Audenshaw pip the Outcasts in penalty shoot-out thriller

This Saturday’s community cohesion tournament, hosted at Goshen Sports Centre in Bury, was contested by the FC Outcasts and Audenshaw. The FC Outcasts are a team of young FC United supporters. Audenshaw are coached by FC United assistant manager Roy Soule. FC United became involved with Audenshaw after New Charter Housing Association asked us to take over coaching a group of young men who had been attending football coaching sessions on one of their estates. Both teams were joined by players from the Barnardo’s North West Making it Work Project that train with Karl Marginson and other FC community coaches every week. The Tournament took the form of a best of 3 10-minute each-way games between the two sides, with community coach Phil Schofield taking on refereeing duties.

Game 1

Both sides quickly settled into playing some excellent passing football but it was Audenshaw who were first to strike scoring two goals in quick succession. However the Outcasts came straight back and drew level by half-time. Audenshaw came out the stronger in the second half scoring two more goals to take an early advantage in the tournament with a 4-2 victory

Game 2

This game was a much cagier affair than the first with chances few and far between. The Outcasts converted one of the rare first-half chances with a fine volleyed effort from Ray Atherton to take a 1-0 lead into the interval. Sadly the Outcasts were unable to hold onto this lead with Audenshaw replying with the only goal of the half meaning the game finished in a 1-1 draw.

Game 3

The final game began with the Outcasts needing a victory to take the tournament to a penalty shoot-out and they duly notched an early goal. For the rest of the game Audenshaw pressed for the equaliser but they were thwarted by a combination of great last-ditch defending and wasteful finishing. So with the final result 1-0 to the Outcasts the tournament was tied and was therefore decided by the dreaded penalty shoot-out. The first penalty takers from both sides blew their chances, but the next three Audenshaw penalty takers all confidently slotted home their spot kicks and with further misses from the Outcasts Audenshaw emerged as overall victors of the tournament. After the game everyone headed off to watch the FC match, sadly that part of the day did not go as planned!

Community Cohesion tournaments and fixtures are hosted regularly at Goshen Sports Centre in Bury before FC United home Saturday fixtures, for further information or If you have a team who would be interested in taking part in the tournament please contact robinpye@fc-utd.co.uk.

Keep checking the new FC United in the community website at www.fc-utd.co.uk/community for more updates on the club’s latest community work as well as reports and photos from previous FCUM community activities.