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Match Report

8th December 2012

EvoStik League Premier Division

Keys Park, Keys Park Road, Hednesford, Staffs, WS12 2DZ


Hednesford Town

1 - 0

FC United of Manchester

Durrell 67 (pen)
 
Attendance: 929

Hednesford Town 1

Durrell 67 (pen)

FC United of Manchester 0

Attendance: 929


Hednesford Town

1 Don Crane
2 John Disney
3 Darren Campion (capt)
4 Ben Bailey
5 Francino Francis
6 Alex Melbourne
7 Jamey Osbourne
8 Elliott Durrell
9 Neil Harvey
10 Aaron Rey
11 Nathan Woolfe

Subs:
12 Michael Lennon (for 10, 59 mins)
14 Sean O'Connor (for 9, 59 mins)
15 Dave McPherson (for 11, 85 mins)

FC United of Manchester

1 James Spencer
2 Kyle Jacobs (capt)
3 Lee Neville
4 Lewis Chalmers
5 Adam Jones
6 Dean Stott
7 Matthew Wolfenden
8 Cedric Krou
9 Mike Norton
10 Jerome Wright
11 Jake Cottrell

Subs.
12 Greg Daniels (for 4, 76 mins)
15 Tom Fisher (for 2, 85 mins)


Match Report
FC United lost 1-0 at Hednesford Town on Saturday afternoon due to a second half penalty.

The Reds were by no means out of their depth and a draw may have been a fair result, but they failed to find the decisive touch in front of goal and couldn’t claw a way back after the Pitmen had gone ahead.

The starting line up differed from that of the away trip to Blyth last weekend, particularly in midfield, as Nick Platt, Matthew Tierney and Dave Birch were all unavailable, meaning that Jake Cottrell and Cedric Krou were joined by Lewis Chalmers, making his first start to complete a three man central midfield.

Mike Norton beat the offside trap early on, latching onto a through ball and looking up to see Dan Crane coming off his line. A bad first touch for the front man squandered the opportunity and gave the keeper ample opportunity to get to the ball first.

United’s striker took a further chance, this time pouncing on a loose ball left by the Hednesford defence. Norton rounded the onrushing Crane and looked to finish from a tight angle. The ball was defended off the line by Francino Francis and squirmed across the six yard box for Jerome Wright to surely score but Crane did superbly to get back and smother the chance.

Cottrell was next up, having an effort on target from outside the area deflected over the bar, after a good build up. The Reds were also in action down the opposite end of the park after a poor clearance from Lee Neville forced his keeper into a very quick reaction, saving with his feet from close range.

The United defence had to be alert to the three-pronged attack of Neil Harvey, Aaron Rey and Nathan Woolfe who had to be kept at bay. Rey went for goal near the end of the half, trying an overhead kick from an unmarked position in the box which went just wide.

Just on the stroke of half time, Norton did have the ball in the net but had already been judged offside, meaning that neither side had the edge at the break.

It was a while before United were able to get out of first gear at the start of the second half, however, Wright headed up a good move for the Reds, taking a ball out to the left, before driving it in across the face of goal: unfortunately none of his team were on hand to profit.

The Pitmen management made a bold change with around half an hour to go, replacing striking partnership Harvey and Rey with their upfront counterparts Sean O’Connor and Michael Lennon. The latter name may ring familiar with FC fans, the Reds having come up against Lennon several times during his time at Nantwich Town.

Norton should have put the Reds ahead with a quick dart across the box before shooting from close range and putting his effort over the bar.

On 66 minutes, United were left rueing missed chances as the home side went in front through a spot kick. Neville and Adam Jones both challenged for the ball either side of O’Connor who found himself in a Red defence sandwich before going to ground. The Pitmen’s top scorer Elliott Durrell added to his season’s tally with a well taken penalty.

Needing to get back into the game, United altered their formation, replacing Chalmers with Greg Daniels and pushing Wolfenden upfront alongside Norton.

It was the substitute who was involved in a great chance as received Wright’s throw and turned and crossed into the box to see a glancing header put agonisingly wide.

With very little time remaining, the Reds took off Kyle Jacobs and went three at the back, adding Tom Fisher to the attack.

A surprisingly low amount of added time was played, and the Pitmen looked to be content to play down the clock. Despite a history of late equalisers in this fixture; Simon Garner at Keys Cross and Lennon at Stalybridge earlier this season; United were frustratingly unable to claim anything from the game.

The home side celebrated their first win against FC emphatically as the final whistle sounded and although the spoils should arguably have been shared, United must now move on and look ahead to Tuesday night’s visit of Kendal Town.
Match Report
FC United lost 1-0 at Hednesford Town on Saturday afternoon due to a second half penalty.

The Reds were by no means out of their depth and a draw may have been a fair result, but they failed to find the decisive touch in front of goal and couldn’t claw a way back after the Pitmen had gone ahead.

The starting line up differed from that of the away trip to Blyth last weekend, particularly in midfield, as Nick Platt, Matthew Tierney and Dave Birch were all unavailable, meaning that Jake Cottrell and Cedric Krou were joined by Lewis Chalmers, making his first start to complete a three man central midfield.

Mike Norton beat the offside trap early on, latching onto a through ball and looking up to see Dan Crane coming off his line. A bad first touch for the front man squandered the opportunity and gave the keeper ample opportunity to get to the ball first.

United’s striker took a further chance, this time pouncing on a loose ball left by the Hednesford defence. Norton rounded the onrushing Crane and looked to finish from a tight angle. The ball was defended off the line by Francino Francis and squirmed across the six yard box for Jerome Wright to surely score but Crane did superbly to get back and smother the chance.

Cottrell was next up, having an effort on target from outside the area deflected over the bar, after a good build up. The Reds were also in action down the opposite end of the park after a poor clearance from Lee Neville forced his keeper into a very quick reaction, saving with his feet from close range.

The United defence had to be alert to the three-pronged attack of Neil Harvey, Aaron Rey and Nathan Woolfe who had to be kept at bay. Rey went for goal near the end of the half, trying an overhead kick from an unmarked position in the box which went just wide.

Just on the stroke of half time, Norton did have the ball in the net but had already been judged offside, meaning that neither side had the edge at the break.

It was a while before United were able to get out of first gear at the start of the second half, however, Wright headed up a good move for the Reds, taking a ball out to the left, before driving it in across the face of goal: unfortunately none of his team were on hand to profit.

The Pitmen management made a bold change with around half an hour to go, replacing striking partnership Harvey and Rey with their upfront counterparts Sean O’Connor and Michael Lennon. The latter name may ring familiar with FC fans, the Reds having come up against Lennon several times during his time at Nantwich Town.

Norton should have put the Reds ahead with a quick dart across the box before shooting from close range and putting his effort over the bar.

On 66 minutes, United were left rueing missed chances as the home side went in front through a spot kick. Neville and Adam Jones both challenged for the ball either side of O’Connor who found himself in a Red defence sandwich before going to ground. The Pitmen’s top scorer Elliott Durrell added to his season’s tally with a well taken penalty.

Needing to get back into the game, United altered their formation, replacing Chalmers with Greg Daniels and pushing Wolfenden upfront alongside Norton.

It was the substitute who was involved in a great chance as received Wright’s throw and turned and crossed into the box to see a glancing header put agonisingly wide.

With very little time remaining, the Reds took off Kyle Jacobs and went three at the back, adding Tom Fisher to the attack.

A surprisingly low amount of added time was played, and the Pitmen looked to be content to play down the clock. Despite a history of late equalisers in this fixture; Simon Garner at Keys Cross and Lennon at Stalybridge earlier this season; United were frustratingly unable to claim anything from the game.

The home side celebrated their first win against FC emphatically as the final whistle sounded and although the spoils should arguably have been shared, United must now move on and look ahead to Tuesday night’s visit of Kendal Town.

Previous Matches
28/12/2015 1-1D
29/08/2015 0-3W
11/05/2013 2-1L
02/09/2012 1-1D
17/03/2012 1-2W
28/01/2012 2-0W
21/03/2009 2-2D
29/11/2008 3-0W