Match Report
A game that had just about everything you could want from an FC game except a win. 2-0 up at half time with goals from Theo Kidd and Sam Howell, the second half saw Marine pile on the pressure and take a 3-2 lead only to be pegged back by a 25 yard screamer from Connor Naughton. As much as the lads tried to get a winner it didn’t happen and in injury time Marine’s number 8 was sent off .
Following last week’s defeat in Liverpool the FC United youth team were determined to get their league title challenge back on track and in the first half were much the better side. They were one up after just five minutes when Matthew Boland squared the ball for Theo Kidd to fire home. On another day Theo could have completed a hat trick in the first twenty five minutes as he then had a shot cleared off the line and saw a close range overhead kick hit the bar and bounce away.
It was 2-0 on 34 minutes when Sam Howell fired home at the second attempt having been set up by Theo. It was another five minutes before Andrew Farrimond in the FC goal had anything to save and it could have been 3-0 Josh Smethurst was unlucky with a header from a Connor Naughton free kick.
Unfortunately in football it is rare to keep a good side down for the whole game and for a quarter of an hour at the start of the second half Marine showed why they are now favourites for the NWYA Premier Division title with a three goal burst to put them in the lead. Firstly Kevin Farrell was unchallenged as he headed a free kick home. Five minutes later Matty Devine punished some hesitant defending to equalise and Paul Pruden found space at the far post to tap home.
FC then regained control of the game’s momentum and went looking for an equaliser. It took until the 80th minute when Theo Kidd broke down the left wing and pulled the ball back beyond the penalty area. It seemed as if that chance might have passed but only for the time it took to leave Connor Naughton’s foot. Then there was only one place it was going. As hard as the lads tried from then on a late winner never came and the opposition headed back to Liverpool and a lead of 10 points but with two more games played. The title won’t be surrendered easily but ith only five games to go the task will be a tall one.
In the game as a whole the fans are quick to voice disapproval of a referee or his decisions, but on this occasion credit should be given to Rob Byrne for his handling of a difficult game. He sought to let the game flow wherever possible without losing control. Apart from the injury time dismissal of Marine’s Billy Smart; when given no other choice, he kept his cards in his pocket.
FC United of Manchester: Andrew Farrimond, Alex Stones, Josh Smethurst, Richard Smith, James Brooks, Kial Callacher, Sam Howell (Andy Lee 77 mins), Connor Naughton, Theo Kidd, Matthew Boland, Matthew Hassall (Jonathan Poizer 60 mins). Subs not used: Jonathan Beisty, Luke Walker Kyle Cunningham.
Goals: Kidd, Howell & Naughton.
Match Report
A game that had just about everything you could want from an FC game except a win. 2-0 up at half time with goals from Theo Kidd and Sam Howell, the second half saw Marine pile on the pressure and take a 3-2 lead only to be pegged back by a 25 yard screamer from Connor Naughton. As much as the lads tried to get a winner it didn’t happen and in injury time Marine’s number 8 was sent off .
Following last week’s defeat in Liverpool the FC United youth team were determined to get their league title challenge back on track and in the first half were much the better side. They were one up after just five minutes when Matthew Boland squared the ball for Theo Kidd to fire home. On another day Theo could have completed a hat trick in the first twenty five minutes as he then had a shot cleared off the line and saw a close range overhead kick hit the bar and bounce away.
It was 2-0 on 34 minutes when Sam Howell fired home at the second attempt having been set up by Theo. It was another five minutes before Andrew Farrimond in the FC goal had anything to save and it could have been 3-0 Josh Smethurst was unlucky with a header from a Connor Naughton free kick.
Unfortunately in football it is rare to keep a good side down for the whole game and for a quarter of an hour at the start of the second half Marine showed why they are now favourites for the NWYA Premier Division title with a three goal burst to put them in the lead. Firstly Kevin Farrell was unchallenged as he headed a free kick home. Five minutes later Matty Devine punished some hesitant defending to equalise and Paul Pruden found space at the far post to tap home.
FC then regained control of the game’s momentum and went looking for an equaliser. It took until the 80th minute when Theo Kidd broke down the left wing and pulled the ball back beyond the penalty area. It seemed as if that chance might have passed but only for the time it took to leave Connor Naughton’s foot. Then there was only one place it was going. As hard as the lads tried from then on a late winner never came and the opposition headed back to Liverpool and a lead of 10 points but with two more games played. The title won’t be surrendered easily but ith only five games to go the task will be a tall one.
In the game as a whole the fans are quick to voice disapproval of a referee or his decisions, but on this occasion credit should be given to Rob Byrne for his handling of a difficult game. He sought to let the game flow wherever possible without losing control. Apart from the injury time dismissal of Marine’s Billy Smart; when given no other choice, he kept his cards in his pocket.
FC United of Manchester: Andrew Farrimond, Alex Stones, Josh Smethurst, Richard Smith, James Brooks, Kial Callacher, Sam Howell (Andy Lee 77 mins), Connor Naughton, Theo Kidd, Matthew Boland, Matthew Hassall (Jonathan Poizer 60 mins). Subs not used: Jonathan Beisty, Luke Walker Kyle Cunningham.
Goals: Kidd, Howell & Naughton.
