FC United of Manchester FC United of Manchester FC United of Manchester Badge FC United of Manchester Pitch In

Win takes Reds back into play-off places

FC United burst back into the play-off places after coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 over Ossett Town on Wednesday night at Gigg Lane.

Two goals from Aiden Savory saw the West Yorkshire side sitting pretty after half an hour but the Reds scored two goals in a minute through Phil Marsh and Adam Tong to pull level six minutes before half-time.

United started off the second half the same way they finished the first; taking the game to the visitors. They got their reward in the 66th minute when Simon Carden headed the winner - a victory which takes Karl Marginson’s men up to fifth place.

The only down side of the night was striker Carl Lomax getting sent off for two bookable offences, whiches means he will now be suspended the trip to Ilkeston on Saturday 18th April.

Ossett started the game the better of the two teams taking the lead in the 4th minute off a Simon Baldry corner which was headed into the back of the net by Savory. And Town would have gone 2-0 if it wasn’t for a fantastic save by Sam Ashton after a powerful shot was hit by Foster. Ossett continued to pressure after a through ball by O’Brien was met by Savory for Ashton to force him wide for a goal kick.

Ossett got what looked like a soft penalty after Adam Carden was adjudged to have tripped an Ossett player with the slightest of contact. Up stepped Savory to smash the ball past Ashton into the top left corner to get his second goal of the match in the 31st minute.

The referee’s controversial performance continued moments later when Marsh appeared to be brought down in the Ossett box, the referee’s assistant flagged for a penalty. However, the referee decided against his assistant and waved play-on.

The Reds continued to pressure and got a reward after Simon Garner was brought down outside the 18-yard box. Marsh struck a superb freekick into the bottom right corner to beat the keeper and make it 2-1. The former Manchester United player’s first goal for the club.

FC United had the desire to get themselves back into the game, equalising one minute later when Roca won a corner and crossed it in for Tong who rose above everybody else to make the score 2-2. Margy’s men continued to dominate the second half but couldn’t take the lead before the first half whistle went.

The Reds had the best of opening chances in the second half after Wright played the ball cross-field to Roca. Roca ran at the Ossett defence with pace beating two defender and shot to the corner with the keeper just managing to parry the ball wide.

FC continued to press in a bid to take the lead with good build up play by Wright down the left leading to many chance but they just could not find a way through the Ossett defence.

The Reds finally took the lead through Simon Carden in 66th minute. Wright played the ball across to Marsh who shot, which produced a superb save out of the keeper, but he couldn’t prevent the ball looping up and Carden was in the right place at the right time to nod the ball into the back of the net.

In the 68th minute Moses was replaced by Platt who made an instant impact with a wonderful ball through to Lomax which was rocketed against the woodwork.

The referee was involved in more controversies after Roca ran at the Ossett defence before he was felled by Ossett’s James Riordan. The referee decided that it was not a penalty, which wasn’t to the amusement of the Main Stand. Manager Karl Marginson got a severe talking to after a strong appeal and Lomax got booked for descent.

Ossett could have equalised in the 76th minute after a ball was played through to Savory who shot at Ashton who parried towards goal before the shortest player on the pitch, Roca cleared the ball off the line with a great header.

The action match had even more controversy after Lomax picked up his second yellow after a late challenge on an Ossett player in 88th minute meant that he had to walk. Despite being down to ten men, the Reds continued to press to the final whistle, defending well and got themselves a well deserved win which puts them in fifth position heading into Youth United Day against North Ferriby on Saturday.

Report by Joel Duncan.




First Posted ~ 20:38 Thu 2 Apr 2009
News ID ~ 2173
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021