FC United humbled at Stalybridge Celtic
FC United suffered a humbling 5-2 defeat at Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday afternoon with some poor defending and unforced errors costing the Reds dearly.
Bradley Holmes scored both the goals for the Reds, the first an absolute screamer that gave the FC United faithful brief hope, but the clinical hosts were well worth their victory.
Once again the Reds had the lion’s share of possession (70%) but they were ruthlessly punished by Celtic, who were comfortable winners at Bower Fold.
Marcus Dackers opened the scoring on 17 minutes as he stole the ball from Aaron Morris before powering through the Reds’ fragile looking defence and smashing the ball into the top right corner to give Dan Lavercombe no chance.
United were creating chances and looked likely to get back into the game. Goalkeeper Liam Isherwood made a fantastic save from a powerful Michael Donohue shot from the edge of the box, and he some how managed to claw away the rebound before Holmes could pounce on it.
But despite the promising signs, United went 2-0 down against the run of play. Drew Baker had a moment to forget as he accidentally played in Jay Fitzmartin from the right with a wayward backpass. The Celtic forward took the ball around Lavercombe before placing it into the back of the net.
There was a glimmer of hope two minutes into the second half when Holmes scored a wonder goal out of nothing – curling the ball into the top right corner from 25 yards out to make it 2-1.
The Reds were back in it! For three minutes. Justin Johnson's cross-cum-shot from the right found its way into the back of the net, possibly via a defender, to make it 3-1 on 50 minutes.
United were all over the place and Celtic were taking full advantage. Dackers strolled through the United defence again to score his second goal on 62 minutes, making it 4-1. Captain Sam Wedgbury then got in on the act – adding the fifth four minutes later. A corner wasn't cleared properly and it fell to Wedgbury, who saw his scuffed volley go in off the post for 5-1. The Reds were having a shocker and Celtic looked like they could score at will.
To be fair to Neil Reynolds’ team, they continued to play football and Holmes deservedly got a consolation goal in the 90th minute, slotting home a rebound after Isherwood saved an initial effort from distance, to make the scoreline a little less humiliating. However, it was too little, too late by then – the damage had already been done.
Reynolds and his team must go back to the drawing board and find a way to bounce back against Scarborough at Broadhurst Park on Tuesday night.
FC United humbled at Stalybridge Celtic
FC United suffered a humbling 5-2 defeat at Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday afternoon with some poor defending and unforced errors costing the Reds dearly.
Bradley Holmes scored both the goals for the Reds, the first an absolute screamer that gave the FC United faithful brief hope, but the clinical hosts were well worth their victory.
Once again the Reds had the lion’s share of possession (70%) but they were ruthlessly punished by Celtic, who were comfortable winners at Bower Fold.
Marcus Dackers opened the scoring on 17 minutes as he stole the ball from Aaron Morris before powering through the Reds’ fragile looking defence and smashing the ball into the top right corner to give Dan Lavercombe no chance.
United were creating chances and looked likely to get back into the game. Goalkeeper Liam Isherwood made a fantastic save from a powerful Michael Donohue shot from the edge of the box, and he some how managed to claw away the rebound before Holmes could pounce on it.
But despite the promising signs, United went 2-0 down against the run of play. Drew Baker had a moment to forget as he accidentally played in Jay Fitzmartin from the right with a wayward backpass. The Celtic forward took the ball around Lavercombe before placing it into the back of the net.
There was a glimmer of hope two minutes into the second half when Holmes scored a wonder goal out of nothing – curling the ball into the top right corner from 25 yards out to make it 2-1.
The Reds were back in it! For three minutes. Justin Johnson's cross-cum-shot from the right found its way into the back of the net, possibly via a defender, to make it 3-1 on 50 minutes.
United were all over the place and Celtic were taking full advantage. Dackers strolled through the United defence again to score his second goal on 62 minutes, making it 4-1. Captain Sam Wedgbury then got in on the act – adding the fifth four minutes later. A corner wasn't cleared properly and it fell to Wedgbury, who saw his scuffed volley go in off the post for 5-1. The Reds were having a shocker and Celtic looked like they could score at will.
To be fair to Neil Reynolds’ team, they continued to play football and Holmes deservedly got a consolation goal in the 90th minute, slotting home a rebound after Isherwood saved an initial effort from distance, to make the scoreline a little less humiliating. However, it was too little, too late by then – the damage had already been done.
Reynolds and his team must go back to the drawing board and find a way to bounce back against Scarborough at Broadhurst Park on Tuesday night.