FC finally got their act together after trailing visiting Boston 2-0 inside an hour, but the Pilgrims held on for their third Gigg Lane victory in less than a year despite Adam Tong pulling a goal back with 10 minutes left.
Rivals
"It's not the start we wanted and one or two players might need a kick up the backside if I'm to get the response I'll be looking for at Bradford," said a determined Marginson.
There was delight for FC's top-tier rivals Ashton United as they kicked-off with a 1-0 victory at newly-promoted Durham with Ben Smith (46 mins) scoring.
Trafford's new manager Garry Vaughan got off to the best possible start by opening their first division north season with a 5-1 rout of neighbours Salford City.
Curzon Ashton, Mossley and Leigh Genesis also all started with wins, while Radcliffe and Woodley each made their point with draws at AFC Fylde and Skemersdale.
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Free Red, Manchester (17/08/2009 at 12:22)
Tonight’s game BRADFORD PA v. FC UNITED, will be played at the Horsfall Stadium, Cemetry Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG. Entry is POTG, £8 adults, £5 senior citizen & £1 under 16's
Directions by car: M62 to junction 26. Join M606 leave at second junction. At the roundabout take 2nd exit (A6036 signposted Halifax) and pass Odsal Stadium on the left hand side. At next roundabout take the 3rd exit (A6036 Halifax, Horsfall Stadium is signposted). After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Kings Head Public House. Ground is 150 yards on the left.
Prestwich Red, Prestwich (17/08/2009 at 12:55)
vegas-blue, stalyvegas (17/08/2009 at 13:47)
Stad, Manchester (17/08/2009 at 16:05)
If we play like we did for the last 20 minutes we can beat anyone in this league. Its not nice to lose the first game of the season but there is a long way to go yet and I am sure we will be around the top of the table at the end of the season.
Free Red, Manchester (18/08/2009 at 12:20)
It didn’t take too long for BPA to extend their lead as a long ball wasn’t dealt with by the United defence and Aiden Savory side-footed the ball into the net. Things got even worse just after the half hour as Chris Hall capitalised on a mistake from Rob Nugent to slot the ball into the corner of the net. There was still time for Ashton to pull off a great save before the half-time whistle; in fact it is safe to say that without Sam in goal Bradford could probably have gone in five or six goals up.
The half-time team talk seemed to work as FC came out a different team, though they were let off by a bad BPA miss, when a header was put over the top with the goal wide open. This near miss galvanised the team and backed by a very noisy away crowd, which seems the norm at Bradford, the Reds edged back into the game. Simon Carden had a shot deflected wide and Danny Warrender had a long range shot easily saved by the keeper. United gave themselves a lifeline on 68 minutes when a cross from the left was cut back by Adam Carden for his namesake Simon, who calmly slotted the ball past Steve Dickinson.
Good pressure from the Reds saw Adam Carden go close with a shot and Nugent fire over from the edge of the box. United were also making use of the long throws of Adam Tong and one almost resulted in a goal as Dickinson did well to tip a Deegan header away. With four minutes to go, a corner from the left caused panic in the BPA defence and after a scramble the ball was forced over the line by Simon Carden. Carden nearly grabbed a hat-trick and a priceless equaliser in the last minute when a long punt forward was headed on by Carl Lomax. Carden lashed the ball goalwards but unfortunately it sailed over the bar. It was certainly a game of two halves but the Reds will need to cut out the individual mistakes and stop giving teams two and three goal head-starts if they are to get anything from the game at Retford on Saturday.
vegas-blue, stalyvegas (18/08/2009 at 14:08)
steve wilson (19/08/2009 at 10:22)
mind you it was not that long ago the citeh were not that far away from non-league football themselves,oh how you must miss the Johnstone`s Paint Trophy?
Free Red, Manchester (19/08/2009 at 11:15)
Admission is POTG. £8 adults, £5 concessions (over 60 and under 16)
Travel by Coach: FC United are running an official coach to this fixture. The coach will depart from Chorlton Street bus station in Manchester City Centre at 10am and return after the game. Prices are: £12 adults, £6 concessions. Any monies made from official coach travel go directly to club funds. If there is not enough demand then unfortunately the coach will have to be cancelled.
Directions by Car: Along Lincoln Relief Road (A46) until reaching roundabout with exit for Birchwood. Take this exit which is Skellingthorpe Road for approximately 1 mile, at 30 mph sign turn right into Ashby Avenue. Entrance to ground is 200 yards on right
F C JOHN, LADYBARN (20/08/2009 at 13:03)
vegas-blue, stalyvegas (21/08/2009 at 10:20)
Free Red, Manchester (21/08/2009 at 13:01)
F C JOHN, LADYBARN (21/08/2009 at 16:48)
* see match report in city section.
Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (22/08/2009 at 19:05)
Free Red, Manchester (23/08/2009 at 21:17)
Following an under-par first half performance against Bradford, Margy, on his return to the touchline, would surely be hoping for a much improved display in Lincolnshire as a rearranged formation saw the returning Phil Marsh lining up alongside Ben Deegan.
Less than ten minutes into play, prayers looked to have been answered for that all important lead when Deegan put the ball over the line. A great ball through into the box from Adam Carden was picked up by Deegan who took no mistake in putting his shot through the Retford keeper. However, the officials ruled that Simon Carden had interfered with play when the ball was passed to Deegan, and the goal was controversially ruled offside.
Minutes later, Deegan was once more in with a chance when he received the ball in the six-yard box from a long throw by Adam Tong. The tall striker rose for a free header on goal which he put over the bar.
Retford were by no means unable to offer a reply going forward, as a free kick on the left was claimed by a good jump from Sam Ashton and minutes later a low ball was sent across the face of goal, leaving the Reds relieved that no one had been in a position to convert for the home side.
Rob Nugent then temporarily got his striking boots on as he picked up a ball from Carlos Roca in the area, turned and hit his shot on the volley into the arms of the keeper.
The Reds went in at the break having put on a much more balanced display of football than at the same stage on Monday night; however the side still lacked the inspiration to take the lead, going in at 0-0.
Ashton was put to the test in the opening minutes of the second half as Neil Harvey, who had looked to be a threat all game, went one on one with the United keeper who produced an excellent reaction save.
Less than a minute later, Harvey produced a good run to find himself through on goal in virtually the same position. FC’s number one pulled of another great save, closing down the number 10 to deny Retford for the second time in as many minutes.
Unfortunately for the Reds, Retford were third time lucky, this time in the form of Chris Bettney who rounded Ashton in the FC goal and slotted the ball to his right 52 minutes into the game.
Five minutes later, Tong brought United back into the game, bringing the scores level on 57 minutes. Roca played the ball into the box and the big central defender leapt up to head the ball home for his second goal of the season so far.
Spurred on by the equaliser, FC began to gather pace in search of a second and the momentum was clearly with United.
On 68 minutes, Mick Godber was replaced by Daryll Thomas, Godber having featured in his 100th game for Retford.
FC United had more chances to take the lead as the half wore on and even had a penalty claim. Roca made a strong run down the right into the box and was tripped inside the area, for a seemingly blatant penalty. The linesman initially flagged for a spot-kick to FC; however the ref waved away any penalty shouts.
In arguably the best move of the half, Phil Marsh came close to goal in a build up that saw Roca and Jerome Wright making good use of width. In an impressive game for the right-winger, Roca did well to slalom through the midfield and play a decent ball across to Wright on the left. Wright came inside and Marsh picked up the ball to shoot on the edge of area. The ball looked to be going in at the top corner, if not for the hands of James Lindley who managed to tip the ball around the angle of bar and post
With two minutes of normal time remaining, Ben Morris and Danny Williams replaced Phil Marsh and Simon Garner, to fill the left-back and forward positions respectively in the dying stages.
As the final whistle blew, relief must surely have been the primary reaction of players, management and fans of FC United as the Reds finally got off the mark, with a point on the board. Let’s hope for one better against Marine on Wednesday night.
vegas-blue, stalyvegas (24/08/2009 at 13:02)
Free Red, Manchester (24/08/2009 at 15:23)
Pushkin (25/08/2009 at 14:10)
I actually quite like City. A city as great as Manchester deserves more than one big club, but some fans do let themselves down by thinking small. For example: getting a sense of self-satisfaction from rubbishing a club that they 'say' is insignificant, but just can't help being irritated by its very existence. Why do you feel so threatened?
Good luck for the season City, I truly hope you come second.