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Match Report

18th February 2012

EvoStik League Premier Division

Gigg Lane, Gigg Lane, Bury, BL9 9HR


FC United of Manchester

2 - 2

Frickley Athletic

Roca 60
Platt 90
  Ashmore 3 (pen), 25
Attendance: 1,791

FC United of Manchester 2

Roca 60
Platt 90

Frickley Athletic 2

Ashmore 3 (pen), 25

Attendance: 1,791


FC United of Manchester

1 James Spencer
2 Kyle Jacobs (capt)
3 Richard Battersby
4 Jake Cottrell
5 Adam Jones
6 Greg Stones
7 Carlos Roca
8 Matthew Wolfenden
9 Mike Norton
10 Dean Stott
11 Stephen Johnson

Subs.
12 Nick Platt (for 3, 78 mins)
15 Danny Warrender (for 2, 85 mins)
16 Astley Mulholland (for 11, 78 mins)

Frickley Athletic

1 S Dickinson
2 D Cyrus
3 B Turner
4 D Walsh
5 S Ludlam (capt)
6 M Gray
7 K Bleau
8 J Ashmore
9 D South
10 O Ryan
11 R Mallon

Subs:
12 B Grayson (for 9, 68 mins)


Match Report
Despite falling behind to an early penalty conversion inside three minutes, an entertaining encounter ensued as James Ashmore’s double in the first half was cancelled out after the break by a stunner from Carlos Roca and a last minute headed goal from Platt.

Saturday was of course the second time the two sides met this week, and United were out to settle the score after bowing out of the league cup at the hands of Frickley on Tuesday. All considered, a draw was probably a fair result with both sides having chances, and poised at 2-1, the game could have gone either way.

Frickley’s Ollie Ryan, on returning from injury, threatened early on, running inside the box and almost bypassing the defence, but for an excellent timely tackle from Greg Stones to divert the ball before Ryan could get a shot away.

The result was a corner, and as the ball came in to a crowded box, the Reds struggled to clear. As Danny South went to ground amidst the action, the referee pointed to the spot and Ashmore confidently stepped up to give his side the early advantage.

United, with plenty of attacking potential on the pitch, were on the fight back straight away. Roca picked up on a clearance from a United corner and curled in a fantastic shot which had keeper Stephen Dickinson beaten. Agonisingly, the shot bounced out off the inside of the far post and back into play.

Roca then tested again with a free kick on the corner of the area which had the three-man wall of Frickley beaten and the keeper at full stretch to tip the ball over the bar.

Just as their attack looked promising, the FC defence seemed equally as vulnerable as Ryan was picked out unmarked inside the United area for a free header which luckily was just off target.

Roca played a fantastically placed ball into the path of Battersby who chose to go alone and clipped bar with his effort.

As the game passed the quarter of an hour mark, a cross from right into Norton at the far post almost provided an equaliser as United’s front man headed the ball back across Dickinson who just managed to tip it onto the bar.

With 20 minutes of the half remaining, Frickley, having being saved on more than one occasion by the woodwork, doubled their lead straight from a free kick 35 yards out which James Spencer could do nothing about.

United had more chances following with Mark Gray almost converting Roca’s cross to put the ball in his own net and Norton hitting the post as he slid in from close range.

Ten minutes into the second half, Roca induced a spark once more and almost set Jake Cottrell up for a fantastic goal. The winger trickled through, wending his way into the Frickley area before an intelligent back-heeled lay off to Cottrell who hit first time for a curling shot on course for the top left hand corner. Somehow the keeper managed an athletic dive to divert the ball out for a tremendous save.

With a half an hour left to play, penalty cries were heard as Norton was brought down inside the box, but unlike in the first half, the referee took no notice.

Following an excellent spell of play from United, the ball was pinged out to Roca on the left who carried it forward to the dead ball line and lifted it over the keeper from an extremely tight angle to pull one back for the Reds and claim a much deserved goal.

United looked to have levelled the score with 15 minutes to play as Norton’s shot ricocheted off the post and back out to Stephen Johnson who’d come in on the follow-up to put the ball away. The linesman however flagged for offside, cutting short any United celebrations.

Immediately, Battersby, after an impressive display, particularly in terms of distribution and passing vision, was replaced by Nicky Platt. Astley Mulholland also came on to finish the game, replacing Johnson.

United continued to look unsteady defensively and rode their luck, with the visitors having chances to put the game beyond doubt. Ryan found himself alone in front of goal and should have finished the game off, however Spencer wasn’t tested as Ryan blasted the ball over the bar.

This was perhaps a decisive moment in the game as United’s relentless pressure led to an eventual equalising goal. Substitute Platt rose to head a cross beyond Dickinson on the 90th minute, rescuing the Reds a hard-fought point.

With every point counting as the play-off push gathers pace, United will surely be glad to have come away with a draw, as in spite of several chances, the game could have easily swung in Frickley’s favour.

Website Man of the Match: Carlos Roca – a really positive aspect of the game, consistently getting the ball forward and scoring a vital goal to get the Reds back into the game.

Report Victoria Fullen.
Match Report
Despite falling behind to an early penalty conversion inside three minutes, an entertaining encounter ensued as James Ashmore’s double in the first half was cancelled out after the break by a stunner from Carlos Roca and a last minute headed goal from Platt.

Saturday was of course the second time the two sides met this week, and United were out to settle the score after bowing out of the league cup at the hands of Frickley on Tuesday. All considered, a draw was probably a fair result with both sides having chances, and poised at 2-1, the game could have gone either way.

Frickley’s Ollie Ryan, on returning from injury, threatened early on, running inside the box and almost bypassing the defence, but for an excellent timely tackle from Greg Stones to divert the ball before Ryan could get a shot away.

The result was a corner, and as the ball came in to a crowded box, the Reds struggled to clear. As Danny South went to ground amidst the action, the referee pointed to the spot and Ashmore confidently stepped up to give his side the early advantage.

United, with plenty of attacking potential on the pitch, were on the fight back straight away. Roca picked up on a clearance from a United corner and curled in a fantastic shot which had keeper Stephen Dickinson beaten. Agonisingly, the shot bounced out off the inside of the far post and back into play.

Roca then tested again with a free kick on the corner of the area which had the three-man wall of Frickley beaten and the keeper at full stretch to tip the ball over the bar.

Just as their attack looked promising, the FC defence seemed equally as vulnerable as Ryan was picked out unmarked inside the United area for a free header which luckily was just off target.

Roca played a fantastically placed ball into the path of Battersby who chose to go alone and clipped bar with his effort.

As the game passed the quarter of an hour mark, a cross from right into Norton at the far post almost provided an equaliser as United’s front man headed the ball back across Dickinson who just managed to tip it onto the bar.

With 20 minutes of the half remaining, Frickley, having being saved on more than one occasion by the woodwork, doubled their lead straight from a free kick 35 yards out which James Spencer could do nothing about.

United had more chances following with Mark Gray almost converting Roca’s cross to put the ball in his own net and Norton hitting the post as he slid in from close range.

Ten minutes into the second half, Roca induced a spark once more and almost set Jake Cottrell up for a fantastic goal. The winger trickled through, wending his way into the Frickley area before an intelligent back-heeled lay off to Cottrell who hit first time for a curling shot on course for the top left hand corner. Somehow the keeper managed an athletic dive to divert the ball out for a tremendous save.

With a half an hour left to play, penalty cries were heard as Norton was brought down inside the box, but unlike in the first half, the referee took no notice.

Following an excellent spell of play from United, the ball was pinged out to Roca on the left who carried it forward to the dead ball line and lifted it over the keeper from an extremely tight angle to pull one back for the Reds and claim a much deserved goal.

United looked to have levelled the score with 15 minutes to play as Norton’s shot ricocheted off the post and back out to Stephen Johnson who’d come in on the follow-up to put the ball away. The linesman however flagged for offside, cutting short any United celebrations.

Immediately, Battersby, after an impressive display, particularly in terms of distribution and passing vision, was replaced by Nicky Platt. Astley Mulholland also came on to finish the game, replacing Johnson.

United continued to look unsteady defensively and rode their luck, with the visitors having chances to put the game beyond doubt. Ryan found himself alone in front of goal and should have finished the game off, however Spencer wasn’t tested as Ryan blasted the ball over the bar.

This was perhaps a decisive moment in the game as United’s relentless pressure led to an eventual equalising goal. Substitute Platt rose to head a cross beyond Dickinson on the 90th minute, rescuing the Reds a hard-fought point.

With every point counting as the play-off push gathers pace, United will surely be glad to have come away with a draw, as in spite of several chances, the game could have easily swung in Frickley’s favour.

Website Man of the Match: Carlos Roca – a really positive aspect of the game, consistently getting the ball forward and scoring a vital goal to get the Reds back into the game.

Report Victoria Fullen.

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