Rebels march on

18/ 2/2008

FC UNITED manager Karl Marginson challenged his rampant Rebels to secure a third successive title after they'd knocked Skelmersdale off the top of UniBond first division north.

Two Rory Patterson goals followed by a late strike by sub Nick Robinson saw FC step up their championship assault with a resounding 3-0 triumph over the league leaders in front of a Gigg Lane crowd of 2,168.

That enabled Bamber Bridge to replace Skem at the summit with a 2-1 victory over fellow title hopefuls Bradford Park Avenue which means Marginson's men can now overtake all of the six teams ahead of them.

"It's a tall order because we have a massive fixture backlog, but I firmly believe we can do it," said the Rebels chief, whose on-song side visit Nantwich in the UniBond President's Cup quarter-finals tonight at 7.45pm.

Meanwhile, Curzon Ashton's hopes of returning to pole position were thwarted when their derby date at relegation-haunted Radcliffe was postponed.

It was a miserable day for Vodkat League title contenders Salford City, who crashed out of the League Cup, beaten 2-0 at Winsford, and were also replaced at the top by Newcastle, thumping 10-1 winners over hapless Nelson.