winning goal. The visitors had other ideas though, and in the 71st minute striker Hazel capitalised on a defensive error, before thrashing the ball past a helpless Lavercombe.
Despite the home team's best efforts, his goal was enough to ensure that The Seasiders took all three points back to North Yorkshire.
After the final whistle FC United manager Neil Reyolds praised Whitby's performance but felt that, in spite of a series of defensive errors, his side had acquitted themselves well, reserving particular praise for the team's attacking play. The Reds' boss will now hope to rally his side in time for Saturday's league game away at bottom side Grantham Town.
Website man of the match - Michael Donohue. A sterling performance from the Reds' midfielder which typified his side's grit and determination.
Report by Sam Turner
FC United lose seven goal thriller to Whitby Town
FC United slipped to their first league defeat in eight games on Tuesday evening against promotion hopefuls Whitby Town during an action packed, seven-goal-encounter at Broadhurst Park.
In a hugely enjoyable opening 45 minutes the two teams traded five goals as the away side took a narrow 2-3 lead into the half time break.
In the second half, FC United bravely battled their way back into the match, and found an equaliser through defender Aaron Morris, only to face heartbreak as The Seasiders stole all three points through former FC United forward Jacob Hazel – who briefly played for the club back in 2014 – when he struck home to give his side the winning goal.
As the match roared into life from kick-off, it took just five minutes for Whitby to bag the opening goal as midfielder Harry Green latched onto a low corner, sneaking a shot over the FC goal-line as the ball had bounced in off the post.
A mere two minutes later, FC United found an equaliser as defender Jonathan Smith rose above a pack of players in the middle of the penalty box to head home from a corner.
The game continued to be played at a frantic pace and shortly after Whitby took the lead for the second time as Bradley Fewster tapped the ball home for an easy finish, the away side working their way well through the FC defence.
In the 27th minute, Whitby appeared to have run away with the result as they extended their lead to 1-3. Fewster again found himself on the score sheet as he converted from yet another corner after heading home from the near post.
The home side would have felt particularly unlucky to have fallen further behind after Dan Lavercombe had performed heroics to push an earlier shot onto the crossbar and over the goal, only for United to concede from the resultant corner kick.
Just before the referee blew for half time, FC United had a second goal and a lifeline back into the game as Harry Wilson scored from another corner, leaping well to divert the ball across goal and into the far side of the Whitby net.
As the second half got underway the home side looked to maintain possession of the ball and play their way back into the tie and, following a flurry of opportunities for either side, found an equaliser from Morris.
The defender converted a relatively simple opportunity, after Wilson had played him in perfectly with a well cushioned header, and stabbed the ball home in the penalty area for his side's third goal of the evening.
Those in attendance could be forgiven for thinking that FC now had the momentum on their side, as the Reds pressed forward relentlessly in search of a winning goal. The visitors had other ideas though, and in the 71st minute striker Hazel capitalised on a defensive error, before thrashing the ball past a helpless Lavercombe.
Despite the home team's best efforts, his goal was enough to ensure that The Seasiders took all three points back to North Yorkshire.
After the final whistle FC United manager Neil Reyolds praised Whitby's performance but felt that, in spite of a series of defensive errors, his side had acquitted themselves well, reserving particular praise for the team's attacking play. The Reds' boss will now hope to rally his side in time for Saturday's league game away at bottom side Grantham Town.
Website man of the match - Michael Donohue. A sterling performance from the Reds' midfielder which typified his side's grit and determination.
Report by Sam Turner
