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Match Report

9th January 2016

Vanarama National League North

The Lamb Ground, Kettlebrook Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B77 1AA


Tamworth

1 - 1

FC United of Manchester

Newton 90 (+1)
  Thomson 76
Attendance: 1,430

Tamworth 1

Newton 90 (+1)

FC United of Manchester 1

Thomson 76

Attendance: 1,430


Tamworth

1 James Belshaw
2 Andy Burns
3 Connor Taylor
4 Lee Smith
5 Steve Tomassen
6 Dan Preston
7 Elliot Durrell 
8 Shane Clarke
9 Ross Dyer
10 Paul Green (capt)
11 Curtis Strong

Subs.
12 Leon Mettam (for 11, 77 mins)
14 Dan Newton (for 9, 60 mins)
17 Luke Hubbins (for 4, 52 mins)

FC United of Manchester

1 David Carnell
2 Dean Stott
3 Liam Brownhill
4 Scott Kay
5 Tom Smyth
6 Luke Ashworth
7 Matthew Wolfenden
8 Sam Sheridan
9 Tom Greaves (capt)
10 George Thomson
11 Harry Winter

Subs.
12 Craig Lindfield (for 9, 68 mins)
14 Greg Daniels (for 7, 67 mins)
17 Adam Thurston (for 10, 89 mins)


Match Report
Ten man FC United drew 1-1 at seventh placed Tamworth on Saturday afternoon at The Lamb but the Reds were seconds away from gaining all three points.

Karl Marginson’s side battled for an hour with 10 men after centre-back Tom Smyth was sent off for a dangerous challenge and they looked like they had won it when George Thomson deservedly broke the deadlock with 14 minutes to go.

However, the hosts snatched an equaliser in the 90th minute, Dan Newton heading home at the second attempt from a corner after goalkeeper Dave Carnell had parried his initial effort into the air.

FC United will be disappointed to have victory snatched away from them, there is no doubt about it. However, they Reds can also take great heart from a resolute, hardworking performance and a point with 10 men away from home against a team much higher in the table.

After a very cagey start from both teams, the Reds were dealt a severe blow in the 26th minute when Smyth was sent off for a mistimed and arguably reckless challenge in the rightback position.

Referee Robert Massey-Ellis decided the attempted tackle deserved a straight red. Dean Stott moved infield to partner Luke Ashworth at centre-back and Sam Sheridan dropped back to rightback. Thankfully, the resulting free-kick flew wide of the back post.

Despite being cheered on by 1,430 supporters, it took a long time for the game to get going and there were no notable shots on target at either end in the first half. The best chance of the half fell to Thomson who volleyed a fierce effort onto the post after Liam Brownhill had picked out Matthew Wolfenden in the box.

Into the second half and Tamworth were failing to make the man advantage count or even show. If anything, FC United were the better side and were using the fact they were playing down the slope to their advantage. That said, there was still very little goalmouth action.

With just over 20 minutes to go, Margy made a double substitution with Greg Daniels and Craig Lindfield coming on to replace Matthew Wolfenden and captain Tom Greaves who had both worked tirelessly chasing hopeful throughballs that the Reds had sometimes had to resort to.

Lindfield’s introduction proved vital as he provided the assist for FC United’s goal. The Reds defended a corner well with Harry Winter heading the ball away at the near post and United turned defence into attack. Lindfield was released down the right and he broke at pace before crossing the ball towards the back post to Thomson.

The Chester loanee showed great composure to take the ball down, cut inside to avoid a last ditch challenge from a defender, before slotting the ball calmly into the far corner. United had done it against the odds. Or that’s how it felt at the time.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the Reds couldn’t hold on. Tamworth ploughed forward in search of an equaliser but they still failed to look truly threatening. Until the 90th minute. A corner was whipped in and Newton met the ball at the back post with his face.

The ball bounced down into the muddy goalmouth and Carnell parried the ball back into the air. Newton wasn’t going to miss at the second time of asking and, unchallenged, he forced the ball over the line for the equaliser.

Despite the slightly disappointing outcome, FC United look like a team on the up and they go again at Brackley Town next Saturday where they will hope to record their fourth win in seven matches.

Man of the match: George Thomson. Once again looked a cut above everyone on the pitch. FC United would be delighted to keep him at the club beyond 20th January when his loan ends.

Report by Matthew Haley
Match Report
Ten man FC United drew 1-1 at seventh placed Tamworth on Saturday afternoon at The Lamb but the Reds were seconds away from gaining all three points.

Karl Marginson’s side battled for an hour with 10 men after centre-back Tom Smyth was sent off for a dangerous challenge and they looked like they had won it when George Thomson deservedly broke the deadlock with 14 minutes to go.

However, the hosts snatched an equaliser in the 90th minute, Dan Newton heading home at the second attempt from a corner after goalkeeper Dave Carnell had parried his initial effort into the air.

FC United will be disappointed to have victory snatched away from them, there is no doubt about it. However, they Reds can also take great heart from a resolute, hardworking performance and a point with 10 men away from home against a team much higher in the table.

After a very cagey start from both teams, the Reds were dealt a severe blow in the 26th minute when Smyth was sent off for a mistimed and arguably reckless challenge in the rightback position.

Referee Robert Massey-Ellis decided the attempted tackle deserved a straight red. Dean Stott moved infield to partner Luke Ashworth at centre-back and Sam Sheridan dropped back to rightback. Thankfully, the resulting free-kick flew wide of the back post.

Despite being cheered on by 1,430 supporters, it took a long time for the game to get going and there were no notable shots on target at either end in the first half. The best chance of the half fell to Thomson who volleyed a fierce effort onto the post after Liam Brownhill had picked out Matthew Wolfenden in the box.

Into the second half and Tamworth were failing to make the man advantage count or even show. If anything, FC United were the better side and were using the fact they were playing down the slope to their advantage. That said, there was still very little goalmouth action.

With just over 20 minutes to go, Margy made a double substitution with Greg Daniels and Craig Lindfield coming on to replace Matthew Wolfenden and captain Tom Greaves who had both worked tirelessly chasing hopeful throughballs that the Reds had sometimes had to resort to.

Lindfield’s introduction proved vital as he provided the assist for FC United’s goal. The Reds defended a corner well with Harry Winter heading the ball away at the near post and United turned defence into attack. Lindfield was released down the right and he broke at pace before crossing the ball towards the back post to Thomson.

The Chester loanee showed great composure to take the ball down, cut inside to avoid a last ditch challenge from a defender, before slotting the ball calmly into the far corner. United had done it against the odds. Or that’s how it felt at the time.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the Reds couldn’t hold on. Tamworth ploughed forward in search of an equaliser but they still failed to look truly threatening. Until the 90th minute. A corner was whipped in and Newton met the ball at the back post with his face.

The ball bounced down into the muddy goalmouth and Carnell parried the ball back into the air. Newton wasn’t going to miss at the second time of asking and, unchallenged, he forced the ball over the line for the equaliser.

Despite the slightly disappointing outcome, FC United look like a team on the up and they go again at Brackley Town next Saturday where they will hope to record their fourth win in seven matches.

Man of the match: George Thomson. Once again looked a cut above everyone on the pitch. FC United would be delighted to keep him at the club beyond 20th January when his loan ends.

Report by Matthew Haley

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