Lightning strikes from Roca not enough

FC United take on promotion hopefuls Kendal Town this Wednesday evening at Gigg Lane, kick off 7.45 pm, hoping for another encouraging display from the youngsters who are grabbing the chance of an extended run in the first team with both hands.

Despite the disappointment of some the recent results there has been a lot of encouragement for Margy in the performances of the younger players especially over the busy Easter weekend.

"I think there've been a lot of positives that we can take from the last couple of games against Marine and Ashton, even if we've only come away with two draws after squandering good positions in both games. At Marine we competed very well with what's probably the youngest side we've ever put out. We should've seen the game out and it was disappointing to concede in added injury time - the ref played six minutes after indicating three - but Marine's notorious for being a difficult place to go and it was great to see the football that we played on what was a tricky surface. The lads we've brought in such as Krou, Ovington and Angelos all like to get the ball down and play and that's what I want to see."

The second away game at Ashton followed quickly on from the 1-1 draw at Marine and provided Margy with a further mixture of pleasure and frustration including two lightning strikes from Carlos Roca. "In the first half I thought we were excellent and they really couldn't live with us.

We got the two early goals through Roca but it could and should've been more than 2-0 before halftime - we should've been out of sight. The second half was different with the home side on top despite a flurry of chances for us early on to seal the points. Quite why it happens like that is difficult to put your finger on, we'll have to think about it. We certainly didn't set out to perform any differently so it was disappointing. Some people mentioned the wind - it's possible that it had some effect but their first goal was a great finish, you can't take anything away from the lad. The equaliser was more of a mix-up on our part though.

"That said, some of the football was excellent, with us playing it out from the back and that's a real positive which we want to continue. Certainly, looking towards next year we've definitely got something to build on. We've got a few targets we want to bring in and if we can add them to the talent we've already got then we'll do alright."

"For the rest of the season we've got to look to win every game and finish as high as possible. Last year we came sixth in what overall was a good season in the league. This year has been disappointing but we won't be too far off that placing if we put a little run together now. We need to start that against Kendal on Wednesday. It'll be a tough match, I don't think we've had a game against them that's not been, as we've always been pretty well matched. It'll be a big test as they're going for the play-offs, but there'll be no pressure on our players. If they give us the same quality as against Marine and Ashton and the necessary improvement in defence then we won't be far off."

• Roca: on a roll

Ground Ideas on Display at Gigg Lane - Kendal game

The Kendal Town game at Gigg Lane is the first home match since the Club made the much awaited announcement of the location of the proposed development of our own ground in Newton Heath.

The General Meeting which takes place on Sunday April 25th will be the main event for supporters to consider plans for the ground and give their input, however there will be a sneak preview of the feasibility drawings for the proposed site showing the possible layout of the facilities at the Kendal game. It is important to emphasise that these drawings were completed to demonstrate that the site is big enough for the Club's needs and they are a long way from the final plans which will require further input from all interested parties.

The drawings will be on the walls in the concourse areas at the back of the stands and in the Mainstand Inn on Wednesday evening for all supporters to study.

On this day...

Easter Saturday, 7th April 2007, exactly three years ago on Wednesday, FC United were embarking on the prospect of a second successive promotion and possible league title as more than 300 of the FC faithful turned the East Lancs Railway red, white and black, journeying in style on the 'Rammy Rattler' from Heywood to Ramsbottom to join a record crowd of 1,653 at the Riverside Stadium.

The name of the ground was to become centrepiece of the latest chant in the FC repertoire, as by the time the full-time whistle blew, United were 'going to the Unibond, down by the Riverside.'

A quick reminder of the match stats shows that a first-half goal from Jerome Wright cancelled out an early Ramsbottom lead, and with half an hour to go, Nick Platt converted a penalty to send the travelling FC crowd behind the goal into raptures, so much so that the game underwent a brief stoppage as the ref assessed the damage that had been caused to the front of the stand.

Fast forward three years, and of that promotion clinching squad, only five remain: Sam Ashton, David Chadwick, Rob Nugent, Simon Carden and Jerome Wright.

Aside from that, the team has seen many a coming and going since the likes of Matty Taylor, Alex Mortimer, Dave Brown, Rory Patterson, Stuart Rudd, Rhodri Giggs, Steve Spencer and Nick Platt were regulars on the team sheet. Now, three years later, Easter time once more heralds the prospect of challenging and exciting times, and although promotion this season has become a fading dream, off the pitch news of a home of our own will surely have provoked the same level of exhilaration and emotion as that day down by the Riverside. VF