FC UNITED boss Karl Marginson saluted his red-hot Rebels after they'd emphatically returned to form with a stunning 3-0 home victory over UniBond premier division leaders Hednesford.
Two goals from ace marksman Kyle Wilson, taking his season's tally to 22, followed by a late Jerome Wright strike earned FC a resounding triumph over a Hednesford side who'd arrived at Gigg Lane cock-a-hoop from thrashing Hyde United 5-0 in the FA Trophy.
It was just the tonic Marginson's men had been looking for after going three games without a win in the league.
And it's a victory the Rebels manager will now expect his players to add to when they visit Woodley Sports for a rearranged UniBond Challenge Cup third-round clash tomorrow (7.45pm).
Marginson said: "I couldn't have asked for any more from the lads and they've given themselves a massive confidence boost with that result.
"Our challenge now is to build on it."
Wilson gave FC a 14th minute lead when he seized on Wright's inch-perfect cross to fire home.
But the prolific front man then had to wait until 20 minutes from time before adding his and United's second goal after being set up by his debut-making co-striker Tommy Turner, who made an impressive bow following his midweek switch from Bacup.
There was no way back for Hednesford after that and Wright duly capped FC's best win of the season with a fierce left-footed drive from the edge of the box.
THERE was no stirring fightback for FC United this time as the Rebels crashed out of the FA Trophy.
Karl Marginson�s men, who have made a habit out of heroic failure, paid the price for missing early chances, making basic defensive errors and coming up against some inspired goalkeeping.
Opponents Boston won at Gigg Lane in the league in August but since then have slumped down into the relegations places before sacking their manager recently.
FC looked like piling on the misery as they began brightly but young goalkeeper Martyn Margarson produced superb instinctive saves to deny both Kyle Wilson and Carlos Roca.
But the visitors were out to impress caretaker boss Steve Welsh and on 33 minutes they went ahead. FC defender Simon Garner�s error let in Adam Millson and his far post cross was headed back across goal to present top scorer Ollie Ryan with a tap-in.
FC pressed hard for an equaliser but on the stroke of half-time, sloppy marking at a corner allowed big central defender Liam Parker to power home a header and make it 2-0.
The game seemed to be up after 62 minutes when Parker repeated the dose from another corner, leading to an inquest on the home bench.
When the home side eventually did get back in it, they did so thanks to a huge slice of luck.
Midfielder Papis Dieyte�s 35-yard drive was hopeful rather than menacing but it took a big deflection off a defender and looped over Margarson to give the Senegalese his first goal for the club.
Sub Nick Robinson, often a saviour of lost causes, almost did it again smashing a shot agonisingly across the face of goal as FC camped in the Boston half without any success.
FC United suffered their first defeat in eight games, going down to the UniBond League's form team Eastwood.
The Badgers arrived at Gigg Lane after just one defeat in 14, including the scalp of Conference big guns Wrexham in the FA Cup.
And their tight, well-organised defence proved too tough a nut for the lack-lustre Rebels to penetrate, on a cold blustery night.
The game turned on a 44th minute incident when on-loan Rotherham winger Andy Todd, through one-on-one with goalkeeper Sam Ashton, went down under a challenge from behind by Adam Carden.
Striker Ian Holmes tucked away the spot kick, and FC - unchanged from the team which came close to beating second-placed Guiseley on Sunday - had no response.
FC UNITED were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw at Guiseley after being denied victory by a last-minute equaliser.
James Hanson had put the high-flying hosts in front after just six minutes but the rebel Reds soon bounced back.
Chris Baguley levelled after being set up by Kyle Wilson before the latter bagged his 20th goal of the season to put Karl Marginson's men 2-1 up with only six minutes remaining.
But FC's hopes of a morale-boosting UniBond premier division triumph were then dashed when Guiseley's Anthony Lloyd struck from outside the box.
THE Rebels stormed back from 5-2 down with 20 minutes left to earn a breath-taking draw at Gigg Lane last night.
In a game littered with defensive errors, the Camels were one up after 17 minutes as the FC defence melted and Eddie Jebb stole in to score.
But some exquisite passing from the home side had them 2-1 up within six minutes as Jerome Wright crossed for Simon Carden to score and then the UniBond premier’s top scorer Kyle Wilson (pictured) struck.
The Merseysiders took full advantage of some dreadful defending as John Collins equalised and Mark Reed pounced twice to make it 4-2 at half time.
The game seemed up when Reed claimed his hat-trick on 65 minutes, but Karl Marginson’s men, roared on by the 1,714 crowd, hit back after supersub Nick Robinson came on.
Wilson started the fightback, heading in his 19th goal in 18 appearances from a corner on 70 minutes and 10 minutes later two subs combined as Robinson’s perfect cross was headed home by Chris Baguley.
With the Camels wobbling and the crowd frantic, Robinson popped up at the far post in the 89th minute to level it – and the Rebels came close to snatching the victory in extra time.
Worksop Town club secretary Keith Ilett reckoned that the Tigers faced their toughest game of the season up against an impressive FC United of Manchester in the Second Qualifying Round of The FA Trophy.
He was proved right when the Red Rebels ran out easy 3-0 winners at Watnall Road with two goals from Kyle Wilson and another by Dave Chadwick. However, Ilett admits he has no complaints after losing to a 'quality' side.
�They passed the ball very well and impressed me greatly,� he said.
�They looked excellent at times today and are the best side we�ve played so far this season.
�They are a very young and fit side, they played a good passing game and showed some nice little touches in this performance.�
The visitors took just 13 minutes to take the lead against Peter Rinkcavage�s men.
Simon Carden was brought down in the penalty area and striker Wilson slotted home the resulting spot kick to give United an early advantage.
Worksop had a chance to level the match just before the break when Steve Robinson floated a dangerous free-kick into the penalty area only for an unmarked Chris Glavey to see his header cannon back off the goalkeeper from point-blank range.
The hosts were made to pay for this missed chance as the Rebels produced a fantastic second half showing.
Defender Chadwick stole in to head the Reds� second goal after the Tigers' backline failed to clear from a set-piece on 49 minutes.
Karl Marginson�s side continued to press with slick and attractive football, eventually rounding off the game with a third goal courtesy of Wilson.
A piercing long ball again deceived the Worksop defence and the striker finished coolly to cement his team's place in the next round of the competition.