FC United slip to opening day defeat against Atherton Collieries

FC United lost 2-1 to Atherton Collieries at Broadhurst Park on Saturday afternoon as the Reds failed to win on the opening day of the season for a 10th consecutive year. 

Coming off the back of a strong pre-season, hopes were high for a good start to the new campaign. However, the Reds opening day hoodoo continued – they haven’t won their first game of the season since a victory at Grantham in August 2012. 

FC United started the game looking the stronger of the two sides, and despite Atherton putting a dangerous free-kick wide early on, it was the Reds that would take an early lead after just nine minutes. 

The goal was tucked away by Max McCarthy, but all the hard work was done by Michael Donohue, who nicked the ball from inside the away half, rode the challenge of two defenders, and played a slick ball right into McCarthy’s path, who nestled it smartly into the back of the net.

The FC goal would serve to be the catalyst that rushed the Colls into action, as the ball was in the opposition net just four minutes later. After going 1-0 up, FC were pushed back into their own half, and the pressure soon told. 

A cross from the left was played over into the far side of the SMRE box, it fell to the feet of Aaron Smith, who careered the ball across the face of goal and off the post for the equaliser. 1-1. 

It was after this goal that FC’s game seemed to break down, with long balls struggling to connect and a lot of uncharacteristic throwing away of possession. The 25th minutes water break provided a much-needed moment out of the sun for both teams, but it wasn’t long before the temperature of the game rose again.

FC had to step up in defence to clear a barrage of long balls into the box before half time, with fullback Jan Palinkas and goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe combining to nullify the Colls long ball threat. 

It was five minutes before half time that FC seemed to get into a groove, as Regan Linney began to pick the ball up in favourable areas, but he couldn’t find an opportunity to put the Reds back into the lead. 

A double substitution at the break for FC saw Guy Halls and Luke Griffiths introduced as manager Neil Reynolds looked to make a positive start to the second half. 

However, the Reds found themselves 2-1 down just 12 minutes after the restart. They will doubtless be disappointed with the way they did. 

A free-kick midway into the FC half was floated into the box, and Adam Rooney rose higher than the rest to head the ball into the top corner of the FC net. 

Once into the lead, the visitors executed the perfect game plan. They decided to sit back, shut up shop and frustrate the hosts. United had no response and the game petered out into an abject 2-1 defeat. 

After the game, Reynolds made no excuses for his team’s display, saying:

“If I look at the side that we put out today, I look at the spine and it should be enough to win any game of football. For whatever reason, those players didn’t do enough today. You expect to be dominating that football game, but we scored early on, we lost trust in the process, and we started making our own decisions.

“We looked scared in possession. I’ve got to go away and drastically address something that isn’t right there. If players want to play in this stadium, and be part of this football club, then they have to play how we expect. If they don’t, then all the best.”

Next up for FC is a midweek trip to Derbyshire this Tuesday, 16th August, as we take on Belper Town. 

Report by Callum Scott