Unibond League Round-up

By Liam Chronnell

FC United revived their title hopes with an emphatic victory against Lancaster City in UniBond Division One North.

After five games without a win, the Rebels' dreams of a third successive automatic promotion looked to be over.

But two victories in four days, allied with leaders Curzon Ashton only drawing and rivals Skelmersdale suffering a shock defeat at the weekend, has seen the Reds cut the gap at the top to five points with just four games remaining.

Doubles from the league's top-scorer Rory Patterson and defender Rob Nugent helped FC moved up to fourth in front of a bumper 2,704 crowd at Gigg Lane.

But the breakaway club had to twice come from behind. Stuart Rudd's lob cancelled out Mark Jackson second-minute opener before Aaron Helliwell put the plucky visitors back in front.

Nugent bundled home Jerome Wright's corner to level matters again before Patterson benefited from a terrible blunder from goalkeeper Ben Price to put the hosts back in front on 28 minutes.

Patterson struck his 38th goal of the season seven minutes after the interval before Nugent, 70th-minute header wrapped up the points.

Borough moved further away from the drop-zone after coming from behind to beat title-chasing Skelmersdale.

Peter Coyne's men got off to the worst possible start when John Turner put the home side ahead on four minutes.

It took until the 64th minute for goal- machine Steve Howson to drag Boro back into it with his 35th goal of the season.

And, Boro sealed the victory in the last minute of the game when Andy Waine headed home from Howson's cross. Boro are back in action tomorrow night when they host FC United.

9:29pm Sunday 13th April 2008