Nelson 1 FC United 3

Source: manchesteronline.co.uk

MANAGER Karl Marginson saluted a stunning double by Steve Torpey as FC United made it 16 wins out of 21 games at the top of the North West Counties League second division yesterday afternoon.

A crowd of 2,011 flocked to the Accrington Stanley ground to see Torpey seal the victory after Joz Mitten had sidefooted home a right-wing cross by Josh Howard after just three minutes.

United dominated play and the pressure was rewarded after 27 minutes when Torpey hit a left-foot shot from outside the box which screamed into the top corner of the net.

His next, on the stroke of half-time, was even more spectacular. He hit an unstoppable free-kick from the edge of the box which flew across the keeper and between the angle of the bar and post to take his total for the season to 12.

Pace

The goal put the game beyond Nelson's reach and the second half was an anti-climax, even though the home side never stopped trying for a goal. They were rewarded after 65 minutes when Barry George conceded a penalty for a trip and Paul Barrett placed the spot-kick just inside a post.

Marginson said: "Steve's second would have graced any ground in the world. The pace of the shot was amazing and it would have gone in if there had been 14 keepers there. He really got hold of it.

"We had a good first but then, with a 3-0 lead, we dropped off the pace a bit but I was pleased with the performance."

Marginson, whose next game is at home to Ashton Town next Saturday, was also delighted with the fact that around 1,800 United fans made the trip to Accrington, saying: "The pleasing aspect for me was that a lot of kids came up to watch live football on a Sunday afternoon."