FC made their first trip accross the pennines on saturday in their fifth pre season game. Their opponents Sheffield FC, the worlds oldest football club founded in 1857
FC played another changed lineup with Liam Coyne making a start at the back and a chance given to Mike Lomax ar rightback, In Midfield Steve Smith and Rhodri Giggs got a chacne to impress from the start, Sam Ashton kept his number 1 jersey after a good performance against Bury.
The two sides were pretty evenly matched early on, not suprisingly with both playing at level 5 of the non league pyrimid.
Leon Mike gave FC's best chance striking the angle of post and bar with a 20 yard free kick, while Sheffield's Townsend missed a sitter.
The first half was looking like being goaless until the final minute when FC's defence mustve been walking if for their half time cuppa when Marsh rose at the far post unmarked to head home and make it 1-0 Sheffield.
Ten minutes into the second half saw FC make a number of changes including Ricardo Brondao after his impressive sub appearance against Bury, Ellesio Tavares plus a return to the side for Barry George.
In pretty poor second half, chances were few and far between, until Sheffield had a chance to go 2-0 up. Liam Coyne brought down Ward in the area with a clumsy challenge, but Barrie George showed us glimpse of last seasons heroics with an excellent save of the resulting sport kick.
FC seemed to rally from this and the resulting last 20 minutes or so, saw United camped in Sheffield's half. Chances fell to Ricardo, Ellesio and Coyne but all failed to hit the back of the net. The goal was confirmed never to come when a last minute dipping shot by player of the season Rory Patterson was tipped over the bar by Sheffield keeper Holmshaw.
Not the greatest game ever and FC's 4th defeat of pre season but plenty of positives to draw from the new personnel on show.
2 Mike Lomax
3 Gareth Ormes
4 Liam Coyne
5 Dave Chadwick(captain)
6 Rhodri Giggs
7 Will Ahern
8 Steve Smith
9 Leon Mike
10 Joz Mitten
11 Adie Orr
Subs Used
12). Ricardo Brondao (Sub for No. 9, 48 mins). 13). Barrie George (G/K) (Sub for No. 1, 54 mins). 14). Ellesio Tavares (Sub for No. 10, 54 mins). 15). Rob Nugent (Not used). 16). Dave Brown (Not used). 17). Alex Mortimer (Not used). 18). Rory Patterson (Sub for No. 7, 54 mins). 19). Josh Howard (Not used). 20). Dave Swarbrick (Not used). Attendance: 750
Scorers