Stuart Brennan
30/11/2007
KARL Marginson has urged FC United fans to rally round the team as they try to halt the worst run of results in the club's short history.
The Rebels boss has called for a `siege mentality' from his players and the support as he looks for a hat-trick of league wins over Rossendale United at Radcliffe's Stainton Park ground.
FC have followed a run of six straight league wins with four defeats in five games which has dented their bid for promotion from the UniBond League first division north, and Marginson has made a strong appeal for togetherness.
"I think it's time we rallied around and adopted the siege mentality we grew to love as United fans," he said. "Rivals criticise our club, which is a disgrace because what we stand for is everything a football club should be."
Marginson is set to be boosted by the return of FC icon Rob Nugent, the only player still at the club who played in the first friendly at Leigh in July 2005.
Rossendale have been beaten twice already, home and away in the league this season, and FC are looking for a much-needed treble in a match switched to Radcliffe due to Bury having an FA Cup tie at Gigg Lane.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Stags change tactics for visit to FC United
DEREK Egan intends to scrap Rossendale United's all-out attack approach at FC United tomorrow in a bid to stop the club's poor run.
The Stags have slumped into the bottom five of UniBond Division One (North) after losing their last three matches and conceding 10 goals.
But United boss Egan said: "We have to approach the game slightly differently than we have done in the last few weeks," he explained.
The Stags will be without striker Phil Eastwood.
12:14pm
30/11/2007
The Stags have slumped into the bottom five of UniBond Division One (North) after losing their last three matches and conceding 10 goals.
But United boss Egan said: "We have to approach the game slightly differently than we have done in the last few weeks," he explained.
The Stags will be without striker Phil Eastwood.
12:14pm
30/11/2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Double defeat for FC United
29/11/2007
FC UNITED are reeling from a double-whammy of defeats in the UniBond First Division North.
They endured hillside hell on Tuesday night, being reduced to 10 men in a 2-0 reverse at eighth-placed Mossley.
And they conceded four goals to second-placed Bradford Park Avenue for the second time this season three days earlier.
United lost the home game with Bradford 4-3 and they are now 10 points off the championship pace in fourth spot.
The reds never got into their stride on Tuesday night. And after stand-in centre half Adam Turner was dismissed for an alleged elbow before half-time it didn’t take the forecasting skills of Mossley substitute Michael Fish to predict an FC defeat.
Playing against the backdrop of the beautiful peak district hills, the game did not live up to its setting. It was an ugly affair on a dodgy pitch peppered with unreadable undulations.
Rory Patterson and Aaron Burns both fluffed good early chances for FC.
But, spurred on by their vocal supporters with an average age of 12, Mossley looked the better side right from the off and they secured victory with two second half goals – a side footed finish following an almighty goalmouth scramble and a cooly taken penalty.
The result would have been even worse for FC had it not been for the inspired form of goalkeeper Phil Priestly, who was again deputising for the injured Sam Ashton.
And FC fans endured further disappointment during the half-time break when it was revealed that no one had won the raffle. Mossley’s supporters had proudly sold tickets allowing someone the chance to win a ‘colour telly’.
Injury-riddled FC were forced to field a makeshift defence at Mossley and the same was true for Saturday’s home game with Bradford.
The back four included debutant Danny Jarrett and 21-year-old Adam Turner, who was making his first start for the club.
And big spending Bradford had few problems in creating goal scoring opportunities.
They took the lead in the first minute before FC hit back with a Turner header and Chris Baguley’s close range finish.
A dubious penalty decision against Turner then helped Bradford to open up a 4-2 advantage.
Patterson scored a late penalty after Simon Carden had been brought down but the goal proved to be a mere consolation.
The reds can’t be questioned in terms of effort and endeavour but they need some key personnel back, and soon, if they are going to get their promotion challenge back on track.
They play fifth from bottom Rossendale in the league on Saturday, December 1, kick-off 3pm. The fixture list shows it to be a home game but it will be played at Radcliffe Borough’s ground due to Bury being in FA Cup action at Gigg Lane.
Normal admission prices apply and season tickets will be valid.
FC UNITED are reeling from a double-whammy of defeats in the UniBond First Division North.
They endured hillside hell on Tuesday night, being reduced to 10 men in a 2-0 reverse at eighth-placed Mossley.
And they conceded four goals to second-placed Bradford Park Avenue for the second time this season three days earlier.
United lost the home game with Bradford 4-3 and they are now 10 points off the championship pace in fourth spot.
The reds never got into their stride on Tuesday night. And after stand-in centre half Adam Turner was dismissed for an alleged elbow before half-time it didn’t take the forecasting skills of Mossley substitute Michael Fish to predict an FC defeat.
Playing against the backdrop of the beautiful peak district hills, the game did not live up to its setting. It was an ugly affair on a dodgy pitch peppered with unreadable undulations.
Rory Patterson and Aaron Burns both fluffed good early chances for FC.
But, spurred on by their vocal supporters with an average age of 12, Mossley looked the better side right from the off and they secured victory with two second half goals – a side footed finish following an almighty goalmouth scramble and a cooly taken penalty.
The result would have been even worse for FC had it not been for the inspired form of goalkeeper Phil Priestly, who was again deputising for the injured Sam Ashton.
And FC fans endured further disappointment during the half-time break when it was revealed that no one had won the raffle. Mossley’s supporters had proudly sold tickets allowing someone the chance to win a ‘colour telly’.
Injury-riddled FC were forced to field a makeshift defence at Mossley and the same was true for Saturday’s home game with Bradford.
The back four included debutant Danny Jarrett and 21-year-old Adam Turner, who was making his first start for the club.
And big spending Bradford had few problems in creating goal scoring opportunities.
They took the lead in the first minute before FC hit back with a Turner header and Chris Baguley’s close range finish.
A dubious penalty decision against Turner then helped Bradford to open up a 4-2 advantage.
Patterson scored a late penalty after Simon Carden had been brought down but the goal proved to be a mere consolation.
The reds can’t be questioned in terms of effort and endeavour but they need some key personnel back, and soon, if they are going to get their promotion challenge back on track.
They play fifth from bottom Rossendale in the league on Saturday, December 1, kick-off 3pm. The fixture list shows it to be a home game but it will be played at Radcliffe Borough’s ground due to Bury being in FA Cup action at Gigg Lane.
Normal admission prices apply and season tickets will be valid.
We can’t win league – Marginson
By Liam Chronnell
FC United v Rossendale
UniBond Division One North
KARL Marginson admits FC United's title dreams are over.
The Rebels are chasing a third successive league glory.
But after slipping to their third defeat on the trot - and their fourth in five games - the Gigg Lane tenants now trail leaders Curzon Ashton by 10 points.
And, with just one team guaranteed automatic promotion, the Reds boss believes his injury-hit side will have to settle for a place in the end-of-season shake up.
"We've got to be looking at the play-offs," said Marginson, whose league ambitions have been decimated by injuries to five key players.
"To reach them now would be an achievement with all the problems we've had. We've lost the backbone of the team and a lot of experience. That's not making excuses, that's just how it is.
"But we've got to get on with it. We've still got a lot of good footballers here and it's important they realise that."
The breakaway club, who are suffering their worst ever run in their short history, were left counting the cost of having defender Adam Turner controversially sent off as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Mossley on Tuesday night.
The young defender, making only his second start, was harshly given his marching orders on the stroke of half-time for a professional foul on Gareth Hamlet.
The striker then added insult to injury when he put the hosts in front on 52 minutes - and was heavily involved again as Mossley wrapped up the points with nine minutes to go after he was brought down by stand-in goalkeeper Phil Priestley in the penalty area and Martin Allison slotted home the spot-kick.
The defeat came just three days after the Reds went down 4-3 against promotion rivals Bradford Park Avenue.
They led 2-1 after 16 minutes thanks to goals from Adam Turner and Jamie Baguley, but the visitors hit back in fine style to lead 4-2 with 21 minutes remaining.Rory Patterson 18th goal of the season from the penalty spot in the last minute proved no more than a late consolation for FC.
Fourth-placed United will look to bounce back against Rossendale at Radcliffe Borough's Stainton Park at the weekend.
Marginson, who hopes to boost his flagging squad with two new players ahead Saturday's clash, hopes to have goalkeeper Sam Ashton and defender Rob Nugent back, but will still be without the influential trio of captain Dave Chadwick, last season's top scorer Stuart Rudd and midfielder Josh Howard, who are all long-term absentees.
5:10am
29/11/07
FC United v Rossendale
UniBond Division One North
KARL Marginson admits FC United's title dreams are over.
The Rebels are chasing a third successive league glory.
But after slipping to their third defeat on the trot - and their fourth in five games - the Gigg Lane tenants now trail leaders Curzon Ashton by 10 points.
And, with just one team guaranteed automatic promotion, the Reds boss believes his injury-hit side will have to settle for a place in the end-of-season shake up.
"We've got to be looking at the play-offs," said Marginson, whose league ambitions have been decimated by injuries to five key players.
"To reach them now would be an achievement with all the problems we've had. We've lost the backbone of the team and a lot of experience. That's not making excuses, that's just how it is.
"But we've got to get on with it. We've still got a lot of good footballers here and it's important they realise that."
The breakaway club, who are suffering their worst ever run in their short history, were left counting the cost of having defender Adam Turner controversially sent off as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Mossley on Tuesday night.
The young defender, making only his second start, was harshly given his marching orders on the stroke of half-time for a professional foul on Gareth Hamlet.
The striker then added insult to injury when he put the hosts in front on 52 minutes - and was heavily involved again as Mossley wrapped up the points with nine minutes to go after he was brought down by stand-in goalkeeper Phil Priestley in the penalty area and Martin Allison slotted home the spot-kick.
The defeat came just three days after the Reds went down 4-3 against promotion rivals Bradford Park Avenue.
They led 2-1 after 16 minutes thanks to goals from Adam Turner and Jamie Baguley, but the visitors hit back in fine style to lead 4-2 with 21 minutes remaining.Rory Patterson 18th goal of the season from the penalty spot in the last minute proved no more than a late consolation for FC.
Fourth-placed United will look to bounce back against Rossendale at Radcliffe Borough's Stainton Park at the weekend.
Marginson, who hopes to boost his flagging squad with two new players ahead Saturday's clash, hopes to have goalkeeper Sam Ashton and defender Rob Nugent back, but will still be without the influential trio of captain Dave Chadwick, last season's top scorer Stuart Rudd and midfielder Josh Howard, who are all long-term absentees.
5:10am
29/11/07
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Mossley 2 FC United 0
Source: M.E.N.
Tony Glennon
28/11/2007
TEN-man FC United were left counting the cost of rookie defender Adam Turner's controversial dismissal as they suffered another blow to their UniBond First Division North promotion hopes in crashing at Mossley.
Turner, making only his second start for the Rebels senior side, saw red on the stroke of half-time when he was judged to have pulled Gareth Hamlet's shirt to deny the Lilywhites striker a scoring opportunity.
Hamlet proceeded to rub salt in FC's wound by firing Mossley in front from close-range in the 52nd minute.
And he also had a hand in their second goal 10 minutes from time, when he forced keeper Phil Priestley into conceding a penalty, confidently dispatched by Martin Allison to clinch the points for the home side.
FC battled to the finish but were unable to save themselves from their third successive league defeat, and their fourth in their last five games - a sequence they must snap out of quickly if they're to stay in the promotion hunt.
FORMER United man Dion Dublin struck twice as Norwich secured a second straight Championship win by beating Blackpool 3-1 at Bloomfield Road last night.
Dublin had given Norwich a 30th-minute lead against the run of play, before the Seasiders claimed a 38th-minute equaliser through Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
Martin Taylor, put Norwich in front with a 73rd-minute header before Dublin's second sealed it.
Tony Glennon
28/11/2007
TEN-man FC United were left counting the cost of rookie defender Adam Turner's controversial dismissal as they suffered another blow to their UniBond First Division North promotion hopes in crashing at Mossley.
Turner, making only his second start for the Rebels senior side, saw red on the stroke of half-time when he was judged to have pulled Gareth Hamlet's shirt to deny the Lilywhites striker a scoring opportunity.
Hamlet proceeded to rub salt in FC's wound by firing Mossley in front from close-range in the 52nd minute.
And he also had a hand in their second goal 10 minutes from time, when he forced keeper Phil Priestley into conceding a penalty, confidently dispatched by Martin Allison to clinch the points for the home side.
FC battled to the finish but were unable to save themselves from their third successive league defeat, and their fourth in their last five games - a sequence they must snap out of quickly if they're to stay in the promotion hunt.
FORMER United man Dion Dublin struck twice as Norwich secured a second straight Championship win by beating Blackpool 3-1 at Bloomfield Road last night.
Dublin had given Norwich a 30th-minute lead against the run of play, before the Seasiders claimed a 38th-minute equaliser through Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
Martin Taylor, put Norwich in front with a 73rd-minute header before Dublin's second sealed it.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Marginson will stick with stand-in battlers
Stuart Brennan
26/11/2007
KARL Marginson will be happy to stick by his makeshift back four as his team head to Mossley for a derby match on Tuesday night.
The Rebels' defence, including debutant Danny Jarrett and 21-year-old Adam Turner who made his first start, shipped four goals against a team which is emerging as favourite to clinch the one automatic promotion spot in the UniBond League's first division north.
It was the second time in six weeks that the Yorkshire outfit - reputed to be the division's biggest spenders - had scored four on FC turf, after their surprising 4-1 FA Trophy rout last month.
But Marginson had nothing but praise for his injury-hit team, which was without four of their six contracted players including goalkeeper Sam Ashton and defensive rock Dave Chadwick.
"I was proud of the way we kept going, and thought a draw would have been a fair result," said the manager philosophically.
"Given all the injury problems we had, I thought we played some excellent football, but I'm afraid you don't always get out of a game what you put into it.
"The defence did well considering it was thrown together at training on Thursday night, and only had 45 minutes to work together before coming up against a team as dangerous as Avenue.
Problem
"We brought Adam in from the reserves, where he was player-of-the-season last term, and I thought he was possibly man-of-the-match, especially as it was his first start in such a big match.
"He grew in stature as the game went on. We will have to see how Rob Nugent is before picking the team for tomorrow night - he was suspended but has a cartilage problem and his ankle strapped, but this game proved to me that we have more than capable replacements with the two lads who came in."
Avenue hit FC with a sucker punch in the first minute, centre forward Mike Moseley heading in the first goal but the Rebels hit back as Turner headed the equaliser from a corner and Chris Baguley forced the ball home to make it 2-1 on 15 minutes.
But Avenue were level before half-time through Steven Connors and went ahead through Darren Hockenhull's spot-kick on 63 minutes when a dubious penalty was awarded against Turner.
Marginson was furious with the decision.
He said: "The lad just ran across Adam and tripped over - no way was it a penalty."
Avenue made it 4-2 on the counter-attack through Moseley again, but FC replied with a Rory Patterson penalty in the dying seconds after battling Simon Carden had been brought down.
26/11/2007
KARL Marginson will be happy to stick by his makeshift back four as his team head to Mossley for a derby match on Tuesday night.
The Rebels' defence, including debutant Danny Jarrett and 21-year-old Adam Turner who made his first start, shipped four goals against a team which is emerging as favourite to clinch the one automatic promotion spot in the UniBond League's first division north.
It was the second time in six weeks that the Yorkshire outfit - reputed to be the division's biggest spenders - had scored four on FC turf, after their surprising 4-1 FA Trophy rout last month.
But Marginson had nothing but praise for his injury-hit team, which was without four of their six contracted players including goalkeeper Sam Ashton and defensive rock Dave Chadwick.
"I was proud of the way we kept going, and thought a draw would have been a fair result," said the manager philosophically.
"Given all the injury problems we had, I thought we played some excellent football, but I'm afraid you don't always get out of a game what you put into it.
"The defence did well considering it was thrown together at training on Thursday night, and only had 45 minutes to work together before coming up against a team as dangerous as Avenue.
Problem
"We brought Adam in from the reserves, where he was player-of-the-season last term, and I thought he was possibly man-of-the-match, especially as it was his first start in such a big match.
"He grew in stature as the game went on. We will have to see how Rob Nugent is before picking the team for tomorrow night - he was suspended but has a cartilage problem and his ankle strapped, but this game proved to me that we have more than capable replacements with the two lads who came in."
Avenue hit FC with a sucker punch in the first minute, centre forward Mike Moseley heading in the first goal but the Rebels hit back as Turner headed the equaliser from a corner and Chris Baguley forced the ball home to make it 2-1 on 15 minutes.
But Avenue were level before half-time through Steven Connors and went ahead through Darren Hockenhull's spot-kick on 63 minutes when a dubious penalty was awarded against Turner.
Marginson was furious with the decision.
He said: "The lad just ran across Adam and tripped over - no way was it a penalty."
Avenue made it 4-2 on the counter-attack through Moseley again, but FC replied with a Rory Patterson penalty in the dying seconds after battling Simon Carden had been brought down.
New Avenue for FC?
Tony Howard
22/11/2007
FC UNITED manager Karl Marginson is threatening to wield the axe as his squad prepare for a vital UniBond First Division North promotion clash.
The reds take on second-placed Bradford Park Avenue at Gigg Lane this weekend and Margy says the time may have come to shake things up after a woeful showing at Bamber Bridge saw them lose 3-0 on Saturday.
Third-placed United were outclassed at Ironbridge leaving Marginson to question the strength of his players.
Margy said: “I’ve said all along that I will stick by them for as long as we can afford to, but the time may be coming when we may need to look at that.
“We need to be keeping clean sheets, but we just haven’t been good enough at the back for some time now and I want to sort that out as soon as possible. It may mean new faces or at the very least, changes.
“We need to ask, ‘have we got the personnel to do it?
“And at the moment I don’t think we have.”
New boy Colin Bell partnered Rob Nugent at the centre of defence on Saturday, but they simply didn’t gel.
FC had previously beaten Brig 5-0 in the Presidents Cup, but it was a completely different story on Saturday.
Margy said: “They put a totally different team out today and were a lot stronger than the game we won 5-0.
“Individual errors cost us dear once again and we gifted them the first goal thanks to a mistake by Sam Ashton.
“They were a big strong outfit, but we should be addressing that and we should be able to adapt to that kind of opposition.
“We just didn’t manage it and that needs to be looked at.
“We’ve got a lot of good footballers but they’ve got to be prepared to do the dirty work too.”
United were on the receiving end of a 5-0 hammering by Bradford in the FA Trophy earlier in the season after taking the Yorkshire side to a replay.
The reds will be hoping to do what Bamber Bridge did to them by delivering a bit of payback.
Margy said: “We need to come back and show some fight against Bradford.
“Especially as they gave us a hiding in the FA Trophy.
“When things are going against you, you’ve got to go out there and be prepared to get stuck in and show some fight.”
Saturday’s game will give a decent indication of how things will shake up at the end of the season.
One team is promoted up to the UniBond Premier Division and four more must play-off for the other place.
Margy added: “There’s a long way to go and I still think we will be there or there abouts at the end of the season.”
The game against Bradford at Gigg Lane kicks off at 3pm.
22/11/2007
FC UNITED manager Karl Marginson is threatening to wield the axe as his squad prepare for a vital UniBond First Division North promotion clash.
The reds take on second-placed Bradford Park Avenue at Gigg Lane this weekend and Margy says the time may have come to shake things up after a woeful showing at Bamber Bridge saw them lose 3-0 on Saturday.
Third-placed United were outclassed at Ironbridge leaving Marginson to question the strength of his players.
Margy said: “I’ve said all along that I will stick by them for as long as we can afford to, but the time may be coming when we may need to look at that.
“We need to be keeping clean sheets, but we just haven’t been good enough at the back for some time now and I want to sort that out as soon as possible. It may mean new faces or at the very least, changes.
“We need to ask, ‘have we got the personnel to do it?
“And at the moment I don’t think we have.”
New boy Colin Bell partnered Rob Nugent at the centre of defence on Saturday, but they simply didn’t gel.
FC had previously beaten Brig 5-0 in the Presidents Cup, but it was a completely different story on Saturday.
Margy said: “They put a totally different team out today and were a lot stronger than the game we won 5-0.
“Individual errors cost us dear once again and we gifted them the first goal thanks to a mistake by Sam Ashton.
“They were a big strong outfit, but we should be addressing that and we should be able to adapt to that kind of opposition.
“We just didn’t manage it and that needs to be looked at.
“We’ve got a lot of good footballers but they’ve got to be prepared to do the dirty work too.”
United were on the receiving end of a 5-0 hammering by Bradford in the FA Trophy earlier in the season after taking the Yorkshire side to a replay.
The reds will be hoping to do what Bamber Bridge did to them by delivering a bit of payback.
Margy said: “We need to come back and show some fight against Bradford.
“Especially as they gave us a hiding in the FA Trophy.
“When things are going against you, you’ve got to go out there and be prepared to get stuck in and show some fight.”
Saturday’s game will give a decent indication of how things will shake up at the end of the season.
One team is promoted up to the UniBond Premier Division and four more must play-off for the other place.
Margy added: “There’s a long way to go and I still think we will be there or there abouts at the end of the season.”
The game against Bradford at Gigg Lane kicks off at 3pm.
Rebel Reds slump to third defeat
By Liam Chronnell
FC United 3 Bradford Park 4
FC United's title ambitions received a major blow as they slipped to their third defeat in four games against promotion rivals Bradford Park Avenue.
The injury-hit Rebels went down at home and now trail UniBond League Division One North leaders Curzon Ashton by 10 points.
Karl Marginson's third-placed side led 2-1 after 16 minutes thanks to goals from Adam Turner and Jamie Baguley.
But the visitors, who inflicted the heaviest ever defeat on the Reds when they beat the breakaway club 4-1 in the FA Trophy last month, hit back in fine style to lead 4-2 with 21 minutes remaining. The game hinged on the third goal, which was a contentious penalty.
Rory Patterson's 18th goal of the season from the penalty spot in the last minute proved no more than a late consolation for FC, who now have a mountain to climb if they hope to record a third successive title success.
8:38pm Sunday 25th November 2007
FC United 3 Bradford Park 4
FC United's title ambitions received a major blow as they slipped to their third defeat in four games against promotion rivals Bradford Park Avenue.
The injury-hit Rebels went down at home and now trail UniBond League Division One North leaders Curzon Ashton by 10 points.
Karl Marginson's third-placed side led 2-1 after 16 minutes thanks to goals from Adam Turner and Jamie Baguley.
But the visitors, who inflicted the heaviest ever defeat on the Reds when they beat the breakaway club 4-1 in the FA Trophy last month, hit back in fine style to lead 4-2 with 21 minutes remaining. The game hinged on the third goal, which was a contentious penalty.
Rory Patterson's 18th goal of the season from the penalty spot in the last minute proved no more than a late consolation for FC, who now have a mountain to climb if they hope to record a third successive title success.
8:38pm Sunday 25th November 2007
Fans play part as Avenue dig deep
By Ian Whiting
FC United 3, Bradford Park Avenue 4
Avenue put daylight between themselves and one of their major rivals for promotion from UniBond Division One North with a superb victory in an incident-filled match at Gigg Lane.
The Coca-Cola League Two ground of Bury FC, which will be visited by the other Bradford side on the first Saturday of the new year, was a fitting venue for such a close-fought contest.
"It was a high-scoring game and I would have thought it was a very entertaining one for the big crowd," said Avenue boss Benny Phillips of the clash in front of 2,283 spectators, which equalled FC United's record this season.
"There was fantastic support from our fans, who really made themselves heard and contributed to a great atmosphere in the stadium. It was very enjoyable from my point of view.
"I was disappointed with their third goal because there was a foul on Tom Baker before they broke to get the penalty. It was a foul in the area, I'm not disputing that, but play should already have been stopped.
"We conceded two goals from set-pieces, which is unlike us, but take nothing away from FC United as they are a top-quality side."
Phillips, a former professional with Bury at Gigg Lane, added: "Ben Jones is going through an unfortunate little spell. He had a goal disallowed here and two in the last home game. He is certainly putting the effort in.
"Mike Moseley was fantastic in this game and Steve Connors was awesome but I wouldn't like to single anyone out because it was a real team performance."
Avenue got off to a wonderful start by taking a first-minute lead. Liam Flynn powered through to prevent a wayward pass going out of play and his cross was converted by a Moseley header.
The home side responded in some style and by the 16th minute they were 2-1 in front.
Their first came from a corner, central defender Adam Turner heading in, and Avenue keeper Jon Worsnop then made a fine save only to see Chris Baguley sweep the ball home.
Avenue were back level by the break after skipper Connors curled a low shot from distance into the bottom corner in the 38th minute - and the visitors got their noses back in front just after the hour mark.
Moseley was pushed over in the area by Turner and the referee immediately pointed to the spot, Darren Hockenhull stepping forward and making no mistake.
Just six minutes later Jones collected a Worsnop kick out and crossed for Moseley to add the fourth Avenue goal.
FC United hit back again just into stoppage time when former Avenue player Rory Patterson netted from their own penalty.
A ball into a packed area caused confusion and Avenue defender Matt Daly was singled out as the man who made the foul challenge.
That was just into the second minute of the four that were added and the home side, backed by their huge following from the terraces, ensured the visitors endured a tense ending.
6:07pm Sunday 25th November 2007
FC United 3, Bradford Park Avenue 4
Avenue put daylight between themselves and one of their major rivals for promotion from UniBond Division One North with a superb victory in an incident-filled match at Gigg Lane.
The Coca-Cola League Two ground of Bury FC, which will be visited by the other Bradford side on the first Saturday of the new year, was a fitting venue for such a close-fought contest.
"It was a high-scoring game and I would have thought it was a very entertaining one for the big crowd," said Avenue boss Benny Phillips of the clash in front of 2,283 spectators, which equalled FC United's record this season.
"There was fantastic support from our fans, who really made themselves heard and contributed to a great atmosphere in the stadium. It was very enjoyable from my point of view.
"I was disappointed with their third goal because there was a foul on Tom Baker before they broke to get the penalty. It was a foul in the area, I'm not disputing that, but play should already have been stopped.
"We conceded two goals from set-pieces, which is unlike us, but take nothing away from FC United as they are a top-quality side."
Phillips, a former professional with Bury at Gigg Lane, added: "Ben Jones is going through an unfortunate little spell. He had a goal disallowed here and two in the last home game. He is certainly putting the effort in.
"Mike Moseley was fantastic in this game and Steve Connors was awesome but I wouldn't like to single anyone out because it was a real team performance."
Avenue got off to a wonderful start by taking a first-minute lead. Liam Flynn powered through to prevent a wayward pass going out of play and his cross was converted by a Moseley header.
The home side responded in some style and by the 16th minute they were 2-1 in front.
Their first came from a corner, central defender Adam Turner heading in, and Avenue keeper Jon Worsnop then made a fine save only to see Chris Baguley sweep the ball home.
Avenue were back level by the break after skipper Connors curled a low shot from distance into the bottom corner in the 38th minute - and the visitors got their noses back in front just after the hour mark.
Moseley was pushed over in the area by Turner and the referee immediately pointed to the spot, Darren Hockenhull stepping forward and making no mistake.
Just six minutes later Jones collected a Worsnop kick out and crossed for Moseley to add the fourth Avenue goal.
FC United hit back again just into stoppage time when former Avenue player Rory Patterson netted from their own penalty.
A ball into a packed area caused confusion and Avenue defender Matt Daly was singled out as the man who made the foul challenge.
That was just into the second minute of the four that were added and the home side, backed by their huge following from the terraces, ensured the visitors endured a tense ending.
6:07pm Sunday 25th November 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Rebels rocked by injuries
23/11/2007
FC UNITED have been stunned with news that skipper Dave Chadwick could be out for the season with cruciate ligament damage.
And with goalkeeper Sam Ashton a "serious doubt" and Rob Nugent suspended as well as suffering from injury, the Rebels go into tomorrow's crunch Gigg Lane clash with promotion rivals Bradford Park Avenue with big defence problems.
Manager Karl Marginson has moved to plug one of the gaps by drafting in 6ft 1ins former Southport and Nantwich centre half Danny Jarrett from Northwich Vics.
With last season's 45-goal top scorer Stuart Rudd and influential midfielder Josh Howard also missing until the New Year, Marginson will be without four of his six contracted players .
Phil Priestley is ready to step in for Ashton, who has a knee problem picked up in last week's 3-0 defeat at Bamber Bridge, the heaviest away loss in the club's history.And Avenue inflicted FC's heaviest home defeat, a 4-1 FA Trophy mauling last month.
FC UNITED have been stunned with news that skipper Dave Chadwick could be out for the season with cruciate ligament damage.
And with goalkeeper Sam Ashton a "serious doubt" and Rob Nugent suspended as well as suffering from injury, the Rebels go into tomorrow's crunch Gigg Lane clash with promotion rivals Bradford Park Avenue with big defence problems.
Manager Karl Marginson has moved to plug one of the gaps by drafting in 6ft 1ins former Southport and Nantwich centre half Danny Jarrett from Northwich Vics.
With last season's 45-goal top scorer Stuart Rudd and influential midfielder Josh Howard also missing until the New Year, Marginson will be without four of his six contracted players .
Phil Priestley is ready to step in for Ashton, who has a knee problem picked up in last week's 3-0 defeat at Bamber Bridge, the heaviest away loss in the club's history.And Avenue inflicted FC's heaviest home defeat, a 4-1 FA Trophy mauling last month.
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