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Reserves team half-term report

Gareth Moore takes stock as the Reserves reach the half-way point of their season.

At the end of last season the FC United Development Squad had delivered a league and cup double playing in the Eastern Division of the Lancashire League. This was a decision taken by the league based on providing even numbers in two geographic divisions. So Hyde, Nelson and FC United made many journeys across the Pennines. The end result for us was a title won with ease and a request, along with Nelson and Hyde, to move to the Western Division.

This was seen to be a stronger division with clubs playing at a higher level in the football pyramid at first team level. This has been borne out as, whilst we reach the Christmas/New Year period with FC United top of the table, an analysis of results shows that, from our win over Lancaster a cycle of A lost to B but beat C, takes in all thirteen teams to end with our defeat to Stockport County. Details can be found in the Trafford programme.

A bigger change has come in the structure of football at FC United, below first team level. Alongside an under-18 academy side playing in the Conference Youth Alliance, a more defined pathway to more senior sides has been created. Out went the Development Squad and in came the Reserves. What was last season a dedicated squad of players at this level has become more fluid with movement between each level. Previous Youth Team graduates such as Lewis Lacy and Frank van Gils have not only appeared at this level along with players from this year’s academy such as Sam Summerbee and Nathan Chorlton and others, but have had the chance to establish a place in the first team squad. Rhys Coogan also made two appearances before being snapped up by Blackpool. At the same time, first team players recovering from injury have been given valuable game time. Tom Greaves and Dean Stott featured in a win at Colne with Craig Lindfield and Matthew Walwyn playing against Stalybridge Celtic.

Along with the new division, the season started with a new manager. Rhodri Giggs took charge of the side and continued in a winning vein. The season started with wins at Nelson, Colne and Lancashire and at home to AFC Fylde and Workington. A draw against Ashton Athletic and a cup defeat to Hyde were warnings of the competitive nature of the division. Defeats to mid-table Stalybridge and Stockport County reinforced the message. On the whole, goal scoring hasn’t been a problem, although the high scores of last season haven’t been repeated. The defence is the area most in need of attention; with just two clean sheets so far.

Rhodri has named himself as substitute more than once in an attempt to nurture performances from the squad, but has yet to make an appearance. Mixed autumn results, winning away and drawing at home against Padiham along with a return fixture against Stockport in which FC scored four times, but only drawing the game suggest, it may be worth paying attention as the second half of the season may see the threat turned into a delivered promise.

Writing at the turn of the year, the lads are enjoying a mid-season break and sit second in the league. Competitive fixtures restart on Thursday 15 January 2015, playing Hyde at Abbey Hey with a 7:45pm kick off. Fixtures for January and February can be found on the club website.

Further fixtures will be added when known. Home games will be at the Nicholls Campus on Saturdays, kicking off at 2pm until further notice.




First Posted ~ 14:42 Sun 4 Jan 2015
News ID ~ 5924
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021