Unlucky 13 for FC

Source: BBC Website

By Jamie Murphy

FC United’s 12-game winning streak was blown apart by Salford City FC in an explosive last 10 minutes of a hard fought game at the Willows on Tuesday night (03.10.06)

North West Counties Football League - Division 1 (2006/07)
Salford City FC 2 - FC United 1

Goals:
Bagguley 90 (Salford City)
J. Robinson 92 (Salford City)
Howard 80 (FC United)

Salford City:
Moores, Whitehead, Watson, Pendlebury, Watson, Burke, McNally, Whitehead, J. Robinson, N. Robinson, Eckersley

Substituted:
Whitehead for Bancroft (84)
Watson for Moses (65)
McNally for Bagguley (65)

FC United:
Ashton, Taylor, Mortimer, Spencer, Chadwick (capt), Coyne, Howard, Ahern, Rudd, Orr, Patterson

Substituted:
Coyne for Smith (39)
Orr for Giggs (78)
Patterson for Orr (62)
Attendance: 4,058

Going into the game against 4th placed Salford City, top of the league FC United were hoping to extend their winning run to 13 and make the North West Counties League record books.

But standing in their way were a resolute Moor Lane outfit that stopped Skelmersdale in their tracks with the same number of wins only last season. And it was to be unlucky 13 for the Rebel Reds to, in a tense atmosphere at Salford Reds Rugby ground the Willows.

Given the proximity and close footballing ties between the two teams (Karl Marginson and Darren Lyons are among a number of former Salford City players now with FC), it was hoped that a loud but congenial atmosphere would grace the terraces. But even before the game rumours of a protest staged by a group of Manchester United fans, angered by the perceived disloyalty of the Rebel Reds, promised to add an edge to the fixture.

Sure enough as the 4,058 fans took their places around the stands a small group of said fans made their presence felt. Among them were the faces of known hooligans who, though banned from football grounds, were allowed into the rugby ground for the game.

From the kick off, Salford City made it abundantly clear they were not here to watch North Counties League history being made at their expense. Indeed the team in tangerine almost took the lead when No. 8 Dale Whitehead lashed a 30 yard shot onto the bar with FC ‘keeper Sam Aston beaten.

After 25 minutes, FC’s first opportunity came to captain David Chadwick who unmarked, headed the ball wide from a Josh Howard corner. The two teams remained deadlocked until, with the half time whistle minutes away, Rory Patterson with the ball at Salford’s corner and shadowed by two defenders, managed to turn them both and skilfully cut inside another to release a goal bound shot, beating the Salford ‘keeper, only to see it courageously cleared off the line by Lee McNally.

As the rain poured down in the second half both sides fought hard to gain control of the game, with Salford putting in some strong and often scieving challenges on the skiddy surface, one such resulting in a minor fracas and a yellow card for one tangerine tormentor.

It was around this time that things off the pitch started to get a little unsavoury. Following a pitch invasion by two fans carrying a banner denouncing FCUM as Judases, a large and organised group of ‘Salford’ fans, who had infiltrated the FC supporters located in the Shed, began to aggressively goad the Rebel Reds. Many FC fans attending with young families left the Shed area and real conflict (if that was the intention of the provocation), was avoided. Instead FC fans replied with chants of ‘Glazer lap dogs’ (to politely paraphrase) and helpful tips on where the banner wavers could put their Judas.

Meanwhile back on the pitch with ten minutes to play, Josh Howard excellently controlled Sam Ashton’s long-range free kick before releasing a thunderous shot into Salford’s net. But victory was far from assured and FC took their foot off the pedal while Salford fought on to the finish, with substitute Nick Bagguley scoring the equaliser on the 89th minute with an inch perfect free kick that curled around the wall and past Ashton.

If that brought the home crowd to their feet then the following minutes brought an eruption when in extra time Salford’s Jon Robinson, slipped past some slack defending to slide the ball between the legs of Ashton to net the winner for the home team. Salford City had deservedly won their cup final, while FC perhaps had their eyes on Saturday’s FA Vase game against Padiham.

last updated: 06/10/06