Reds wary of Radcliffe hoodoo

FC United will be looking to overcome their Radcliffe Borough cup hoodoo and ghost into the next round of the President’s Cup when they take on Bamber Bridge this Hallowe’en.

The Reds were left howling-mad after suffering nightmare defeats in the two previous cup-ties at their second home of the Inn2gether Stadium. Alsager Town dealt them an extra time killer blow in a gruesome UniBond Cup encounter back in September and Bradford Park Avenue murdered Margy’s young team 4-1 in a FA Trophy horror show exactly three weeks ago to leave the manager’s blood boiling.

But United are confident that they will not be carved open tonight. New monster signings Colin Bell and Peter Thomson are in line for their full (moon) debuts and assistant manager Phil Power, who looks spookily like Uncle Fester, is sure that the United faithful are in for a treat rather than a trick tonight.

Power said: "I don’t know what kind of team Bamber Bridge will be putting out but we are planning to put out a very strong side for this one and we are focused on winning, especially given the previous two cup performances at Radcliffe."??

And he added: "I think anyone who watched the last cup performance against Bradford Park Avenue will agree that it was terrible. I was watching from the bench and it hurt me and I know it hurt the players too. But they have really picked their performances up in the last few league games and I am sure they will compete equally as well on Wednesday. We are very confident."

Bell and Thomson will come into the side with centre-back Rob Nugent likely to be rested due to a groin strain and the frighfully good Rory Patterson will make way after picking up his ninth yellow card against Ossett on Saturday.

Tonight’s game may not be for the faint hearted because if it ends in a draw, it will be decided by extra time and if necessary a penalty shoot-out.