FC United draw at home with Hednesford Town
FC United drew 1-1 at home with Hednesford Town on Bank Holiday Monday in front of 3,421 supporters with Matthew Wolfenden’s first half volley cancelled out by Adam Thomas’ 65th minute header.
An eventful and entertaining match was nearly abandoned in farcical scenes in the 90th minute when a second floodlight went off at the Saint Mary’s Road End, barely 10 minutes after a first had failed.
Thankfully, referee Jonathan Hunt was prepared to give ground staff 10 minutes to get one of the lights back on. They obliged in half that time whilst the FC United faithful sang about playing in the dark, forgetting to pay the bill, and refusing to pay for electricity or work for a satellite TV station.
When the Reds took back to the field for the final few minutes of stoppage time, there was a sense that they might just snatch a winner as some of the visitors looked like their minds were already focused on the post-match buffet.
However, United couldn’t create a clear cut chance and a draw was a fair result, especially considering The Pitman had caused a number of early scares.
If football followed the same rules as boxing, Mr Hunt may have felt it necessary to give the Reds a standing eight count midway through the first half, such was the daze they found themselves in whilst trying to deal with the visitors’ attacks.
Winger Ahmed Obeng was giving both FC United fullbacks a torrid time. After 10 minutes, he slipped past Dean Stott on the left to go through one-on-one with goalkeeper Dave Carnell. Carnell saved well with his feet to concede a corner, which came to nothing.
Ten minutes later and Obeng was at it again, this time showing Adam Thurston a clean pair of heels on the right. He then jinxed past Carnell who’d come rushing out of his goal to meet him on the deadball line. Thankfully, the United shot-stopper was able to partially recover by diving in and slapping the ball away from Obeng’s goalbound feet.
But the loose ball went directly to supporting fullback Tyrone Williams who crossed to the back post. Striker Paul Ennis came sliding in but he couldn’t connect with the ball and it flew harmlessly out for a goalkick.
Hednesford continued to press. Chief tormentor, Obeng came forward again in the 25th minute. He burst free on the right once more to go one-on-one with Carnell again. He looked destined to score. Third time lucky. He shot low and hard. He beat Carnell. He hit the far post. FC United cleared the ball and breathed a sigh of relief.
The Reds were on the ropes. It wasn’t pretty. But anyone who knows anything about sport knows that whilst attacking, you always have to guard against getting sucker punched. FC United, who have been on the receiving end of so many sucker punches over the years, demonstrated one perfectly.
Visiting goalkeeper Dan Crane had barely been in the match but in the 28th minute he was picking the ball out of the back of his net. Sam Sheridan lofted a perfect diagonal ball from the right for Wolfenden to expertly volley home from close range to break the deadlock. It’s unlikely FC United had executed a planned rope-a-dope strategy but it worked all the same.
The goal clearly settled down the Reds and they began to play with more confidence and composure. Into the second half and the usually ruthless George Thomson had a gilt edged chance to double the lead when Stott crossed from the right. Unfortunately, Thomson misfired wide when it looked odds on he would score his fourth goal in six games.
Moments later, Hednesford were back on level terms. Thomas headed home a cross from the left at the back post. Despite the setback, the Reds finished the game the stronger of the two teams and had two decent chances in quick succession.
Substitute Craig Lindfield nearly got on the end of a dangerous Thomson cross but Crane swooped in first. Moments later, Wolfenden broke free of the back four only to see his goalbound effort deflected into the side netting.
If truth be told, the Reds didn’t deserve a winner, especially considering Hednesford could have been out of sight in the first half. It was a point gained for FC United but they will be hoping for better performances, starting against Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday 2nd January.
Report by Matthew Haley
An eventful and entertaining match was nearly abandoned in farcical scenes in the 90th minute when a second floodlight went off at the Saint Mary’s Road End, barely 10 minutes after a first had failed.
Thankfully, referee Jonathan Hunt was prepared to give ground staff 10 minutes to get one of the lights back on. They obliged in half that time whilst the FC United faithful sang about playing in the dark, forgetting to pay the bill, and refusing to pay for electricity or work for a satellite TV station.
When the Reds took back to the field for the final few minutes of stoppage time, there was a sense that they might just snatch a winner as some of the visitors looked like their minds were already focused on the post-match buffet.
However, United couldn’t create a clear cut chance and a draw was a fair result, especially considering The Pitman had caused a number of early scares.
If football followed the same rules as boxing, Mr Hunt may have felt it necessary to give the Reds a standing eight count midway through the first half, such was the daze they found themselves in whilst trying to deal with the visitors’ attacks.
Winger Ahmed Obeng was giving both FC United fullbacks a torrid time. After 10 minutes, he slipped past Dean Stott on the left to go through one-on-one with goalkeeper Dave Carnell. Carnell saved well with his feet to concede a corner, which came to nothing.
Ten minutes later and Obeng was at it again, this time showing Adam Thurston a clean pair of heels on the right. He then jinxed past Carnell who’d come rushing out of his goal to meet him on the deadball line. Thankfully, the United shot-stopper was able to partially recover by diving in and slapping the ball away from Obeng’s goalbound feet.
But the loose ball went directly to supporting fullback Tyrone Williams who crossed to the back post. Striker Paul Ennis came sliding in but he couldn’t connect with the ball and it flew harmlessly out for a goalkick.
Hednesford continued to press. Chief tormentor, Obeng came forward again in the 25th minute. He burst free on the right once more to go one-on-one with Carnell again. He looked destined to score. Third time lucky. He shot low and hard. He beat Carnell. He hit the far post. FC United cleared the ball and breathed a sigh of relief.
The Reds were on the ropes. It wasn’t pretty. But anyone who knows anything about sport knows that whilst attacking, you always have to guard against getting sucker punched. FC United, who have been on the receiving end of so many sucker punches over the years, demonstrated one perfectly.
Visiting goalkeeper Dan Crane had barely been in the match but in the 28th minute he was picking the ball out of the back of his net. Sam Sheridan lofted a perfect diagonal ball from the right for Wolfenden to expertly volley home from close range to break the deadlock. It’s unlikely FC United had executed a planned rope-a-dope strategy but it worked all the same.
The goal clearly settled down the Reds and they began to play with more confidence and composure. Into the second half and the usually ruthless George Thomson had a gilt edged chance to double the lead when Stott crossed from the right. Unfortunately, Thomson misfired wide when it looked odds on he would score his fourth goal in six games.
Moments later, Hednesford were back on level terms. Thomas headed home a cross from the left at the back post. Despite the setback, the Reds finished the game the stronger of the two teams and had two decent chances in quick succession.
Substitute Craig Lindfield nearly got on the end of a dangerous Thomson cross but Crane swooped in first. Moments later, Wolfenden broke free of the back four only to see his goalbound effort deflected into the side netting.
If truth be told, the Reds didn’t deserve a winner, especially considering Hednesford could have been out of sight in the first half. It was a point gained for FC United but they will be hoping for better performances, starting against Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday 2nd January.
Report by Matthew Haley
First Posted ~ 18:42 Mon 28 Dec 2015
News ID ~ 6597
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021