Source: M.E.N. By Stuart Brennan
FC United triumph in FA Vase clash
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Padiham next up in bid for glory
FC UNITED hit Wembley trail at weekend with mission – to become first Manchester team play at the new stadium.
The Rebels eased through their first FA Vase match, winning 3-1 at Brodsworth Miners Welfare to make it to the first round proper of the nationwide competition.
And they are among the favourites to win the trophy, after a record-equalling start to the season of 12 straight wins in all competitions to sit on the top of the NW Counties League.
FC now face a trip to second division Padiham in the first round, and victory in that one would leave them five ties and a two-legged semi-final away from the final.
That final is scheduled to be at the new Wembley, if the legal dispute which is holding up completion of the construction can be overcome in time.
The Rebels’ boss Karl Marginson is refusing to get giddy about his team’s prospects, even though his team has already beaten Nantwich in the league. He says his thoughts are only on next Saturday’s home league fixture against Bacup, when a victory would see FC equal the record for the best start to a league season, set by Skelmersdale last season.
“We will just keep going as we have been going and see what comes of it,” said the manager after goals from top scorer Stuart Rudd, Josh Howard and Rory Patterson had seen off Northern Counties East premier side Brodsworth.
“I don’t know about being the first Manchester team to play at the new Wembley, but the thought of playing there is a big incentive to everyone who plays football.
“I am happy with my squad and in the next round we are playing Padiham, who we know all about. But this is cup football, and we will need a bit of luck.”
FA Vase rules are in FC’s favour as well, as players must have been registered at the time the previous round was played in order to be eligible.
That rules out the common league practice of clubs drafting in “ringers“ against FC. Last season it was rumoured that one midfielder had played against FC for FIVE different clubs, who took advantage of the league’s relaxed attitude to player registration.
Things began Marginson for and badly for his team when the coach driver was given an incorrect post code for his satellite navigation and ended up on a tour of the south Yorkshire countryside, followed by several carloads of bemused supporters.
“Brodsworth weren’t the best of teams, to be honest,” said Marginson. “But they worked hard for the first half-hour, and after that we virtually camped on their 18-yard line.”
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