FC United claim first home win of the season against Whitby

FC United made it two wins out of two at the start of their eighth season with a 3-2 victory over Whitby Town on Tuesday night with goals from Michael Norton, Matthew Wolfenden and Jake Cottrell.

Norton got the Reds off to a great start by breaking the deadlock inside 10 minutes but the visitors equalised through Nathan Mulligan moments before the break. United regained their goal advantage early in the second half through Wolfenden before Cottrell made it 3-1 just after the hour mark.

It should have been comfortable for the Reds from there on in but Lee Neville inexplicably handled in the box to gift the Seasiders a way back into the match. Mulligan fired straight down the middle to make it 3-2, setting up a tense finale but thankfully the Reds had enough in the tank to see out the victory and maintain their 100% start to the season.

The game started brightly for FC and it was no surprise when they took the lead on six minutes. A great run and cross from Neville found Norton who volleyed the ball past the Whitby keeper, Nick Liversedge.

On the quarter hour mark, Adam Jones looked to have doubled the lead but his header was cleared off the line. Three minutes later and it was the turn of Wolfenden to try his luck but he shot straight at Liversedge after a good run.

A minute later, the FC goal led a charmed life as a cross into the box found Graeme Armstrong who thundered a header against the FC bar.

Whitby were certainly looking vulnerable from crosses and Carlos Roca found Liversedge unbeatable as he saw his header, from a Kyle Jacobs cross, tipped round the post.

With five minutes to go before the break, Whitby won a soft free-kick near to the FC box. It was taken quickly with some FC players still debating the decision and there was no surprise when Mulligan slid the equaliser into the net.

On 54 minutes, FC regained the lead when a free-kick was floated into the box, Norton nodded the ball back to Wolfenden who rifled the ball into the net. Jerome Wright was looking dangerous on the left and he was next to test Liversedge but could only fire straight at him.

A run from Wright shortly after the hour mark saw him shoot at Liversedge who couldn’t hold the shot, Cottrell slotting home the rebound to give The Reds some breathing space.

On 66 minutes, Mulligan saw a free-kick well saved by James Spencer as Whitby looked to get themselves back into the game and on 82 minutes they did manage to pull a goal back.

There seemed to be a handball in the build up to a shot being deflected wide but the ref waved play on. From the corner, Neville handled the ball and Mulligan made no mistake from the spot.

That goal resulted in a frantic last eight minutes as Whitby attacked relentlessly looking for the equaliser and FC were certainly holding on for dear life.

In the end, it was an earned three points but the players and management will be concerned at how Whitby made them hang onto the lead in the final ten minutes of the game.

Man of the match: Michael Norton - A non stop performance that gave the Whitby backline trouble all night.

Whitby Town
21st August 2012
Played at Gigg Lane, Bury
Won: 3-2
Half Time: 1-1
Attendance: 1562

FC United

1. James Spencer
2. Kyle Jacobs (capt)
3. Lee Neville
4. Dave Birch
5. Adam Jones
6. Dean Stott
7. Carlos Roca
8. Jake Cottrell (cautioned 79)
9. Mike Norton
10. Jerome Wright
11. Matthew Wolfenden
Subs

12. Stephen Johnson (for 7 69)
13.
14. Daniel Grimshaw (for 3 87)
15. Scott Cheetham
16. Charlie Anderson
17. Cedric Krou

Scorers: Norton 6, Wolfenden 54, Cottrell 63

Whitby Town

1. Nick Liversedge
2. Callum Wilson
3. Mark Robinson (capt)
4. Kevin Burgess
5. Alex White
6. Tom Portas
7. David McTiernan
8. Michael Tait
9. Graeme Armstrong
10. Nathan Mulligan (cautioned 54)
11. Liam O’Mahoney

Subs

12. Darren Williams (for 2 78)
13.
14. Shane Henry (for 7 81)
15. Craig James
16. Steven Snaith (for 11 67)
17. David Campbell

Goals: Mulligan 41 84 pen