FC United fightback to draw at fourth place Scarborough Athletic
FC United remain in sixth place and the hunt for a play-off spot in the Pitching In Northern Premier Division after fighting back to draw 2-2 at fourth place Scarborough Athletic in front of 1,715 supporters at the Flamingo Land Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Regan Linney was once again the saviour for the Reds, scoring his 11th goal of the season with 15 minutes to go to rescue a point.
Luke Griffiths got the visitors off to the perfect start by breaking the deadlock after just two minutes, but goals either side of halftime for The Seadogs turned the game on top of its head before Linney's strike salvaged a priceless point for the Reds.
It was a thoroughly entertaining game and a share of the spoils was probably a fair result. The day started with Scarborough on a nine-match unbeaten run and looking to avenge their 6-0 defeat to FC United at Broadhurst Park in September.
However, the hosts got off to a disastrous start on just 90 seconds. FC United captain Michael Potts took the ball down the byline on the right, then Michael Donohue, Linney and Josh Galloway combined with some clever passing to cross the ball to the far post for Griffiths, who slotted it calmly into the net for 1-0.
A couple of minutes later, it could have been two. Linney played the ball through to Galloway, but defender Ashley Jackson made a crucial intervention.
United were on top most of the opening period. Morris had a good shot on goal and Griffiths almost got a second after a deft one-two move.
But on 38 minutes, a dangerous long throw from Jackson was launched into the box. FC couldn’t clear their lines and the ball was handled in the box, so the referee awarded a penalty. The Seadogs’ skipper Michael Coulson gave Lavercombe no chance with a shot blasted into the top of the net for 1-1.
Come the second half and United’s old boys hoodoo reared its ugly head again. Former United favourite Kieran Glynn slotted the ball past Lavercombe within one minute of the restart to put Scarborough 2-1 in front.
The Reds, playing in yellow and green, weren’t going to roll over though. An Adam Dodd free-kick was deflected over the bar. Then Ennis couldn’t believe his shot hadn’t gone in as it rattled the underside of the crossbar with goalkeeper Ryan Whitely well beaten.
The game was now superbly combative with chances at both ends. Scarborough substitute Cameron Wilson’s shot looked goal-bound, but Lavercombe brilliantly tipped his strike round the post to deny an almost certain third goal. Moments later, Whitley saved from Linney, and the follow-up shot was blocked.
With United pressing for an equaliser, Alistair Waddacar was introduced with 20 minutes to go, and the vital goal came five minutes later. The substitute slipped a neat ball through to Linney in the Scarborough box and the United centre forward finished clinically with a deft chip over the goalie into the bottom left corner to make it 2-2.
With both sides really going for it, the last five minutes were tense and exciting. Potts was pulling the strings in midfield as United pushed for a winner. A good run from Linney won a corner, and then another in added time, but United couldn’t find a third to steal all three points.
The result means United avoid a third consecutive defeat, after last week's disappointing, narrow loses against Gainsborough Trinity and Warrington Town. With nine games to go, FC United's fate isn't in their own hands. However, the Reds are very much still in the chase for a play-off place and there will most probably be a few twists and turns to come in the next two months.
Website man of the match: Regan Linney. Another tireless performance from United’s talisman, which was rewarded with the all-important equaliser.
Report by Nick Duckett
FC United fightback to draw at fourth place Scarborough Athletic
FC United remain in sixth place and the hunt for a play-off spot in the Pitching In Northern Premier Division after fighting back to draw 2-2 at fourth place Scarborough Athletic in front of 1,715 supporters at the Flamingo Land Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Regan Linney was once again the saviour for the Reds, scoring his 11th goal of the season with 15 minutes to go to rescue a point.
Luke Griffiths got the visitors off to the perfect start by breaking the deadlock after just two minutes, but goals either side of halftime for The Seadogs turned the game on top of its head before Linney's strike salvaged a priceless point for the Reds.
It was a thoroughly entertaining game and a share of the spoils was probably a fair result. The day started with Scarborough on a nine-match unbeaten run and looking to avenge their 6-0 defeat to FC United at Broadhurst Park in September.
However, the hosts got off to a disastrous start on just 90 seconds. FC United captain Michael Potts took the ball down the byline on the right, then Michael Donohue, Linney and Josh Galloway combined with some clever passing to cross the ball to the far post for Griffiths, who slotted it calmly into the net for 1-0.
A couple of minutes later, it could have been two. Linney played the ball through to Galloway, but defender Ashley Jackson made a crucial intervention.
United were on top most of the opening period. Morris had a good shot on goal and Griffiths almost got a second after a deft one-two move.
But on 38 minutes, a dangerous long throw from Jackson was launched into the box. FC couldn’t clear their lines and the ball was handled in the box, so the referee awarded a penalty. The Seadogs’ skipper Michael Coulson gave Lavercombe no chance with a shot blasted into the top of the net for 1-1.
Come the second half and United’s old boys hoodoo reared its ugly head again. Former United favourite Kieran Glynn slotted the ball past Lavercombe within one minute of the restart to put Scarborough 2-1 in front.
The Reds, playing in yellow and green, weren’t going to roll over though. An Adam Dodd free-kick was deflected over the bar. Then Ennis couldn’t believe his shot hadn’t gone in as it rattled the underside of the crossbar with goalkeeper Ryan Whitely well beaten.
The game was now superbly combative with chances at both ends. Scarborough substitute Cameron Wilson’s shot looked goal-bound, but Lavercombe brilliantly tipped his strike round the post to deny an almost certain third goal. Moments later, Whitley saved from Linney, and the follow-up shot was blocked.
With United pressing for an equaliser, Alistair Waddacar was introduced with 20 minutes to go, and the vital goal came five minutes later. The substitute slipped a neat ball through to Linney in the Scarborough box and the United centre forward finished clinically with a deft chip over the goalie into the bottom left corner to make it 2-2.
With both sides really going for it, the last five minutes were tense and exciting. Potts was pulling the strings in midfield as United pushed for a winner. A good run from Linney won a corner, and then another in added time, but United couldn’t find a third to steal all three points.
The result means United avoid a third consecutive defeat, after last week's disappointing, narrow loses against Gainsborough Trinity and Warrington Town. With nine games to go, FC United's fate isn't in their own hands. However, the Reds are very much still in the chase for a play-off place and there will most probably be a few twists and turns to come in the next two months.
Website man of the match: Regan Linney. Another tireless performance from United’s talisman, which was rewarded with the all-important equaliser.
Report by Nick Duckett
