March 26, 2009
FC UNITED are on a roll as they head to Merseyside for Saturday’s all-ticket game with Marine.
The Rebels blitzed Ashton United 4-0 in midweek to move within three points of the play-off places, and manager Karl Marginson believes the four teams directly above them in the Unibond premier table will be casting a few anxious glances over their shoulders.
FC face three of those sides – Nantwich, Ilkeston and Bradford Park Avenue – in the last three games of the season, and Marginson says morale has never been higher in his camp.
“We have been building towards that result against Ashton for some time,” says Marginson, who has strengthened his squad by re-signing former fans’ midfield favourite Nicky Platt after his release by Stalybridge.
“There is a good feeling about the dressing room, and the togetherness of the players is probably the best it has been since the club started.
“In the last couple of years we have built some real momentum towards the end of the season, and I’m sure everyone will be looking at us and saying ‘Here they come again.’”
Platt’s return has made competition for midfield places intense. Tunji Moses told his manager after being named man of the match against Ashton that he had to be on form otherwise he would lose his place.
“The lads’ attitude is first-class,” says Marginson. “Nicky coming back is a big boost, but it shows how much players enjoy being here.”
There is similar competition up front, even with top scorer Kyle Wilson not due back until the end of April. Carlos Roca’s hat-trick against Ashton has, believes Marginson, boosted his confidence to a new level, while co-striker Carl Lomax also netted.
New signing Phil Marsh is without a goal in his first two games, but Marginson says it is only a matter of time: “He has shown more than enough of the Phil Marsh who played at Leigh.
“He has great movement, decent pace and holds the ball well. People forget it took Kyle four games to score his first goal – you need that settling-in period.”
Marginson also revealed that he had enquired about bringing back FC legend Rory Patterson after his release by Bradford Park Avenue, but FC could not match his wages and he has joined Droylsden.