As the season comes to a close its looking more and more likely that the League will be decided when FC aren't playing and the chasing pack play out their games in hand. Saturday saw FC gain one more point towards elusive title as they took on Cheadle town on an ever deteriating Gigg Lane pitch.
In very scrappy first half chances were limited, a 30 yard attemted lob by Patterson just going wide the only one of note. This was before Cheadle took the lead on 14 minutes, some casual defending by United let Cheadle into the area and some half hearted clearances left Riley with a sight on goal which he scuffed into the bottom corner. Cheadle looked to capitalise on that goal and their wingers caused United's defence problems looking for a second.
The second half saw Margison ring the changes and Howard, Carden and Simms all came on for Torpey, Patterson and Mitten. Cheadle were forced into changing their keeper after he didn't recover from an earlier knock. With no keeper on the bench they were forced to play 17 year old left back Ashley Stokes. FC should of capitalised on this, but attacks just seemed to get clogged up in the mud. The young left back come keeper did well in his new position, keeping FC at bay with some good saves, and bravely rushing to claim some loose balls. United eventually got the equaliser on 61 minutes when a game of head tennis in Cheadles box involving Chadwick and Simms left with a close range header to make it 1-1. FC looked as though they would go on to win the game but a series of needless stoppages by the referee and linesman ate away at the clock and FC's challenge. Late on Cheadle could also have won it as a shot from just outside the area was parried round the post for a corner by Melville. Nothing came of the corner though it finished 1-1 putting United on 75 points, and with all three of the nearest challengers at most five games in hand the pressure is on them to keep FC waiting to claim the title.
2 Rob Nugent
3 Tony Cullen
4 Steve Spencer
5 David Chadwick(captain)
6 David Brown
7 Dave Swarbrick
8 William Aherne
9 Joz Mitten
10 Steve Torpey
11 Rory Patterson
Subs:
12 Josh Howard
14 Chris Simms
15 Simon Carden
Attendance 2713
Scorers
Simms 61