Match Report

FC United of Manchester 5

Clapton Community FC 2

Attendance: 694

FC United concluded their pre-season fixtures with a 5-2 win against fellow fan-owned club Clapton CFC at Broadhurst Park on Saturday afternoon, in front of 694 supporters.

Despite having gone into the break 2-1 down to the visitors, a suite of half-time changes saw United add more adventure to their attacking play, with second half goals from substitutes Keaton Mulvey, Jordan Simpson and Regan Linney, ensuring that the Reds signed off their pre-season in fine form.

Earlier on in the afternoon fans had congregated to watch the two clubs' women's teams play, with FC United running out convincing 9-0 winners during that fixture. United's men's team had hoped to replicate that level of dominance against their opponents, who currently compete at step 7 in the football pyramid, in the Middlesex County League Premier Division.

As the match kicked off, you'd have been forgiven for thinking that it was Clapton who were the home side, such was the voluble level of noise coming from their supporters in the Main Stand. However, it was United who made the better start to the game and, after a good early spell of possession and flurry of opportunities in front of goal, the home side soon had the lead.

With Michael Potts playing an attractive one-two with Ali Waddecar on the edge of the Clapton penalty area, the club captain took one step to his right and placed a curled shot into the top left-hand corner. Clapton, though, had come to play, and spurred on by their supporters the team soon found a foothold back in the game. An equalising goal came in the 27th minute, with the 'Tons hitting United on the counterattack. Having raced down the right wing, brothers Josh and Noah Adejokun linked up well, before picking out forward Arthur Wright in the penalty area for the East London side's first of the afternoon.

For the remainder of the first half, United were distinctly lacklustre and seemed reluctant to find their way back into the tie. Post-match, Reds boss Neil Reynolds would say that he had been “appalled” by some of his side's play in the first half. It wasn't difficult to see why, as Clapton were able to gain more and more traction on the field, eventually putting themselves 2-1 up just before the half-time break.

Once again it was the impressive Adejokun brothers teaming up to great effect down the left-hand side, with Josh Adejokun squaring the ball to sibling Noah in United's penalty area, before the Clapton number 11 played himself into space and let fly with a sublime finish into the left corner of United's net. He fully deserved his goal, and Clapton fully deserved their lead going into the break.

FC United came out for the second half an entirely different proposition. Having made several changes to the team, the home side now brimmed with confidence and attacking intent. After threatening for an equaliser for much of the opening exchanges, the Reds put themselves back on equal terms with Linney firing in from close range, the ball having been played into the penalty area by Potts.

Linney continued to be the catalyst for FC's second half revival, and soon bagged his second of the afternoon to put FC 3-2 up. The United forward made a brilliant, winding run down the left wing, before beating three defenders in the opposition's penalty area and sliding the ball past 'Tons keeper Dan Anfossy to put his side ahead.

United were now very much in the ascendency, and Clapton made a number of substitutions, but it wasn't long before the home side had their fourth of the afternoon, with Simpson capping off a fine performance with a well-earned goal.

The United forward teamed up to great effect with Linney, Mulvey and Charlie Ennis in attack, as the quartet drove at the Clapton defence, passing the ball between themselves at will. Simpson soon found himself with plenty of space in the penalty area and was able to steady the ball before placing a low shot past Anfossy and into the Clapton net.

A fifth goal followed for United in the 87th minute, and once again it was that man Linney at the centre of things. The United player burst into the penalty area before setting Keaton Mulvey up in the middle of the box for United's white-haired wonder - 'El Blanco' - to lace the ball home for his side's final goal. It had been perhaps Mulvey's most assured performance for United to date, and it was good to see him get on the score sheet.

The win helps put a healthy gloss on United's pre-season preparations, with the side now looking ahead to next Saturday's opening league fixture away at Warrington Town. Credit to our fantastic visitors, Clapton CFC who did themselves proud both on and off the pitch all afternoon. Same thing at The Old Spotted Dog next pre-season?

Website man of the match – Regan Linney. Another assured performance for the United forward, who gets better and better as the games roll on. He was the driving force for United's second half comeback, and fully deserving of his two goals.

Report by Sam Turner