Stocksbridge 1 FC United 1

Source: Manchester Evening News

Sam Williams

January 23, 2010

FC United missed the opportunity to return to action with three points by conceding a late equaliser at Stocksbridge Park Steels.

The Rebels, who had not played since early December due to the big freeze, looked to have claimed a vital win through Carlos Roca’s second half strike but had to settle for a point in a game they controlled throughout.

Karl Marginson’s side started on the front foot and carved out the best chances of the first half.

Centre-back pairing Rob Nugent and Adam Tong both spurned golden opportunities within minutes of each other around the half-hour mark, before the outstanding Phil Marsh had a free kick cleared off the line with 35 minutes on the clock.

The sides went in all-square at the break, but FC picked up where they had left off in the second half and took a deserved lead on the hour, when a sweeping team move involving Jake Cottrell and Ludovic Quistin was finished off superbly by Roca.

The home side were reduced to ten men shortly after, and it appeared certain that the Rebels would increase their lead further. However, with just two minutes remaining, Stocksbridge snatched an unlikely leveller to the delight of the home fans.

FC’s next game is at home to Frickley Athletic on Wednesday night (7.45pm).