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FC United late show claims victory at Nantwich

FC United came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 at Nantwich Town with two late goals from substitutes Tom Greaves and Tom Brown on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds are up to sixth place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division with games in hand after overturning Aaron Burns’ 69th minute opener.

In a very even match, the Dabbers snuck ahead through the former FC United striker and it looked like they might edge victory. However, Karl Marginson’s side stuck to their task and produced a priceless comeback with Greaves heading in the equaliser in the 75th minute before Brown scored the winner, his first goal for the club, six minutes before the end.

It was just the type of performance that saw FC United finish second in the league last season and will please everyone at the club. Nantwich will feel disappointed to come away empty handed but the Reds got the result their travelling support was craving.

Chances were at a premium throughout the match with both teams steadily probing forward whilst keeping it tight at the back.

The main talking point of the first half was when referee Helen Bryne had to be replaced by one of her assistants due to pulling her hamstring. A member of the crowd volunteered to take over as the linesman, so that the match could restart after nearly 10 minutes’ delay.

Other than the goals, the best chance of the match came 10 minutes into the second half when centre-back Lewis Lacy headed Andy Welsh’s cross from the right onto the bar.

As the game progressed into the final third, chances were beginning to materialise for both sides. Matthew Wolfenden sent a glancing header just wide from a Jerome Wright cross and a good turn and shot from the edge of the box by Steve Jones nearly broke the deadlock for the hosts.

Burns did eventually do just that. Nantwich broke quickly with Max Harrop finding Iain Howard. He in turn played in Burns, who fired the ball beyond goalkeeper Dave Carnell.

United were unperturbed though. Six minutes after going behind, Greaves headed home a Wright cross from the left to make it 1-1. Mike Norton then went close with a bicycle-kick after a cross by Liam Brownhill and moments later Brown netted the winner. The youngster was composure personified as he took the ball under his control and placed it into the corner from the edge of the box, giving goalkeeper David Stevenson no chance.

There were a few nervy moments in the dying stages as the Dabbers desperately tried to gain an equaliser but United held firm for only our second away victory of the season.

Website man of the match - Dean Stott. Upon signing former captain David Chadwick, Karl Marginson said he was the sort of player who would put his head through a brick wall if he was asked to. Stott is cut from the same cloth.

Report by Matthew Haley


First Posted ~ 17:23 Sat 11 Oct 2014
News ID ~ 5762
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021