FC United's third 3000 plus crowd in a row saw the Reds lord it over Nelson in their top of the table battle.
The opening exchanges showed two teams conceding little to each other as the tackles flew in, both sides attempting to take hold of the game. It was United however who made the breakthrough on 18 minutes, with Paul Mitten' making his first start for the club after a frustrating first two months of the season on the sidelines injured, curling a fine shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
The game began to open up a lot more, Nelson's Michael Holt forcing a tremendous point blank save from United keeper Barrie George and Adie Orr hitting the post for the reds.
It remained 1-0 until the 61st minute when Steve Spencer slotted home after a mix up in the Nelson defence.
The second goal gave United the cushion they needed to express themselves more and within seven minutes they had scored two more, Adie Orr grabbing them both with Darren Lyons and Rory Patterson involved in both moves.
Simon Carden made FC's second five goal haul in a week in the last minute of the game.
He broke through from what looked like an offside position but the referee didn't blow and he sent a delightful chip over the despairing Hewitt in goal.
Cup football, one of the things that the top flight game shows little respect, due to some cups reaping little in the way of financial reward. FC United on Monday night brought back what it means to play in a cup competition to many of its fans.
The new Tameside Stadium, home of Curzon Ashton was the setting for FC's first ever cup tie after being moved there to accomadate the red army.
The first half was a bit of niggling display, Cheadle not realy too keen to commit men forward and FC struggling to get some real rhythm to their play. On 26 minutes one of few ventures forward by Cheadle saw
them go ahead on 26 minutes when David Carpenter lifted his shot over keeper Barrie George. From then on Cheadle filled their own box with bodies and were obviously looking to hold onto that 1-0 lead till half time. For what felt like the longest first half in history it was looking like staying 1-0 until the very last kick of the half saw Adie Orr break into the box after a long ball by Elvin was headed into his path by Joz Mitten, which he duly thrashed home to level affairs at the break.
That took some of the wind out of Cheadle and two goals in a minute in the second half settled it.
Rory Patterson got the faintest of glancing headers to Darren Lyons' inswinging free kick on 64 minutes and then Orr calmly side-footed home. Simon Carden made it safe eight minutes from time by crashing in a half-volley. Orr completed the second half rout and his hatrick by lobbing Whittle superbly from the left wing with two minutes to go.
FC through to what could be a tough tie away at Division 1 high flyers Colne in the next round and Adie Orr making history as the first player to score a hatrick for FC United. Don't you just love Cup football :-)
Another league record crowd, the second in four days,saw FC United run out 6-0 winners at home to Daisy Hill.
A crowd of 3,808 packed into Gigg Lane and saw their side make a more positive and determined start than in previous matches.
The Reds however had to wait until the 28th minute for the breakthrough. Jos Mitten was fouled on the edge of the box and from the free-kick Darren Lyons fired through the wall, giving the keeper little chance. United stepped up a gear and hit Daisy Hill with three goals in five minutes. Mitten headed home on 32 minutes after a good cross from Lyons and minutes later Simon Carden stabbed the ball home to make it 3-0. On 37 minutes Mitten, who was to be named man of the match, beat the offside trap and when his shot was parried by the keeper Rory Patterson slotted the ball home to make it four.
The second half was less dramatic on the goals front with United frequently frustrated by the linesman's flag and by an improved performance from Daisy Hill. Adie Orr became the fifth different scorer after 54 minutes. Both sides had goals disallowed before Orr scored his second after 84 minutes with a screamer from 25 yards flying into the top of the net. Six points and nearly 7,000 supporters through the turnstiles in two games completed a superb week for the club.
After a ten day break to mull over the first ever defeat for United, the chance came to put that game behind us. Opponents on a Wednesday night game at Gigg Lane were 7th placed Oldham Town, no doubt hoping to follow in Norton's footsteps. The match kicked off infront of a packed out Manchester Road End, that made up FC's biggest attendance so far, 3,110. Those saw a first half in with United showed little in the way of attacks, and it was looking like they would be lucky to get a point. Oldham played some nice passing football and got in great scoring positions behind United's defence on many occasions. If it wasn't for Oldham's poor finishing, United would of been going in at half time 2 or 3 nil down, after a lack lustre showing. As it stood they went in at half time 0-0, the second half started with FC shooting towards the MRE, and playing alot more positively than the first half. Chances came the way of Adie Orr, after some good play by Patterson on the right. Patterson also did well when he took one man on down the right, got fouled but stayed on his fight, manged to get near post, put put his shot into the side netting. The breakthrough came on 55 minutes when a ball broke to Simon Carden just inside the box, which he sent towards the back of the net with a great looping shot. From then on Uniteds work rate denied Oldham of getting some real momentum going, but for a few runs out of his goal to clear or claim by Barrie George. 1-0 the final score, and a landmark in the United's history as they passed the 3,000 mark in attendance.
