When Mossley took the lead at Seal Park they did everything they could to slow the game down but at Gigg lane the boot was on the other foot. At one all the win was still for the taking for both teams. Then Rory came on for Burns and he changed everything. His first two goals were almost instant. He then scored what looked like a perfectly good third that was ruled offside only to win a pen near the end to finally get his hat trick.

Mossley looked shell shocked after Rory'[s initial double but showed a bit more urgency when they pulled one back to make it 3-2 only to be crushed again at the end. There was no small amount of gamesmanship Mossley again. The truth is Mossley play a crooked game faking injury, faking fouls and constantly whinging to the Referee. Fortunately this Referee wasn't fooled as easily as the one at Seal Park. It's just a pity one of the linesmen didn't understand the offside rule or Rory might have bagged four. Not to worry, we're back in the playoffs; Rory's back and we're off to Germany for a winter break this weekend. Viva la revolution, come on FC.

YAWN

Great day great win and 3 points in the bag! It was good to see Rory back on top, which is as well cos Burnsy Boy has left. That's right folks the one with Elvis's middle name has left the building.

Don't you just love it, really love it, when the berties come over with their ABU jealousy. We could go to Villa Park this weekend to watch united in the FA cup or go to Germany to watch FCUM and bitter fans like Neil have nothing better to do. Up the reds!

FC Who?

It all ended Christmas 2007. Someone please break the bad news to Free Red.

REDS IN RIESA. After accepting an invite to take part in the High Profile Riesa Tournament, FC United were looking forward to gaining invaluable experience when paired against two full time professional clubs, namely, Energie Cotbuss of Bundesliga 1, and Fc Erzgebirge Aue of Bundesliga 2. With the exception of Phil Priestly, the average age of the squad was 21 years of age, certainly, the youngest team in the tournament. Ably cheered on by the 40 or so FC Supporters which made the trip to Riesa, and the 2000 supporters of LOK Locomotive Leipzig, the lads took to the field for their first fixture against Energie Cotbus. Energie wasted no time in opening the scoring, showing the young FC United team how clinical Professional Football can be. Despite the early setback, FC coped well and shown good individual skill and composure when in possession. Cotbus, using all there 5 a side experience, continued to out score FC eventually extending the lead to 5-0. With the LOK and FC fans cheering every touch by an FC player, Rory Patterson rewarded the crowd scoring FC’s first and only goal of the game. The game finished 6-1, but considering both the inexperience of 5 a side competition and the 8 league difference between the two teams, FC gave there best. FC was rewarded by a chant of U-NI-TED, from the whole arena, as they made there way to the dressing room after the game. With very little rest, FC started to prepare for there second fixture against FC Erzgebirge Aue. This game took a very similar pattern to the first, with FC Erzgebirge taking a very early lead. With the score at 2-0 Jerome Wright scored FC’s only goal of the game, and with the score at 3-1, Jerome also hit a fierce shot after a great run, to hit the underside of the bar. Should that shot have gone in, it would have been the goal of the tournament. With tired legs and the eagerness to try and get back into the game, FC ended up on the end of an 8-1 defeat. Again the marvellous LOK and FC fans applauded the lads off the pitch. An organiser of the tournament commented that, any of our players could easily fit into any of the other teams that were taking part. However, the German teams had the greater experience at 5 a side and the difference was purely in the finishing. FC United, were out but they still had one fixture to go, a fans game v LOK. The organisers stipulated that we must have at least three first team players in our squad of ten, so assisting the fans that were plucked out of the crowd, were Margy, Nicky Platt and Bradley Howard. FC United have gained something of a cult status with 1.FC Lok fans since the friendly we played in May 2006 and playing a fans game is becoming a bit of a tradition. Despite LOK being out of the tournament also at this stage, each supporter stayed on to enjoy a very competitive fixture. The game finished 2-2, with Margy and Nicky Platt scoring for FC, but the fans that played, thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and received the same amount of support the first team had previously. Incidentally, our two opponents faired very well in the tournament, with Erzgebirge finishing 3rd and Cotbus finishing runners up. All in all, it was a very successful and enjoyable experience.

Next up, FC UNITED v. FLIXTON, tonight, Wednesday 9th January 2008, kick off 7.45pm at Radcliffe Borough. Adults £6 and £2 U18's and concessions. The Manchester Premier Cup quarter-final tie against old rivals Flixton promises to be a good old-fashioned cup tie with both sets of players looking forward to renewing acquaintances. None more so than FC United Manager, Karl Marginson "We will be taking this game very seriously. It’s a cup game after all, as Manchester United fans, we love a good cup run. "I've no doubt that the FC fans will be right behind us and roar us on to what could be another cup final." First played as the Manchester Challenge Cup in 1935, the Manchester Premier Cup's inaugural winners were Manchester North End. The competition has long featured the cream of non-league football teams. Indeed, over the years, crowds well into the thousands have watched finals played at Old Trafford, Maine Road and Burnden Park - to name a few. Those who know their history will also be reassured by names such as Jack Crompton and Henry Cockburn, leaving no doubt that Margy's boys are in good, Red Mancunian company. So, with only two games away from another piece of FC history, all that remains is for you to get yourself to that football ground and sing the lads home. Viva la revolution, come on FC.

Tonight's match has been postponed.

As a result of the continuous heavy rain the Radcliffe pitch is struggling to recover from recent fixtures. Nevertheless League rules stipulate that, in order to give each fixture every chance of being fulfilled, a pitch inspection must take place by a suitably qualified referee. A pitch inspection took place at 11 o'clock this morning and as a result tonight's game against Flixton has been postponed.

http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=1410

Next up, FC UNITED v. CHORLEY, league tie this Saturday 12th January 2008 at Gigg lane.

FCUM 2 Chorley 1 so the Red Rebels are back in the title race. Big United beat the barcodes as well so all in all a great weekend. Up the reds!

Does this site ever get upgrades more than once every two weeks? This Mossley game is way out of date. Nothing about the trip to Germany. Very poor IMO.

Well done to the MEN for opening up this page to other non league clubs in the area. History and tradition is a vital part of the game and its fans like those who form the bedrock of football.

Its a shame to see Mossley lose so heavily to FC. I can rememeber when they used to be a really good non league side.