A muddy Stafford Rangers ground was the setting for the latest chapter in FC United's history. The game moved there due to Eccleshall being thought not big enough to occupy the red army. United kicked off the game with black arm bands on in respect for FC founder and board member Russ Delaney who sadly passed away this week.
The reds with a few fammiliar names missing namely Torpey, Nugent and Ormes, struggled to create against a much improved Eccleshall side since their 7-1 defeat at Gigg Lane.
With the muddy pitch not allowing for FC to get their attacks going, Eccleshall saw the best of the first half with a few headers going close and George being called into action an a few occasions.
The closest United came to the scoresheet in the first half was when Patterson manged to get behind Eccleshall's defence but only to fire into the side netting.
As half time approached United were right to feel hard done by as the referee missed a sure fire penalty decision as Adie Orr was hacked down when he broke into the box.
As it was 0-0 it remained going into the break, the second half saw United enjoy quite alot of possesion but really lacked that edge in the final third. Eccleshall defended stoutley and made efforts by Mitten and Carden easy for their keeper to handle.
Eccleshall's excellent defending almost paid of for them at the other end as a United attack was broken up leaving them clear on the counter, George blocked the resulting shot where the Eccleshall striker really should of put away the rebound. United tried and tried till the final whistle with sub Phil Power almost nicking the three points with a shot driven across goal that could of gone anywhere. But it wasn't to be and in what was a competitve match with a much improved Eccleshall side the spoils were shared.
2 Tony Cullen
3 Kevin Elvin
4 Mark Rawlinson
5 Dave Chadwick(c)
6 Billy McCartney
7 Darren Lyons
8 Simon Cardon
9 Jonathan Mitten
10 Rory Patterson
11 Adie Orr
Subs Used
12 Ryan Gilligan
13 Rob Nigent
14 Phil Power
Attendance 2,011