Reserves lose to Stockport

The Reserves travelled to Edgeley Park and came away with a 3-2 defeat, FC United goals were scored by Liam Gibson and Tom Brown as Stockport County raced into a three goal lead.

The home side took the lead in the third minute as Jordan Rodgers was allowed to run on to a ball beyond the FC United back line, curling a shot beyond Chris Taylor into the far corner. Stockport had started much stronger than FC and controlled much of the first half. The reds, taking a quarter of an hour to force a corner when a Justin Johnson shot was deflected wide.

They were starting to find a way in to the game but on twenty minutes were caught out again as Stockport broke from defence. Michael Hampson was allowed to run from his own half to chase a clearance and on the edge of the FC penalty area laid the ball off to Rodgers. Taylor was out quickly to block his first shot but was helpless as he snapped up the rebound.

By now FC United were creating chances for themselves, the best of which was a free kick out on the right by John Pritchard. His effort was looking to dip under the cross bar but was turned over by Billy Worthington in the home goal.

Despite this Stockport were still the better side, on thirty minutes Rodgers could have completed a hat-trick as yet more slack defending allowed him to beat Taylor to a ball running back to him. A looping shot just cleared the cross bar. Unfortunately there was worse to come, on 33 minutes a defensive free kick on the left wing rather than being cleared up field, found its way to Taylor. He was quickly closed down by Charlie Russell whose block on the clearance kick went straight into the net.

FC pulled a goal back five minutes before half time, as a ball bounced around the Stockport penalty area a number of efforts were blocked before Gibson was able to apply a finishing touch. That was the end of the first half scoring although Taylor was called into action in added time to deny Hampson who had again been allowed to run from his own half.

The second half was a much better performance from the reds as a greater level of effort and discipline got some reward. Frank van Gils and Tunde Owolabi had early efforts without truly testing Worthington whilst on 53 minutes a throw from Charlie Doyle to John Pritchard saw the latter hit a shot from the wing that the keeper fumbled but there was no-one on hand to take advantage.

Five minutes later Tom Brown made it 3-2 from a free kick on the edge of the box. He was attempting to curl it over the wall to the near post but a deflection took it to the other corner leaving the Stockport defence helpless.

The next five minutes saw a flurry of action Pritchard, van Gils and Johnson came close and George Blackwell hit the FC post with a cross/shot after getting behind the visitors defence. Despite the greater effort there was no further reward. A Sam Summerbee cross was sliced behind and efforts from Ryan Saxon and Jordan Young for Stockport testing the respective keepers, but sadly an equalising goal was never really on the cards.

Next up is a Padiham double-header weekend as the reserves travel to East Lancashire on Saturday for a league game before everyone heads back to Stalybridge for the FA Trophy tie on Sunday.

Stockport County: 1. Billy Worthington 2. Dean Hitchens 3. Jordyn Fitton 4. Callum Cooke 5. Wesley Benjamin 6. Connor Hancock 7. Kieron Crosthwaite 8. Charlie Russell 9. Michael Hampson 10. Jordan Rodgers 11. George Blackwell. Substitutes: 12. Will Hartley 13. Daniel Havern 14. Connor Thompson 15. Jordan Young
FC United of Manchester: 1. Chris Taylor 2. Charlie Doyle 3. Liam Gibson 4. Michael Brewster 5. Nick Truelove 6. Nathan Chorlton 7. Frank van Gils 8. Tom Brown 9. Tunde Owolabi 10. John Pritchard 11. Justin Johnson. Substitutes: 12. Ryan Saxon (for 5, 24 mins) 14. Jason Fowles For 2, 81 mins) 15. Leo Magnone 16. Sam Summerbee (for 9, 66 mins) 17. Josh Smethurst