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Reds keep promotion push on by downing Droylsden +highlights



FC United maintained our all important fifth place and the pressure on our promotion rivals by downing Droylsden 4-1 at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon in front of 1,974 supporters.

Adam Jones, Matthew Wolfenden and Jerome Wright gave the Reds a 3-0 half-time lead, Liam Brownhill added a fourth 11 minutes after the break before Sam Madeley scored a breakaway consolation for the rock bottom Bloods.

On paper, taking on the already relegated Droylsden looked to be a simple task for the Reds, who turned their attention back to the league after being knocked out of the Doodson Cup on Wednesday.

They also returned to the starting line up of last weekend’s home win over Ilkeston, except for Joe Fox who replaced Callum Byrne in the centre.

FC United had a few half chances early on, and were given a lot of time on the ball, however they didn’t really begin to threaten an end product in the opening stages.

The visitors had their best chance of the half on the break 32 minutes in as Domaine Rouse had the defence beaten for pace and played the ball into Jamie Matthews in a great position. Matthews had the perfect opportunity to open the scoring but mishit his shot.

This perhaps spurred United into action as a minute later Jones broke the deadlock. A long throw from Wright came into a crowded box and Jones managed to get his head on the ball and direct it beyond Craig Dootson.

Wolfenden’s solo effort came within a minute of Jones’ opener. The United winger picked the ball up in the centre of the park before evading the attentions of the Droyslden defence. Despite having options on both sides, Wolfenden went it alone from just inside the area and shot low into the bottom corner.

Towards the end of the half, Greaves attempted to lob Dootson from a tight angle and Rouse also had a chance to get one back. The forward received the ball inside the area and turned Tom Davies but under hit his shot on goal, which was easily gathered by Carnell.

Wright was next on the score sheet, rounding off the half with a third goal for United. Greaves looked for Mike Norton in the area and the striker’s persistence saw him cut the ball back across the area to Wright who made no mistake in firing home first time at the far post.

The Reds made a couple of half-time substitutions, bringing on both Lee Neville and Matthew Walwyn in place of Jones and Norton. Walwyn almost made an immediate impact with a storming effort from just outside the area, which was tipped onto the bar by the keeper.

Brownhill completed a move that he started to score the Reds’ fourth of the afternoon. The United full-back won the ball back after a poor cross-field ball momentarily saw the Reds lose possession, and carried it into the area before laying off to Walwyn who turned and found Brownhill on the edge of the six yard box via a deflection off Dootson. With the keeper now off his line, Brownhill took full advantage with a cool headed finish.

Despite only coming on at half time, United were forced to substitute their substitute with Astley Mulholland replacing Walwyn due to the latter having a thigh injury. It was another FC sub, Neville, who next had the ball in the net; however the referee spotted a handball and the goal was disallowed.

Madeley’s goal on 72 minutes did stand. Droylsden broke through the centre and United were able to do nothing to prevent the striker putting the ball across Carnell and grabbing his team a consolation.

The Reds did go onto to have more chances and it could potentially have been a wider score line, however the side did exactly as they needed and now go into Tuesday’s clash with top of the league Chorley on the back of four straight league wins.

Report by Victoria Fullen.

Website man of the match: Liam Brownhill – gave United plenty of attacking options and completed another good performance with a second-half goal.


First Posted ~ 17:07 Sat 1 Mar 2014
News ID ~ 5385
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021