FC United on revenge mission

Source: thisislancashire.co.uk

By Liam Chronnell

FC UNITED will be eager to avenge their only defeat of the season when they take on Salford City in the second round of the FA Vase tomorrow.

The Division One rivals prevented the Reds from breaking the North West Counties League record of 13 consecutive victories when they struck twice in injury time to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory last month.

The game attracted a crowd of more than 4,000 and, with passions sure to be running high again, both on and off pitch, the re-match has been switched to a 12 noon kick-off on police advice.

United will make one change for the short trip to The Willows, home of rugby league's Salford City Reds, with centre-half Rob Nugent, available again after recovering from a head wound, replacing the cup-tied Dave Brown. Striker Rory Patterson is suspended.

Also on the Wembley trail are Atherton Collieries, who travel to Northern Counties East Premier Division side Glasshoughton Welfare.

The Colls make the trip to Castleford full of confidence after booking their place in the last 16 of the League Challenge Cup last weekend.

Skipper Alex Lord is expected to make his first start after serving a one-match ban, while winger Andy Harvie has recovered from injury.

Out of the FA Vase, but buoyed by two excellent cup victories in their last two games, Atherton LR travel to fellow strugglers Formby.

Mark Cox's side, two places above the third-from-bottom Merseysiders, are looking for their first league win in 13 league games, but will have to deal with the threat of former Rovers player, and NWCL player of the year in 2004, Ben Obong.

Another side desperate for three points is Daisy Hill. Stuck in the bottom two, they face a tough trip to Chadderton in Division Two.