Ice cold win in Woodley for Youth Team

As the cold spell begins to bite and many grass pitches were frozen solid, the FC Youth Team were fortunate enough to be playing on the 3G pitch at Woodley Sports where the game was never in doubt and the young Reds came away with a hard fought 2-1 victory.

Having been on the end of a 3-1 defeat at St Bride’s earlier in the season the home side were keen to put on a better performance and in a cagey first half were able to restrict FC to half chances. It could have been different , as early as the fourth minute a back pass to Woodley keeper Ash Frith was mishit by the keeper and found its way to Jake Haslam about 25 yards from goal. Unfortunately for FC he was able to make amends by turning Jake’s shot away for a corner.

Most of the first half was played in midfield, but most of the chances fell to the visitors although most of the shots were off target there were at one point three corners in a row. This pressure came to nothing as eventually a Luke Kolakowski header drifted wide.

From around the half hour mark Woodley began to create chances of their own, including a penalty claim for handball. This was turned down as the ball was fired at pace although many will have seen similar claims given. Equally FC United continued to create chances but were let down by wayward shooting.

The reds did take the lead just before half time, having tried their best not to, A left wing cross from Carl Fitton found Ryan Lyons on the far post debating whether to head it in or just bounce in off his chest. He chose to head it but succeeded only in finding Carl back out on the left wing. His return cross found Luke Kolakowski who amongst a mass of bodies at his feet managed to find the corner of the net. The Woodley players were hard pressed to understand how the goal had been allowed to stand, but stand it did.

After half time words of encouragement, FC came out and doubled the lead within 30 seconds, although Frith in the Woodley goal had fought valiantly to stop it being five seconds earlier. A long throw from Ryan in his own half, gave Dylan Moloney the chance to break down the right wing and cross for Luke. His shot was saved and the ball broke to Carl Fitton, his first shot was blocked but a second found the net.

FC continued to press and around the hour mark again had three corners in a row which came to nothing. The best chance came in the 73rd minute when Dylan broke from the left and had substitute Matt Tierney, fresh from his trip to the Brighton bench waiting for a low hard cross. When it came the cross was lofted and although Tierney headed it goal wards, the keeper was able to scramble along his line and turn it over the bar.

Woodley were finally rewarded for their tenacity in the 78th minute when a free kick was awarded on the edge of the box. Mikey Martin fired a shot round the wall and into the far corner. The remainder of the game was dominated by Woodley’s search for an equaliser and resolute FC defending that meant it never really looked likely. The best effort being another Martin free kick, slightly further out that was comfortably saved by Hayden Buckley Smith deep into injury time.

As none of their rivals played the win continued the 100% league record and extended the lead at the top of the table.

FC United of Manchester: Hayden Buckley-Smith, Ryan Lyons, Carl Fitton, Obied Elghreaw, Jordan Dainty, Luke Kolakowsk (Daniel McLoughlin 87 min)i, Jake Haslam, Josh Burke, Dylan Moloney, Lee Worswick (Matthew Tierney 62 mins), Harrison Reeve. Subs not used: Andrew Farrimond and Chris Smith.

Goals: Kolakowski and Fitton

Cautions: Lyons and Tierney