Imitation United not the real thing

Source: BarnsleyToday.co.uk

FROM A distance they look very Manchester United.

Backed by an army of fans relentlessly chanting ancient songs about Cantona, Best, Busby Babes and all-things anti-Merseyside, the red and whites fielded a will-of-the-wisp winger called Giggs.

But imitation isn't reality .as Sheffield Club proved, beating FC United, on Saturday, at Don Valley Stadium.

The Giggs on show was Ryan's brother Rhodri.

He and his team-mates were a selection of useful, yet limited park-players who belong in the lower reaches of English football.

FC United are the breakaway club formed by protesters who resented the Old Trafford take-over by American tycoon Malcolm Glazer.

Under the management of ex-Milers striker Karl Marginson, the new boys won the North West Counties Div 2 last season with eight points to spare.

But in this friendly against the oldest team in the world, they came undone.

If Club's new striker Gary Townsend had brought his shooting boots, Sheffield would have tucked away three in the first half.

Team-mate Paul Smith, an ex Notts Forest pro who once commanded a £150,000 price tag, also fluffed an easy chance.

It was left to captain Craig Marsh to rise unmarked from a James Tevendale corner to hit the net in first half injury time.

FC United had a centre forward in Leon Mike who was as wide as the Stretford End and about as mobile.

He did manage to hit the bar from a free kick, but it was only when Marginson brought on pacier forwards that Club's defence had do some work.

Then, they defended intelligently; adding strength to chairman Richard Tims' belief that this might be their year in the North Counties East Premier.

Club were gifted a dodgy penalty after 80 minutes, but justice was done when goalie Barrie George parried Rob Ward's shot.

Giggs, though, stifled his own team's last chances to draw level...putting two successive corners limply behind the goal.

Final whistle saw the 600 FC fans disappearing from the stadium singing rude songs about Glazer. It's what they had come for...

Club play a Sheffield United XI tonight.