FC United 5 Rossendale 1

STUART BRENNAN

15/11/2007

HAT-TRICK man Aaron Burns turned up the heat on leaders Curzon Ashton after tantalising supporters with a hint that he may stay beyond January.

The former United reserve ace is meant to be at the club until the transfer window, when his registration - held by Cardiff - can be transferred and he is expected to be picked up by a league club.

Until then he cannot play above UniBond League level under FA rules, and has now bagged eight goals in seven games for the first division north promotion chasers.

But he tantalised the FC fans by saying in the match programme: "You can never rule out the idea of me staying here. I'm enjoying my football and that counts for a lot."

The Rebels hit five goals in the space of 23 second half minutes, after trailing at half time to Phil Eastwood's gift goal after a mistake by Rob Nugent.

Six minutes into the second half Nugent redeemed himself by setting up Patterson for the equaliser, his 17th goal in 16 games this season.

Then Burns took control, with a little help from returning right back Matty Taylor. Cult hero Taylor, missing for six weeks with personal problems, set off on a run which drew in defenders and then slipped a pass to the unmarked Burns, who thrashed it past Rigby.

Within a minute Burns had another, a solo run through the heart of the Rossendale defence ending with a precise finish and he put FC back into second place on goal difference with a flying header from Patterson's gorgeous cross on 72 minutes.

Patterson charged through again two minutes later and when the keeper bravely saved at his feet the ball span loose for Chris Baguley to slam into the empty net.

Burns hat-trick keeps Rebels on the up

By Liam Chronnell

AARON Burns struck a 12-minute hat-trick as FC United blew Rossendale United away after the break to move up to second in the Unibond League Division One North table.

The former Manchester United reserve striker hit a stunning treble as FC scored five times in 23 second-half minutes to cut the gap behind leaders Curzon Ashton to three points at Gigg Lane.

Karl Marginson's team suffered a disastrous start when defender Rob Nugent was caught in possession and Ben Lloyd squared for Phil Eastwood to tap home in the second minute.

After squandering several chances, the Rebels equalised six minutes after the restart when the division's top scorer, Rory Patterson, hit his 17th goal of the season. Then Burns took over with two goals inside a minute.

His first, on the hour, put FC in front and he effectively wrapped up the points with a magnificent solo effort less than 60 seconds later.

The United hit man completed his hat-trick with a fine header on 72 minutes - his eighth goal in seven games - and Chris Baguley added a fifth two minutes later to seal the breakaway club's seventh win in eight games.

5:43am
15-Nov-07

Stags travel to FC United

1:49 pm
Wednesday 14th November 2007

Rossendale United tonight travel to FC United of Manchester hoping to maintain their good run of form in UniBond Division One North, kick-off 7.45pm.

The Stags head to Bury's Gigg Lane on the back of a three-game unbeaten run in all competitions, in which they have racked up 10 goals.

Rebel Reds aim to win again

By Liam Chronnell

11:13am
Wednesday 14th November 2007

FC UNITED will be desperate to return to winning ways when they take on Rossendale United at Gigg Lane tonight.

The Rebels' six-game winning run came to an end at the weekend when they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of struggling Clitheroe.

But Karl Marginson will be hoping his side can bounce back from that defeat as they look to close the gap on UniBond League Division One North leaders Curzon Ashton to three points.

FC boss Karl tips a fight to the finish

Stuart Brennan
14/11/2007

KARL Marginson is predicting a thrilling finish to the UniBond first division north title race as his side gear up for Rossendale United's visit to Gigg Lane tonight (7.45pm).

Leaders Curzon Ashton suffered their first league defeat of the season on Monday night, falling to a late goal at home to Bradford Park Avenue, who moved to within three points of the top in second place.

FC lie third after losing at Clitheroe but victory over Rossendale, who were beaten on their own pitch in August, would take them level with Park Avenue and a three-goal margin would see them reclaim second place.

With only one automatic promotion spot, and another decided by the next four teams playing off, there is little margin for error.

"It could be a really tight, thrilling finish to the season," predicted Marginson. "We have lost four games, and can't afford many more if we are going to be thereabouts.

"Whoever puts a really good run together will get that top spot and I feel we have a squad capable of that, especially when we start getting players like Dave Chadwick, Stuart Rudd and Josh Howard fit again and once Peter Thomson has a few more games under his belt."

One player back in the fold is popular right-back Matty Taylor.

He will step in to help shore up a defence which received some criticism from Marginson after the Clitheroe defeat while Dave Brown is likely to make way for Colin Bell.

"Matty is the best full-back in this division as far as I am concerned and it is great to have him back," says Marginson.

"Colin gets another chance because he played two games, and we kept two clean sheets, so he was a little unlucky to lose his place."

Rudd, last season's leading scorer who has only managed four appearances this term, has been diagnosed with a partial tear of his posterior cruciate ligament and could be back playing after six weeks of rehabilitation.

Rebels get wake-up call

Source: Manchester Evening News

FC UNITED boss Karl Marginson is considering making changes for Wednesday's home clash with in-form Rossendale following a shock 2-1 defeat at Clitheroe which he described as "a wake-up call."

Chris Baguley's superbly-executed free-kick failed to save the off-key Rebels as they fell to lowly opponents who had previously won just two from nine in UniBond division one north.

FC had a stroke of bad luck when keeper Sam Ashton was harshly adjudged to have conceded a penalty and, though he then saved it, Joel Byron followed up to score.

Paul Fildes seized on a defensive mix-up to double Clitheroe's lead on the hour and, although FC pushed hard for an equaliser after Baguley had reduced the arrears, their efforts came to nothing.

Marginson said: "Defensively, we were poor and I'll be looking at a few things before naming my team to face Rossendale.

"We struggled to adapt to the difficult conditions, but I'm sure our younger players in particular will learn from this defeat and, hopefully, we can bounce straight back on Wednesday night."

Stunned Rebels suffer a setback

Source: Bury Times

By Liam Chronnell

Clitheroe 2 FC United 1

FC United suffered a shock defeat at struggling Clitheroe.

Chasing a seventh straight victory, the breakaway club were expected to keep the pressure on UniBond League Division One North leaders Curzon Ashton.

But goals from Joel Byrom and Paul Fildes after the break handed the hosts the advantage and, although Chris Baguley's free-kick reduced the deficit on 65 minutes, the Rebels could not find the equaliser and left empty-handed.

On a miserable day for the FC, there was at least some good news after they discovered Stuart Rudd's knee injury is not as bad as first thought.

There were fears last season's top-scorer would not play again this term but he is now expected back within four to six weeks.

Clitheroe FC 2, FC United 1

A JOEL Byrom penalty and a second from the head of Paul Fildes, marked a tremendous league victory for Clitheroe over FC United on Saturday.

A crowd of 1245 attended the game at Shawbridge thanks to the numerous traveling support, 300 up on the Tuesday game last month, but unlike that night the Blues were solid throughout and creative to the end.

There was plenty of action at either end and the visitors were first to challenge on goal when Liam Foster sent Rory Patterson through with a 40-yard pass to call Paul Horridge in to action.

Clitheroe were soon challenging at the other end as Joel Byrom, Paul Fildes and new loan signing Mickey Saunders, had FC United on the back foot, calling for more than one goal-line clearance from Shaun Roscoe.

Horridge was again called on to stop Aaron Burns when the United striker was put through, but the former Manchester United player was kept quiet by the Blues back line.

But on the stroke of half-time another surging run forward in numbers by the Blues saw United's defence pulled this way and that, calling for goalkeeper Sam Aston to take down Byrom in the box and deny the attacking midfielder sight of goal.

The former Blackburn Rovers and Accrington Stanley man saw his initial spot kick saved, but to the jeers of the away support behind the goal, he made no mistake with the rebound.

In the second half, new Blues centre back Ian Flannery slid in to rob Patterson of the ball when close to goal to maintain the lead.

Before Byrom set up Clitheroe's second strike, by placing an impressive 40-yard free kick on to the head of Fildes for the former Padiham man to nod home at the back post.

United pulled a goal back with an outstanding free kick from Chris Baguley that saw Horridge at full stretch but unable to claw out from the top corner.

Time was added on to settle down the visiting support behind the goal, but it was the Blues who were boosted by the break and could have grabbed a third through the pace of Fildes, Saunders, and later substitute Gary Jackson.

Shots flew over United's cross bar as a result, while the visitors had a good effort to level near the end but substitute Peter Thompson was closed out and shot wide.

Clitheroe: Horridge, Kozlowski, J. Osborne, Flannery, P. Osborne (Overson), Fisher, Stopforth, Reynolds (Dempsey), Saunders (Jackson), Byrom, Fildes.

Last Updated: 10 November 2007 7:44 PM

Clitheroe aiming to get rid of the Blues

CLITHEROE must try to shake off the controversy surrounding their FA Trophy troubles as they face FC United at Shawbridge for the third time this season.

The Blues were kicked out of the FA Trophy for allegedly playing an ineligible player, although the club are appealing against the FA's decision.

In the meantime, they are preparing for a huge game and chairman Carl Garner admits everybody is pumped up. He said: "With what is going on at the moment, there is an extra incentive for us. We can either roll over and die, or we can go out there and respond positively."

Clitheroe's first league outing with FC United was abandoned due to floodlight failure, and they were beaten 3-0 in the re-match.

The Blues have bolstered their attacking options with the loan signing of Fleetwood Town striker Mickey Saunders.

5:04pm today

Let your hair down and give us a smile!

Stuart Brennan
9/11/2007

RORY Patterson has been given some odd advice by his FC United boss Karl Marginson: "Grow your hair and smile a bit more!"

The Rebels' leading scorer - with 16 in 15 games this season - is also top of their bookings chart, with eight yellows, just two short of a two-match ban.

Patterson has already missed four games through suspension this season, three for a red card in a pre-season friendly and one for totting up five bookings.

And Marginson believes that body language may be the key for the 23-year-old Ulsterman, who is leading the chase to be the first player to rack up 100 games for the club - he is currently on 95, three ahead of defender Rob Nugent.

"I have had a chat about the way referees will perceive him," said Marginson, whose side will go top of the UniBond League first division north if they win at Clitheroe tomorrow.

"Body language is something he can address. He can still have aggression and a will to win without being so demonstrative towards the officials.

"A lad I used to play with in the youth ranks at Manchester United called Gary Vaughan used to wear his hair really long, and whenever he had it shaved off, he would pick up more bookings, so appearance plays a big part in it.

"Also when you see Rory running up to refs, shoulders back, arms pumping, it influences whether they reach for a card or not. A little smile, a word and a handshake for the opponent, can go a long way."

Vice-captain Patterson, who is 23, has been donning the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Dave Chadwick, another ploy by Marginson to calm him down.