As inevitable it was, even though over the last few weeks it looked like it would be a long way off. FC United were eventually going to lose, and on Saturday that day came. FC came out with quite a few changes in the starting lineup, Daz Lyons coming in upfront for Joz Mitten, Cardon and Holt getting a game in Midfield and Billy McCartney starting his first game of the season as captain in defence with Nugent. It didn't take the new look lineup long to start some attacking moves, but it was the familliar face of Torpey that made a jinking run into the box only to be brought down by the keeper and duly be awarded a penalty. Torpey stepped up confidently and slotted it into the bottom left corner and ran to celebrate with a cartwheel. The ref was having none of it though, he ordered a retake due to a FC player entering the box before it was took. Torpey stepped up again, this time opting for power down the middle, but the keeper diving to his right made a reaction save with his fist to tip it over. His penalty miss only spurred Torpey on as he continued to harry the oposition defence with his weaving runs. Eventually almost in the same vain as the first penalty was conceded, another was given. This time it was Rory Patterson who stepped up to take. he dispatched much in the same way as his last penalty, a cool chip that nestled up in the roof of the net as the keeper dived to his right. So 1-0 to the reds at half time, the second half saw FC enjoy lots of possesion but a distinct lack of chances. It seemed everytime FC tried to commit men forward they were leaving themselves expossed at the back to Norton's counter attacking style they had adopted. The longer the game went on and it remained 1-0 you started to feel somethings gonna go wrong. On 85 minutes it did, the referee who had a bad game with his overwillingness to blow for fouls and slow the game down, gave Norton a penalty for a reason I still don't know. McKendrick slotted the penalty home into the bottom left corner just out of reach of George's dive. McKendrick then wheeled away cupping his ears to the crowd to get a reaction, he sure did, alot of people felt a reaction to knock the little bastard out. The Manchester Road end were in full voice, to try an will FC onto a winner, but as they tried to press forward, the back door was left open, Norton Utd duly broke in. On the 89th minute Norton broke away on another counter attack and Machin was left in the clear to slot under the despairing Barrie George and complete Norton's smash and grab. Much like the first Norton goal, the goalscorer and the rest of the team ran up to the FC fans to continue to antagonise them. This time they were met more with silence and shell shocked faces than anything else. The final whistle saw the MRE in full voice to show they're appreciation to the team as them and the coaching staff came over to clap their fans. The manner of the defeat was really hard to take, but sometimes its the games like Saturday that make all the great days weve had so far so much sweeter.
Another saturday, and another great day in the history of FC United. Today the reds were in Radcliffe to take on Castleton Gabriels, another game thats been moved to a ground that can hold the red army. A red army that had a few new recruits, namely Steve Torpey, Tony Coyne and Scott Holt, who all stood amongst the fans singing along and getting a few songs going. The game started with United showing there dominance against a side that has conceded 26 in 7 games and got only 1 point on the board. A few good saves by the Castleton keeper was followed on 12 minutes when Rory Patterson was left with time and space to pick his spot and slot home from close range to take his tally to five for the season. More domination followed by the reds, and the score only stayed the same because of some last ditch defending and good saves by Castleton. On 40 minutes the scond goal did come, from the boot of Ryan Gilligan crashing a powerful effort home from just inside the area. So 2-0 to the reds at half time, and the second half kicked off in much the same way. The Castleton keeper now playing infront of most of the United fans, took the usual stick, all in good spirit mind. Perhaps he was concentrating to much on the fans on 46 minutes as the first attack of the second half led to a goal mouth scramble, which left the ball at Rob Nugent's feet which he duly cracked into the roof of the net. 3-0 on 46 minutes and you'd be forgiven for thinking that more goals would follow, but Castleon defended well for the remainder of the match and Castleon's keeper pulled of some good saves. So 3 goals and 3 points for the reds on this fantastic start to the season. But not only that rivals Winsford and Oldham Town both lost, which now leaves United six points clear at the top of the league. "United top of the League, United United top of the league" ;-)
People could be forgiven for thinking watching FC is pretty damn entertaining. Wiith another four goals put away on saturday it makes it 25 goals in six games! The opponents wern't too bad either with two great goals themselves. United started quickly with Orr almost giving the reds the lead within a minute, whilst at the other end George made a good save to deny Blackpool Mechanics the lead. United's attacking domination paid off on 25 minutes when some good build up play lead to Patterson finishing from close range. Blackpool gave as good as they got with the match going end to end, Nugent and Chadwick doing well to break down Blackpool attacks. United made it 2-0 on 41 minutes when Steve Spencer came up with a magnificent 30 yard volley that sailed into the top corner. In the second half more of the same by the reds and on 51 minutes Nugent scored his second goal of the season after heading a cross in at the far post. Game over you would think, but Mechanics weren't going down without a fight. They cut the deficiet on 56 minutes when Thompson unleashed a curling strike into the bottom corner, a great goal that got some applause from the home fans. On 64 minutes Thompson showed some skill again, with an inch perfect lob over Barrie George making it 3-2 and right back in the balance. Fortunately for the reds it only took another 2 minutes before they regained a 2 goal advantage. A battling attack through Mechanic's box ended up with Joz Mitten throwing himself at the ball to put away his 2nd goal of the season. Blackpool now looked as though they'd shot theyre bolt and United had chances to increase theyre lead. As it was it finished 4-2 and left United top of the league by 3 points for the time being.
United were in familliar territory on Saturday with their seconded game at Northwich in a week. This time the opponents were Ashton Town fresh from a 4-1 defeat by Padiham on wednesday. The first half didn't really pick up the pace and few goal scoring chances came of it. So a repeat of wednesday and the sides went into half time tied 0-0 (Its like the premiership again! ;-)) United started the second half much brighter with Gilligan and Patterson causing problems running at Ashton's defence. The breakthrough came on 51 minutes, and once again it was another stunner by the man who doesn't score tap ins Steve Torpey. A throw in was taken by United into the Ashton box, the ball ended up at an Ashton defender's feet only for Gilligan to slide in and push the pull into Torpey's path. From 25 yards or so out Torpey hit a superb drive right into the keepers left corner. The second came as a result of a mix up between the Ashton keeper and a defender, which left the ball at Patterson's feet and whole goal to tuck away his 3rd goal of the season. United were really dominating Ashton now, with Ashton looking weary. A good performance was had by substitiute Phil Power who came on and showed he's still got a great touch upfront. United's third and fourth came from another substitute Scott Holt who was given a clean run on goal twice allowing him to smash home for his first two goals for the club. A solid performance by the lads, and the first clean sheet of the season, Blackpool Mechanics you are next :-)
A week since United's last game, a 7-1 thrashing of Eccleshall, and United where back in action again on Wednesday night. The setting Northwich's Victoria stadium, in the middle of a industrial estate. Much like the surounding, United's opponents looked very Industrious and looked the most organised side played to date. The first half saw United create a few half chances alot of which falling to Orr, but Winsford also were'nt scared of getting at the reds seeing a few headers go close. The sides went into the interval with the score remaining 0-0, the second half was played in pretty much the same vain as the first half. Until Winsford's Quinn capitalised on some lacklustre defending by the reds, slotting home to put Winsford 1-0 up on 53 minutes. What followed was a Chelsea style sit back and defend stance by WInsford. United had to fight hard to get through the organised Winsford side who looked like they'd played togther for a long time. For a long while it was looking like it was gonna finish 1-0, and it was gonna take something special to draw United level. Something special eventually came in the form of Steve Torpey with his third goal of the season and third cracker! Torpey took the ball on the left wing beat his man on the edge of the box and rifled in a sweet strike across the goal into the keepers right leaving him no chance. Winsford's plan of sitting back had failed, and this prompted indecision in their players, meanwhile United smelt blood. Some good work on the right by Patterson led to a great cross into the six yard box where an under pressure Orr was in great position to fire home for his fifth goal of the season and put United 2-1 up. A fantastic 3 minute turn around that left the fans ecstatic, but the joy was short lived a mix up between goalkeeper priestley and his defence over wether to come and claim the ball lead to Winsford's Welsthead being able to cooly slot into the corner to make it 2-2 on 81 minutes. United gave a good shot at going for a wiinner in the last 10 but it wasn't to be, and a 2-2 draw was probablly a fair reflection on the two sides performance. A great game to watch with some good competitive football and a point that is enough to keep United top of the league for the time being. Same place on Saturday everyone ;-)