The Rebels looked down and out at 4-1 down but hit back to almost force extra time.
Manager Karl Marginson received a blow when midfielder Chris Baguley was ruled out through suspension.
In came Dave Neville for his first start but FC were off to a stinker, going behind after just eight minutes when Dave Walker pounced on a loose ball.
FC fought back but Nantwich stood firm, marshalled by veteran ex-Macclesfield defender Darren Tinson.
Two minutes into the second half the Dabbers added a controversial second. The linesman flagged as Walker went through to score but the referee overruled him claiming the ball had reached the striker via defender Dave Chadwick.
Rattled FC went 3-0 down when Charlie O'Loughlin headed home, but on 56 minutes Simon Carden snapped up a goal for the Rebels.
All hope seemed crushed on 68 minutes when Phil Parkinson went down in the box and Walker completed his hat-trick from the spot.
But on 74 minutes sub Danny Self bundled in FC's second and Kyle Wilson set up a thrilling finale with his ninth goal of the season two minutes from time.
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Showing comments 1 to 18 and replies | View All
George Kane, Stretford (17/09/2008 at 22:59)
Kiwi-blue, Christchurch NZ (18/09/2008 at 09:22)
Free Red, Manchester (18/09/2008 at 10:25)
phil m, cumbria (18/09/2008 at 12:10)
F C JOHN, LADYBARN (18/09/2008 at 13:55)
Johnniejohn, Tunbridge Wells (18/09/2008 at 16:38)
Bonner (18/09/2008 at 22:10)
Last night's FA Cup defeat will certainly help their fans make their NanTwitch!!!
Free Red, Manchester (19/09/2008 at 09:37)
J.J., I would have thought this Kiwi bitter followed Yorkshire cricket what with tykes and kiwis sharing the same admiration for sheep!
Ja Salford Blue, Salford (19/09/2008 at 12:29)
Your starting to embarras us now!
phil m, cumbria (19/09/2008 at 14:27)
Drifter, Mancunia (19/09/2008 at 21:01)
Free Red, Manchester (23/09/2008 at 12:13)
Directions: By Car: From M1 Junction 40: Take A638 signposted Ossett Town Centre. Take first left off A638 onto Wakefield Road, sixth left turn into Dale Street (B6120) to traffic lights. Turn left at lights. The Ground is in front of you opposite the bus station. The entrance to the Ground is just before the Esso petrol station.
By Train: Takes approximately 40 minutes from Manchester Piccadilly, followed by a 7 minute walk to the bus station, for a 21 minute bus ride on the 116 to Prospect Rd. The ground is a 3 minute walk from there.
Outbound. Manchester Piccadilly to Dewsbury – 17:25 17:55 18:25 18:57.
Return. Dewsbury to Manchester Piccadilly – 21:51 22:51 23:46.
Dash Walny Manchester via Poland (23/09/2008 at 19:15)
Drifter, Mancunia (23/09/2008 at 23:40)
Free Red, Manchester (24/09/2008 at 08:54)
Things got underway and the visitors welcomed back Chris Baguley into the centre midfield and it wasn’t long before United were creating chances. A touch of good fortune gave the Reds the lead as Roca gained possession on the edge of the box and hit a rather tame effort goalwards. The ball took a deflection off a defender which changed the direction of the ball and all that Ossett keeper Lee Cockerham could do was watch the ball trickle into his bottom corner. Some people may describe the strike on the 10 minute mark as an own-goal but Roca will be keen to claim it as his long awaited first for the club since signing during pre-season from Altrincham.
With United 1-0 they continued to press forward with a their trademark wing play giving the home team problems. The Ossett defence seemed to struggle with the pace of Roca, Jerome Wright and Adam Carden as well as the sheer brute force of Kyle Wilson. It was the league's top scorer who doubled the lead just after half an hour. United had been under a spell of pressure as Ossett tried to get back into the game but when they broke from the corner Simon Garner's through ball split the opposition defence in two and left Wilson one-on-one with Cockerham. Wilson made no mistake - coolly slotting home for his 10th of the season. United could have been three up before the interval but Roca saw his effort ruled out for offside after Adam Carden put the ball across the box from the right.
The second half carried on much in the same vain as the first with both teams enjoying good possession but only United looking like they could score. FC United again enjoyed good openings down the wings and came close when an Adam Carden challenge surprisingly headed for the goal but he was denied by a good re-actionable stop. The third goal wasn't long in coming though. When a innocuous ball over the top released Roca, the forward took his chance with a superbly taken right footed strike into the top corner to give Untied a three goal cushion. Just minutes later the Reds were awarded a penalty after Wilson picked the ball up around half way and charged at the home defence like a bull, after beating a few defenders he was stopped in the box but at the cost of a penalty. Roca sensed his hat-trick but his pleas for the spot kick fell on deaf ears as Wilson picked the ball up, placed it on the spot and fired home to give United a real confidence boosting victory. Rob Nugent continued to gain match fitness by getting 10 minutes at the end, coming on for captain David Chadwick and it looks like it won’t be long before the duo are reunited in the centre of defence.
FC United showed real moments of class on the evening and the play coming forward was one area in particular that would have pleased Karl Marginson and the United faithful. The game also represented the third clean sheet in four games for the United defence since the signings of full backs Simon Garner and Danny Warrender, and a strong defensive unit is always a good basis to build upon. The only sour note for United is that they must now wait almost two weeks until the next fixture at home to Witton Albion. Due to this they will have hope that they can keep the momentum from this performance going until a week on Saturday. Viva la Revolution, come on FC.
Free Red, Manchester (30/09/2008 at 12:33)
Directions: M61 to junction 5, A58 (Snydale Way/Park Road) for one and a half mile, left into Leigh Road (B5235) for 1 mile to Daisy Hill. Turn right into village 200 yards after mini roundabout, then left between church and school into St James Street. Ground 250 yards on left. Nearest Railway Station: Daisy Hill.
Free Red, Manchester (01/10/2008 at 15:22)
Dash Walny Manchester via Poland (03/10/2008 at 16:40)