FC start with thriller

August 17, 2008

FC UNITED began life in the UniBond League premier division with a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Matlock Town.

A crowd of 2,343 – up on last season's average – watched as the Derbyshire club's centre forward Ross Hannah put the Gladiators one up after just eight minutes with a beautifully-judged chip over home keeper Sam Ashton.

But the Rebels, who were rocked in the summer by the departure of four key players, fought back well and one of their newcomers put them ahead with two goals in three minutes.

Striker Kyle Wilson confidently despatched a 17th minute penalty after Jamie Baguley had been fouled in the box, and with the fans still celebrating he outpaced the defence to reach a loose ball and score the second.

Matlock, who finished 16th at this level last season, were level five minutes before half time as Hannah again found a way through a dozing defence which has been shorn of stalwart Rob Nugent for the opening weeks.

It looked like the visitors had nicked the points when Dene Cropper headed home their third after 69 minutes.

But boss Karl Marginson's substitutions did the trick, with tall, elegant midfielder Dave Neville central in a terrific passing move which finally released another of the replacements, Chris Baguley, for a neat near-post finish with a minute of normal time remaining

| Submit Comments | Comments (8) |

Showing comments 1 to 8 and replies | View All

Prestwich Red, Prestwich (18/08/2008 at 12:29)

A thoroughly entertaining game and a good advert for football at this level.

I've no fears for this season, especially if we keep up the workrate. If we sort out the daft defensive mistakes then the victories will come.

Dash Walny Manchester via Poland (18/08/2008 at 16:31)

If FC isn't so worried about the attendance figures, why is that such a key part of every story about them?? The figure is well below what they were getting through the gates at this point last year, yet the story puts a spin on the story that the number in attendance is greater than the average last year? Just waiting for some type of unbiased journalism in these stories about FC stating that attendance is really not that great and that it is clearly dropping off. But so much for the truth.

Drifter, Mancunia (18/08/2008 at 23:00)

I see Dash the bitter blue is back. Well done Villa ha ha

Drifter, Mancunia (18/08/2008 at 23:26)

By the way the bitter Dash Wally I see Sparky the football genius doing to the bitter what Kidd did to Leeds. Ha ha...and FCUoM 1st home game last year was 2216 if I had known then how good it was it would have been 2217 anyway only number you need to remember is 32 Ha, ha..'UEFA cup, you're havin' a laugh..'

phil m, cumbria (20/08/2008 at 09:07)

Crowds are up on last year for this time of the season. Fact. I will dig out the actual figures if it means so much to you.

Dash Walny Manchester via Poland (21/08/2008 at 18:59)

569 at the recent away match??? I've seen bigger crowds at U-11 matches. It all ended last Christmas.

Drifter, Mancunia (21/08/2008 at 23:13)

Bitter Dash, you lot don't half make me laugh. An away game is not a FCUoM crowed.

cidy fans, if they didn't exist you couldn't make them up.

Drifter, Mancunia (21/08/2008 at 23:19)

From another article "City are on the verge of crashing out of the UEFA Cup to Danish outfit FC Midtjylland" ha, ha, ha, ha

FCUoM won in Germany this summer.

()

Report

Non-league