Sheffield FC 1 FC United 0

July 31, 2006

KEEPER Barrie George rescued FC United from a heavier friendly defeat as the Rebels lost 1-0 at Sheffield FC, the world's oldest football club.

George saved a Rob Ward penalty and produced another wonder stop to deny Chris White.

But he could do nothing to prevent Craig Marsh cashing in on slack marking to head home the winner right on half-time.

Adie Mike hit the bar for FC United with a free kick, while Rhodri Giggs lit up a dull afternoon with some clever footwork.

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durwardred, clayton (31/07/2006 at 13:16)

Are we in the throes of a crisis now 2 defeats on the spin,come on Margy sort it out before the chants of "Margy out" can be heard.Maybe not eh!!!!!!

Match report, Comment on this (31/07/2006 at 13:57)

FC United slumped to their fourth defeat of their pre-season campaign with a single goal defeat against Northern Counties East Premier Division outfit Sheffield FC on Saturday. Team Manager Karl Marginson won't be too disappointed with that statistic, but he will probably be somewhat more concerned that his team were unable to convert any of their numerous half-chances into a decent threat on goal during the 90 minutes. For FC United, this was their first-ever game east of the Pennines, and for the Sheffield FC team, who celebrate their 150th anniversary next year, a return to the futuristic 25,000 capacity Don Valley Stadium that they played at for a number of seasons in the 1990s. Billed as the oldest club in the world against one of the newest, the two clubs, which will be playing their trade at Level 5 in the non-league pyramid this season, looked to be fairly evenly matched during the opening period. FC United's best effort of the first-half came on the quarter-hour mark, when a curling free-kick from Leon Mike from 20 yards out struck the angle of the far post and crossbar only to bounce out of play. Sheffield's best chance came on 31 minutes, when Gary Townsend shot wide even though it looked easier to score. However, just when it looked as if the first-half would end goalless, the home side snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time. With the visiting defence missing in action from an in-swinging James Tevendale corner, Sheffield captain Craig Marsh was left completely unmarked to head home past 'keeper Sam Ashton at the far post. There were no changes to either of the line-ups at half-time, but shortly into the second-half, the two managers made the first of a number of substitutions (ten in all). For FC United, this included the introduction of Ricardo Brondao and Ellesio Tavares, who had both impressed for the Reserves at Mossley the previous week. But despite the numerous changes, the visitors still looked somewhat off the pace, and in the 72nd minute, Sheffield could have gone a second goal up. Reds defender Liam Coyne's clumsy challenge on Rob Ward was adjudged by referee Dave Benton to be a penalty. However, when Ward eventually picked himself up, his spot-kick was fired too close to substitute 'keeper Barrie George who parried the shot and the defence were able to scramble the loose ball away to safety. That let-off seemed to rally the United team at long last, and the visitors spent the final 15 minutes of the game more or less camped in the Sheffield half pressing for an equaliser. Brondao, Tavares and Coyne all wasted chances from reasonable positions, but arguably the best scoring opportunity fell to Rory Patterson in the final minute, whose dipping goal-bound effort was tipped over the bar by Sheffield keeper Jamie Holmshaw.

Matty, Stockport (31/07/2006 at 14:22)

2nd stringers mostly who havn't played against Bury and AFC Wimbledon (apart from Chadwick, Ahern and Barrie George (who came on as a sub at 54 minutes), plus had some debutants fr the 1st team squad. No need for concern despite the poor pre-season record although we really didn't test their keeper once (although Leon Mike did hit the crossbar), to be fair to Sheffield they have a good solid defence. Now that every 1st team player has had a chance to prove Marginson will play the best 11 + subs in the remaining pre season friendlies to glue together on the pitch.

Tommy, Tampa (31/07/2006 at 14:29)

Promotion in their first season and then relagation in their next!! Let me be the first to welcome FC back to the NWC division II!! This will be a season to remember indeed! Keep up the good work Margo!

Mankissimo, Mankville (31/07/2006 at 15:03)

Tommy, did you go to Preston? Did you hear the chanting of the fans there? It was very anti-Glazer. Work it out. Since the Glazers have come, any transfer outlay has had to be provided by incoming money from sales of existing players. All this talk of transfer "war chests" has failed to materialise. From being a club with no debts and with a healthy income, we are now in hock to all sorts of organisations, none of whom have the best interests of Manchester United FC at heart. Let's face it, the only reason you defend the Glazers is because they're American. If they were another nationality (somebody like, say, Mohammed Al Fayed or the Sultan of Brunei), you wouldn't give them house room. Stop apologising for the Glazers and admit it that United were in a much better state before they took over.

George, Swinton (31/07/2006 at 16:34)

Tommy, You are still abit deluded and irrational. I have got to say the Glazer clan have not done a very good job to be honest. Season Tickets up and like Mankissmo says where's this war Chest? its a joke, Utd have made a profit so far with Mikel and Ruud sold and only Carrick signed. are we a selling club now to service the likes of Madrid and Chelsea?. As for FC Utd, I still don't see what harm they are doing to Man Utd or anyone else so they still seem a good alternative for those who have been forced out by Glazer and his money making policies. I'm not too confident about your prediction of them getting relegated either but it will be interesting to see how the fans react to this scenario should it happen.

fan, Manchester (31/07/2006 at 20:53)

Tommy in Tampa do know the season starts on the 12th August and these games are only practice.

Billys Boots, Salford (01/08/2006 at 05:49)

Monk surely the problem at United isn't the fact that the Glazers won't make any money available but Fergusons indecision. Evra has hardly been a roaring success has he and Fergusons bad signings are legendary. Time for the old man to hang up his boots. PS isn't this the FC pages?

Free Red, Manchester (01/08/2006 at 09:51)

Next up, HALIFAX TOWN AFC v. FC UNITED. Tonight, 1 August 2006, we will be taking on another Conference club away at The Shay Stadium, Halifax, HX1 2YS. Tel. 01422341222. k.o. 7.45pm. Admission pay on the gate ??8 Adults, ??4 Concessions, ??2 U11s. DIRECTIONS. From the M60 exit Jct 18 taking the M62 east for Leeds. Exit the M62 at Jct 24 taking the A629 for Halifax into Skircoat road then onto Shaw Hill where the Stadium is sited. This should be another stern test of our players metal in our build up to the new season. Viva la revolution, come on FC.

fan, Manchester (01/08/2006 at 13:16)

Billy??TMs Boots Salford. These are as you say the Fc United pages so I don??TMt want to go on about this.The problem at United isn't anything to do with how much of our money the Glazers will make available for players. It isn??TMt anything to do with Ferguson??TMs indecision or how good Evra has been. It??TMs to do with the debt??TMs and I??TMm not paying them end of story.

Tommy, Tampa (01/08/2006 at 14:05)

Fan, Manchester - you do realize that they you are paying seven pounds to watch a club that a decent U15 team would beat down?

fan, Manchester (01/08/2006 at 14:46)

Tampa in Tampa I thought you were not going to answer. Thank goodness there are fans over in the USA who follow real live football and not Americafootball or watch football on telly and think that makes them a fan. I went to my first Fc game last year but still had a season ticket for United to use up.All I can say is the standard of football in Tampa must be good if you think that fc would be beaten by your U15s. I doubt they could and would like to see them try. I will be following Fc this season cos Old Trafford is too expensive for me now. What is you club called?

Mankissimo, Mankville (01/08/2006 at 14:46)

Tommy, now why in heaven's name would you be so worried about how much FC fans spend and what they spend it on?

Tommy, Tampa (01/08/2006 at 17:29)

Fan, Manchester - My club is called the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has been owned by the Glazers for over a decade. The run a pretty good club. Just as they are doing now with Man United. This just in FC Fans - Get your Cuban flags ready! The dictator is almost dead . . . . Viva la death of the Revolution.

Rich YorkRed, Yorkshire (01/08/2006 at 22:54)

What a result for the boys tonite, 4-2 at Halifax.Come on FC.

Matty, Stockport (02/08/2006 at 00:53)

Won 4-2 tonight against Halifax, and no it wasn't against a poor reserve squad either (mixture of the regular 1st team squad and trialists competing for a spot in the 1st team).

tony, houston, tx (02/08/2006 at 04:52)

To Tommy From Tampa-

Why would you try and spoil the fun for Manchester Utd supporters who have been priced out of Old Trafford, or who see that the Glazers care nothing for the club and its supporters other than their ability to make them money. Real Man Utd supporters (and FC United supporters qualify) don't put each other down over the rift caused by the Glazer's takeover. We are just all called by conscience to make our own choices. I'll love Man Utd till I die, but FC stands for something too, even if you can't recognize it...

Free Red, Manchester (02/08/2006 at 09:50)

Champaign football at the Shay last night. Halifax AFC 2-4 FC United. Wheres the story MEN.

corky, salford (02/08/2006 at 10:25)

I think we have just got to the heart of Tommy Tampa's obsession with FC United. He has some bizarre idea that we are all socialist revolutionaries, in league with Castro, and just waiting to land on his Florida doorstep a la Bay of Pigs. All because of one Cuban flag in the crowd!
The arrogance of the man is breathtaking, matched only by his ignorance.
I wouldn't dream of going on a Buccaneers message board and pretend to know anything at all about American football, its supporters or its traditions.
Yet this fella still believes he has superior knowledge of English football to tell us all about it.
I have liked most Americans I have met, but Tommy just adds to the stereotype of ignorance and arrogance, of a people that never leave their own shores but still preach to the rest of the world about what is best for them.
How exactly are you judging the standard of FC's football, Tommy, from your seat at the Raymond James Stadium?
Or are you truly omnipotent?
I am not really expecting a reply, Tommy, because when confronted with the difficult questions you tend to duck them.
There are none so blind as those who do not want to see.

fan, Manchester (02/08/2006 at 11:29)

Tommy in Tampa.You're club does not qualify so you can keep you're Cuban flag and you're Glazer mates.

Mankissimo, Mankville (02/08/2006 at 12:55)

I like the sound of this chap Corky! His demolition of Tommy of Tampa put into words EXACTLY what I (and I suspect a lot of other posters on here) have been thinking for a long, long time.

George, Swinton (02/08/2006 at 13:38)

Corky, of course you are right but Tommy will never accept any rational counter arguments you may offer, I have said the same things this time last year as you have said, Tommy said FC wouldn't last till Xmas, they did, now his new prediction is that they wil get relegated! if I met him face to face and had a wager if they would get relegated or not I reckon he would bottle it as he doesn't really think it. Its all just propaganda for his uncle Malcolm.

Chay, la Bay of Pigs (02/08/2006 at 15:31)

Wot! you mean you're clubs not full of socialist revolutionaries in league with Castro en-route to Florida via la Bay of Pigs ??" I think I will go watch Chelsea then.

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