FC United knocked out

Source: Manchester Evening News

Stuart Brennan

FC UNITED went out of the FA Cup at Fleetwood Town on Saturday in a match marred by missiles being thrown at goalkeeper Sam Ashton.

The FC stopper was twice felled by full plastic water bottles and a coin thrown from the home end during the warm-up, prompting angry crowd scenes which almost forced referee Andy Pownall to abandon the match before it had even started.

Fleetwood could now face FA sanctions after Mr Pownall, who saw Ashton hit by the two bottles, said he would be including the incidents in his report to the governing body.

FC manager Karl Marginson says he would not like to see Fleetwood punished for the ugly incidents, believed to have been caused by a small group of Liverpool fans.

He said: "I am sure Fleetwood will do all they can to keep those idiots away from their club, but unfortunately it only takes a few to spoil a great day and a good game of football.

"I know the referee has to include it in his report but I wouldn't like to see Fleetwood punished because they did everything they could to make it a great occasion and were let down by a few people intent on causing mither."

The game itself was riddled with incident, FC losing to two Jamie Milligan penalties, the first highly dubious, and the second slotted home after Rory Patterson had levelled for the Rebels.

Fleetwood played the last half-hour with ten men after midfielder Richard Allen was sent off for an off-the-ball incident, but they stood firm against a late FC onslaught.