Match Report
FC United hit the woodwork and the side netting but couldn’t find the all important goal against 10 men Chorley as the two sides battled out a 0-0 draw at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds entered into the Advent season looking to take points off the Magpies as part of their bid to stake their claim for a position in the play-offs. After a midweek draw at Nantwich, FC returned to the same starting XI that reigned victorious last weekend in the FA Trophy.
United made a very bright start to the afternoon’s proceedings and enjoyed excellent possession and passing play which often left Chorley spectators in the early part of the first half, at times playing one -touch football which was a pleasure to watch.
The Reds applied copious amounts of pressure in the first twenty minutes, showing keen intention to open the scoring as soon as possible. Astley Mulholland induced pace into the game, pouncing on the loose ball and bursting forward, forcing Wayne Maden into a headed clearance inside his own six-yard box.
United’s fullbacks were being given plenty of opportunity to venture forward and spent much of the opening stages pushing up into the visitors’ half. Carlos Roca picked out Lee Neville in acres of space, giving the left-back plenty of room to cross the ball into Mulholland who hit first time just off target.
Mike Norton was then gifted a chance as keeper Ross Saunders gave the ball away to the lone FC frontman who rounded the keeper and attempted to shoot into the open net, only to hit the side netting.
In spite of FC’s earlier control, the end product was lacking and Chorley began to make their presence felt with a couple of opportunities against the run of play.
Chris Denham provided a wake-up call to the United defence as the striker broke through and had the away fans in the Cemetery End deceived as his shot through James Spencer, which looked to be on target, trickled just wide of the upright.
Denham then forced Spencer into a fine save, making good connection with a strike from just outside the area which the FC keeper saved one-handed to his right.
The Reds then began to build once more, but again the all-important opener failed to materialise and a free kick was conceded in a dangerous position as Greg Stones was alleged to have committed a deliberate handball. Adam Roscoe took the opportunity well, and was denied only by United’s crossbar.
With the icy rain set in for the second half, both sides had chances going forward and at times it seemed as though United’s initial dominance would count for nothing as Chorley threatened.
Spencer denied Denham again with another one-handed save, which was almost a carbon copy of the stop the United keeper had produced before the break.
United, like the rain, were persistent and as Roca played in Norton, the centre-forward battled against his man and won a corner, from which Stones headed over the bar.
A double substitution then followed as Jake Cottrell was replaced by Matthew Wolfenden and Stephen Johnson made his home debut, coming on for Mulholland.
A lot of play went through Dean Stott who set up Norton in a perfect position inside the box. However, his connection let him down and his frustration was telling of the overall pattern of the game.
Shake ups to the United squad this week included the return of Matthew Tierney who was given a run-out for the last ten minutes as Roca made way.
Norton was a threat once more inside the box, this time rising for a header from Nicky Platt’s corner which came off the foot of the post and Chorley eventually cleared their lines.
In a cheating attempt to take a late lead, Denham took a blatant dive inside the area and looked to the referee for a penalty, only to be shown his second yellow of the afternoon and dismissed with just minutes to play.
Come full time, a sense of ’so near, yet so far’ could be felt as despite such a lively start, the Reds frustratingly never managed to capitalise on many excellent build-ups. Positively, Saturday afternoon’s performance was a far cry from that of the defeat at Victory Park back in September, and all concerned with the club will surely have gone away from the game feeling as though the display the team produced was a definite step in the right direction, as the Reds unbeaten run has now been extended to ten games.
Website Man of the Match: Dean Stott - His defensive instinct and attacking capabilities combine well as Stott continues to develop in his role of playmaker just in front of the back four, adding another dimension to the team.
Report by Victoria Fullen
Match Report
FC United hit the woodwork and the side netting but couldn’t find the all important goal against 10 men Chorley as the two sides battled out a 0-0 draw at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds entered into the Advent season looking to take points off the Magpies as part of their bid to stake their claim for a position in the play-offs. After a midweek draw at Nantwich, FC returned to the same starting XI that reigned victorious last weekend in the FA Trophy.
United made a very bright start to the afternoon’s proceedings and enjoyed excellent possession and passing play which often left Chorley spectators in the early part of the first half, at times playing one -touch football which was a pleasure to watch.
The Reds applied copious amounts of pressure in the first twenty minutes, showing keen intention to open the scoring as soon as possible. Astley Mulholland induced pace into the game, pouncing on the loose ball and bursting forward, forcing Wayne Maden into a headed clearance inside his own six-yard box.
United’s fullbacks were being given plenty of opportunity to venture forward and spent much of the opening stages pushing up into the visitors’ half. Carlos Roca picked out Lee Neville in acres of space, giving the left-back plenty of room to cross the ball into Mulholland who hit first time just off target.
Mike Norton was then gifted a chance as keeper Ross Saunders gave the ball away to the lone FC frontman who rounded the keeper and attempted to shoot into the open net, only to hit the side netting.
In spite of FC’s earlier control, the end product was lacking and Chorley began to make their presence felt with a couple of opportunities against the run of play.
Chris Denham provided a wake-up call to the United defence as the striker broke through and had the away fans in the Cemetery End deceived as his shot through James Spencer, which looked to be on target, trickled just wide of the upright.
Denham then forced Spencer into a fine save, making good connection with a strike from just outside the area which the FC keeper saved one-handed to his right.
The Reds then began to build once more, but again the all-important opener failed to materialise and a free kick was conceded in a dangerous position as Greg Stones was alleged to have committed a deliberate handball. Adam Roscoe took the opportunity well, and was denied only by United’s crossbar.
With the icy rain set in for the second half, both sides had chances going forward and at times it seemed as though United’s initial dominance would count for nothing as Chorley threatened.
Spencer denied Denham again with another one-handed save, which was almost a carbon copy of the stop the United keeper had produced before the break.
United, like the rain, were persistent and as Roca played in Norton, the centre-forward battled against his man and won a corner, from which Stones headed over the bar.
A double substitution then followed as Jake Cottrell was replaced by Matthew Wolfenden and Stephen Johnson made his home debut, coming on for Mulholland.
A lot of play went through Dean Stott who set up Norton in a perfect position inside the box. However, his connection let him down and his frustration was telling of the overall pattern of the game.
Shake ups to the United squad this week included the return of Matthew Tierney who was given a run-out for the last ten minutes as Roca made way.
Norton was a threat once more inside the box, this time rising for a header from Nicky Platt’s corner which came off the foot of the post and Chorley eventually cleared their lines.
In a cheating attempt to take a late lead, Denham took a blatant dive inside the area and looked to the referee for a penalty, only to be shown his second yellow of the afternoon and dismissed with just minutes to play.
Come full time, a sense of ’so near, yet so far’ could be felt as despite such a lively start, the Reds frustratingly never managed to capitalise on many excellent build-ups. Positively, Saturday afternoon’s performance was a far cry from that of the defeat at Victory Park back in September, and all concerned with the club will surely have gone away from the game feeling as though the display the team produced was a definite step in the right direction, as the Reds unbeaten run has now been extended to ten games.
Website Man of the Match: Dean Stott - His defensive instinct and attacking capabilities combine well as Stott continues to develop in his role of playmaker just in front of the back four, adding another dimension to the team.
Report by Victoria Fullen
