FC United fight back to win at Grantham Town
Late goals from Regan Linney and Michael Donohue gave FC United a priceless 2-1 victory at Grantham Town on Saturday afternoon as the Reds showed great character in difficult windswept conditions at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium.
No winter break was required – and there were no NFTs in sight – as the semi-professional players of both clubs endeavoured to entertain the 669 supporters who witnessed a win that lifts Neil Reynolds’ side to within five points of the play-offs.
The Gingerbreads started the day six points adrift at the bottom of the Pitching In Northern Premier League, without a home win all season, and with just one win in their last 10 matches. As such, the match had an unnerving sense of being a potential banana skin for promotion-chasing FC United, especially when Shane Clarke gave the hosts the lead after 14 minutes.
Grantham captain Elliott Durrell launched a free-kick into the box from around 35 yards out and when United failed to clear their lines Clarke volleyed the ball past goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe for 1-0.
The hardworking hosts had their tails up, and with Storm Malik taking hold across one of the most exposed football grounds in the country, the Reds (playing in blue) were in for a testing afternoon.
The was no denying that the visitors were the better side throughout, particularly in the second half, and dominated the game with 65% possession. However, as we all know – ultimately, there’s only one statistic that counts, and for more than an hour it read Grantham Town 1 FC United of Manchester 0.
Other than a few teasing balls across the six-yard box, the men from Manchester rarely troubled Town goalkeeper Jim Pollard in the first half. However, they did have one fantastic opportunity to equalise 10 minutes before the break.
A long ball forward by Lavercombe was headed up into the air by a Grantham defender and the onrushing Linney caught the ball sweetly on the volley at the edge of the box. Pollard was equal to it though and acrobatically tipped the goalbound strike over the crossbar to help the Gingerbreads take the lead into the interval.
Reynolds said he ‘turned the dressing room upside down’ at halftime, something he says he rarely does, such was his frustration with his players’ first half performance. It seems that his words and actions worked as his team responded by turning the game upside down in the final 15 minutes.
United spent most of the second half knocking at the door, albeit slightly above the door as soon-to-be goalscorers Linney and Donohue, and captain Michael Potts, all saw wind-affected chances fly over the bar. However, they finally got their reward in the 75th minute when Linney latched onto a header from substitute Joe Duckworth to drill home the equaliser.
Six minutes later it was 2-1. United broke down the left through Linney and substitute Charlie Ennis, who's ball into the box found Donohue to slot home the winner into the far corner. The Reds had done it!
FC United saw out the closing stages, including five minutes of injury time, fairly comfortably – denying the hosts any shots on goal and a way back into the contest.
The victory gets United back to winning ways after the disappointment of losing their seven match unbeaten run 4-3 at home to Whitby Town on Tuesday. Next up in the play-off chase it’s two home games against relegation threatened Witton Albion and midtable Lancaster City. Get yourself to our football ground.
Website man of the match: Alistair Waddecar. Played with purpose and urgency throughout. Waddecar has been able to demonstrate his ability more effectively in a more attacking role in recent months.
Report by Matthew Haley
FC United fight back to win at Grantham Town
Late goals from Regan Linney and Michael Donohue gave FC United a priceless 2-1 victory at Grantham Town on Saturday afternoon as the Reds showed great character in difficult windswept conditions at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium.
No winter break was required – and there were no NFTs in sight – as the semi-professional players of both clubs endeavoured to entertain the 669 supporters who witnessed a win that lifts Neil Reynolds’ side to within five points of the play-offs.
The Gingerbreads started the day six points adrift at the bottom of the Pitching In Northern Premier League, without a home win all season, and with just one win in their last 10 matches. As such, the match had an unnerving sense of being a potential banana skin for promotion-chasing FC United, especially when Shane Clarke gave the hosts the lead after 14 minutes.
Grantham captain Elliott Durrell launched a free-kick into the box from around 35 yards out and when United failed to clear their lines Clarke volleyed the ball past goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe for 1-0.
The hardworking hosts had their tails up, and with Storm Malik taking hold across one of the most exposed football grounds in the country, the Reds (playing in blue) were in for a testing afternoon.
The was no denying that the visitors were the better side throughout, particularly in the second half, and dominated the game with 65% possession. However, as we all know – ultimately, there’s only one statistic that counts, and for more than an hour it read Grantham Town 1 FC United of Manchester 0.
Other than a few teasing balls across the six-yard box, the men from Manchester rarely troubled Town goalkeeper Jim Pollard in the first half. However, they did have one fantastic opportunity to equalise 10 minutes before the break.
A long ball forward by Lavercombe was headed up into the air by a Grantham defender and the onrushing Linney caught the ball sweetly on the volley at the edge of the box. Pollard was equal to it though and acrobatically tipped the goalbound strike over the crossbar to help the Gingerbreads take the lead into the interval.
Reynolds said he ‘turned the dressing room upside down’ at halftime, something he says he rarely does, such was his frustration with his players’ first half performance. It seems that his words and actions worked as his team responded by turning the game upside down in the final 15 minutes.
United spent most of the second half knocking at the door, albeit slightly above the door as soon-to-be goalscorers Linney and Donohue, and captain Michael Potts, all saw wind-affected chances fly over the bar. However, they finally got their reward in the 75th minute when Linney latched onto a header from substitute Joe Duckworth to drill home the equaliser.
Six minutes later it was 2-1. United broke down the left through Linney and substitute Charlie Ennis, who's ball into the box found Donohue to slot home the winner into the far corner. The Reds had done it!
FC United saw out the closing stages, including five minutes of injury time, fairly comfortably – denying the hosts any shots on goal and a way back into the contest.
The victory gets United back to winning ways after the disappointment of losing their seven match unbeaten run 4-3 at home to Whitby Town on Tuesday. Next up in the play-off chase it’s two home games against relegation threatened Witton Albion and midtable Lancaster City. Get yourself to our football ground.
Website man of the match: Alistair Waddecar. Played with purpose and urgency throughout. Waddecar has been able to demonstrate his ability more effectively in a more attacking role in recent months.
Report by Matthew Haley
