FC United 2 Rossendale United 1

Joe Boyle

7/12/2007

PUNCHES thrown in a tussle in the tunnel threatened to overshadow the on-field action in this battle of attrition.

The off-field problems started after Rossie manager Derek Egan and a member of the FC United backroom staff were told to leave the technical area after a heated disagreement.

Egan left the touchline and continued to watch the game from the entrance of the ‘caged tunnel’ to the changing rooms.

But shortly after Egan was sent off, FC United skipper Rory Patterson was substituted sporting a swollen eye from an incident on the field.

And as he passed Egan at the entrance to the tunnel, a scuffle started.

Several spectators then intervened before stewards stepped in to quell the fracas.

A rumbling discontent among spectators continued in the tunnel area as the match reached a conclusion.

But the home faithful’s simmering discontent was relieved when FC United snatched a late winner.

It was a cruel blow to Rossie, who had defended resolutely and deserved to take something from the contest.

But they were undone by Jerome Wright, who lobbed the ball into the net after picking up Kyle Ingham’s off-the-line headed clearance.

The Rossie defender again made a gallant attempt to prevent the ball going into the net but could not get high enough and the points went to United.

Derek Egan said both he and the FC United official were sent off for swearing but would not confirm if he was assaulted in the tunnel.

He said: ‘The ref sent us both off for swearing at each other. At the time we had four or five of their people in our technical area being threatening and abusive to our bench.

‘I would challenge anyone not to swear in those circumstances but the ref has taken the easy option because there was a lot of other stuff going on.’

Egan refused to expand on the tunnel incident and prefered to focus on his team.

He added: ‘The lads have done ever so well but it can be a cruel game sometimes. We deserved something out of the game but I have been saying that for a while.

‘We are more likely to concede when we have been going foward but we have done a lot of work. One or two players only think about going forward and do not think that if someone else is going then they need to stay.

‘I am pleased at the way they hung in there. They had to be disciplined and they hung in there and got a deserved equaliser.

‘But unfortunately they got another goal in the last few minutes. That is football.’

FC United general manager Andy Walsh said he did not see the incident in the tunnel and was happy with the stewarding of the game.

He said: ‘It is how you respond and it was over in a couple of minutes. At the end of the game we made sure that the players and officials left the pitch without further incident.’

The match was played at Radcliffe Borough, with Gigg Lane hosting an FA Cup tie.

And Rossendale started with the advantage of the slope and were first to create a chance when Watson headed into the side netting from Cook’s corner.

However straight from the resulting goal kick, Simon Carden’s through ball picked out Patterson – the league’s leading scorer – and he scampered clear and beat Rigby from close range.

The second half was only 11 minutes old when Egan was sent off but this seemed to motivate the visitors.

And Rossie equalised in the 76th minute when Mario Daniels wriggled free on the right and crossed for Tom Williams to net from six yards.

But with thee minutes left Wright popped up to net the winner.

Rossendale United: Lloyd Rigby, James Heywood (Steve Everett), Kyle Ingham, Joe Booth, Kevin Brown, Andrew Watson, Tom Williams (matt Edgington), John Turner, Mario Daniel, Ben Lloyd, Adam Cook (Ben Stanford).