Town suffer as United show mettle

Source: Halifax Courier

Halifax Town 2
FC United of Manchester 4

SO pre-season friendlies are all just gentle, meaningless kickarounds?

Not so, as anyone at the Shay last night will testify.

OK, it is difficult to argue with the meaningless bit, with Town boss Chris Wilder fielding an almost wholly experimental side stocked with trialists, a fact that goes a long way to explaining that bizarre scoreline.

But the gentle kickaround theory went out of the window as at least half a dozen tackles flew in that made the home faithful wince, the majority coming from the visitors in a highly competitive clash which while hardly a thriller, provided a decent slice of entertainment for those who braved the suddenly autumnal weather.

And Wilder was not complaining, saying he was pleased that his players underwent a full physical workout with the proper stuff just over a week away.

Yet despite that, the half time scoreline which showed a 4-1 deficit against a side which will this season be playing four levels below the Shaymen in the non-league pyramid had many fans shaking their heads.

But it needs to be put into context, because firstly, FC United are no ordinary club.

Backed by what is by semi-pro standards huge support, they can attract players who are a class above the level they are currently positioned, and many of those who turned out last night were of Conference standard or very close to it.

And secondly, Town's starting XI was unrecognisable to the one which suffered that play off heartbreak at Leicester, with many having barely been introduced before they took the field.

Even so, the ease with which the visitors tore through the home ranks sent ripples of alarm through the home support.

With barely 10 minutes on the clock, centre half Robert Nugent beat keeper Craig Mawson to a Josh Howard free kick and nodded the ball home, and on 17 minutes, FC United doubled the lead with the strike of the night.

Young Steve Torpey, not to be confused with the Scunthorpe striker of the same name, produced a dazzling 30 yard swerver which flew past Mawson and set the tone for a sparkling display by a lad surely soon to be snapped up by a league side

Two minutes later, it was three, as William Ahern slotted home as the Halifax rearguard stood and admired, and an evening of embarrassment beckoned.

Halifax trialist Neil Prince's cross was deflected into his own net by defender David Chadwick to reduce the arrears, but just before the break, visiting striker Stuart Rudd was put clear and when Mawson brought him down , Rory Paterson cockily flicked home the spot kick.

It all made for an uncomfortable half time for Town, but the introduction of a quartet of regular first teamers for the second half stemmed the flow.

And when Danny Forrest sprinted onto the field to the biggest cheer of the night from the home end, he rewarded them within 10 seconds by volleying spectacularly home.

Town poured forward in the closing stages as the visitors began to tire.

And with a bit of luck they could have levelled as they squandered a string of late chances. However, they had left themselves too much to do and FC United closed out the final few minutes to earn themselves what is probably one of their most memorable triumphs in their short history.

So not a night that will be cherished in the memories of many Town fans, but at least there was that delightful Forrest strike to savour, and as Wilder rightly pointed out afterwards, the difference when the regulars came on after the break showed the quality of Town's first choice line up.

And the last word goes to the FC United fans, who numbered at least 500 and kept up a commendable vocal backing.

They also produced the chant of the night, pointing to the unfinished section of the Shay as they sang in unison "Are you Wembley in disguise?"