Promotion party gets a kick from derby joy

Source: M.E.N.
Paul Gallagher
10/ 4/2007

FC United fans celebrated promotion in the sweetest possible way - with a victory in their own Manchester derby.

The Rebels revelled in a Bank Holiday battering of Maine Road FC, the non-league club set up 52 years ago by a group of City fans.

A crowd of 3,605 was in party mood from the kick-off at Gigg Lane and Rory Patterson, Dave Brown and Rob Nugent were all on target to keep the home fans singing.

It is only two years since the formation of FC United, but the breakaway Reds have already left their Blue counterparts behind as they head for the UniBond League.

Karl Marginson's team won promotion from the North West Counties League Division One on Saturday with victory at Ramsbottom, to claim a second step up in two seasons.

And the Reds - who are on a run of ten straight league victories - will claim a second successive title if they can win just two of their last five games. Only Curzon Ashton can pip FC United to top spot in the NWCL First Division.

And the 'Nash' also stand in the way of a possible double for the Reds, as the pair meet in the final of the Challenge Cup on May 3.