Reds edge closer to play-offs with Worksop victory

A second half Matthew Wolfenden strike was enough to give FC United the three points against Worksop Town and moves the Reds just one win away from sealing a play-off place for the third consecutive season.


A bumper crowd of 2,761 enjoy the April sunshine but saw United frustrated for the majority of the match before a well placed shot from Wolfenden broke the deadlock with twenty minutes to go.


It could have been much earlier as United came out of the blocks fast and Carlos Roca saw an effort within the first minute just saved by Worksop ‘keeper Paul Bastock and turned wide for a corner.


But after that United found it difficult to break the opposition down as they looked to take what United had with two banks of four guarding the goal, before looking to hit United on the break in order to get something from the game.


With the opposition proving difficult to penetrate much of the first half was a stalemate with clear cut chances few and far between, and whilst United had much the better of the first half you could count the number of times they managed to get a shot on goal on one hand.


One such occasion was provided through Oliver Banks who had a free kick from just outside the area saved by Bastock and turned just wide for another corner.


Just before half time Adam Jones went down with what could be a pivotal moment in United’s season, the central defender was taken off and later it had been confirmed that an Achilles injury would see Jones miss the remainder of the season.


The second half followed much in the same way as the first had, with United having large amounts of possession but finding a way through was proving a stumbling block for the men in red and all too often moves just died out without a meaningful ending.


The visitors reminded United that they were more than capable of getting something from the game early in the second half as they broke well and called Jon Worsnop into action stinging the hands of the United stopper with a fierce shot to end a quick break.

But United kept going and when Dave Birch was brought on for Carlos Roca it was clearly a move designed to find a ball through the defence and bring something different to the United attack.


That breakthrough did come with just over twenty minutes remaining as the ball was played down the left flank the ball was cut back across the box and found Wolfenden, who coolly placed the ball into the top corner to give United the lead.


After this the visitors were forced to change their tactics and pushed forward in a bid to get something out of the game, and on more than one occasion the visitors had the United defence scrambling the ball away defending their lead.


United managed to hold out and send the bumper crowd home happy, the United faithful were more happy on finding out the final scores from around the league as Fylde and Rushall both lost today, meaning a win on Tuesday at home to Ashton would seal a play-off spot for the third consecutive season


Man of the match: Matthew Wolfenden – In a game where chances were few and far between, United’s leading scorer kept his calm and made sure of the three points when called upon.

Report by Craig Phillips