Saturday, October 24, 2009

Northwich Victoria prove too strong for FC United of Manchester in FA Cup

Source: Northwich Guardian

6:00pm Saturday 24th October 2009

By Andrew Simpson

NORTHWICH Victoria booked their place in the first round proper with a convincing win over FC United of Manchester.

Andy Preece’s men deserved their victory, eventually making their class tell against spirited opponents who play one level below.

More than 2,500 supporters were there to see it.

Vics broke through shortly before the hour, Mark Danks keeping up his record of scoring in every round when he coolly converted a penalty after Lee Elam had been fouled by Dave Chadwick.

The visitors’ best chance came soon afterwards, but Curtis Aspden’s superb reaction save stopped Jerome Wright restoring parity.

Vics, through sub Jon Newby and Danks, fluffed glorious chances to settle the outcome before Adam Tong diverted Danks’ clever cross into his own goal four minutes from time.

The home team added gloss in stoppage time when another sub, Wayne Riley, gleefully applied the finishing touch after Newby had skipped past Chadwick close to the touchline.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Now Quistin Joins Fc United

Source: Non-league Daily

UniBond League Premier Division club FC United of Manchester have signed well-travelled 25-year-old Guadeloup international midfielder Ludovic Quistin from Zamaretto League Premier Division side Hednesford Town.

Quistin, who is reputedly the cousin of Arsenal and France defender William Gallas, has played for several non-League clubs in England but most notably Weston-super-Mare, King’s Lynn, Boston United and Tamworth.

Quistin has recently relocated to the north-west and was recommended to FC United’s assistant-manager Roy Soule by a contact at Hednesford.

He will not feature in Saturday’s match at Northwich Victoria as he is cup-tied.

Northwich Victoria will be ball number 60 should they beat FC United of Manchester

Source: Northwich Guardian

2:45pm Friday 23rd October 2009

THE draw for the first round of this season’s FA Cup takes place on Sunday.

Should they succeed in beating FC United of Manchester at the Victoria Stadium 24 hours earlier, then Northwich Victoria will be allocated ball number 60.

It will be broadcast live on ITV 1 from 1pm.

England test cricketer James Anderson and former England and Charlton Athletic defender Chris Powell will make the pairings for next month’s 40 first round matches.

Former FA Cup finalists Southampton and Millwall enter the fray at that stage, plus former Premier League clubs such as Leeds United and Norwich City.

The first round takes place on the weekend of November 7 and 8, when winning clubs will pocket £18,000 in prize money.

A full list of draw numbers appears on the Football Association’s official website here

FC United of Manchester manager Karl Marginson is confident ahead of Vics trip

Source: Northwich Guardian

2:31pm Friday 23rd October 2009

FC UNITED of Manchester have billed their FA Cup clash with Northwich Victoria as their biggest to date.

Rebels’ boss Karl Marginson has guided his team to within one win of a first round place, which could secure them a trip to the likes of Leeds United.

“It’s the biggest game in the club’s short history,” he told the Bury Times.

“For any team who has only been going for just over four years to reach the first round proper would be a fantastic achievement.”

Before this season FC United had won only one FA Cup match, a 5-2 win against Trafford back in September 2007.

This term they have seen off Sheffield, North Ferriby United and, in the last round, Stalybridge Celtic following a replay.

It’s earned them £15,000 in prize money.

But Marginson knows that his men, unbeaten in six league and cup matches, face their toughest test yet against opponents in a richer vein of form than that.

“They are going well,” he said of Vics.

“But we showed in beating Stalybridge we have the players who can compete at the level above and it’s up to us to show we can do that consistently.”

Skipper Dave Chadwick, who must pass a late fitness test on a calf injury to face Andy Preece’s men, agrees with his manager.

He said: “If we can beat one team from the level above we can beat another, but we can’t just expect to go there and win.

“We’ve got to work hard but it’s a one-off game and anything can happen. Northwich are a good side but we’re playing well at the moment.”

Newcomer Ludovic Quistin is cup-tied, as is former Witton Albion midfielder David Neville, while Danny Warrender (pelvis) is still short of match fitness.

Vics followers will be familiar with the faces of Carlos Roca and Phil Marsh, both of whom left the Victoria Stadium after underwhelming spells.

They top FC United’s scoring charts this term.

Should tomorrow’s encounter end in a draw then Northwich will head to Bury’s Gigg Lane next Wednesday, October 28, kick off 7.45pm.

First round place is reward for winner of clubs' maiden meeting

Source: Northwich Guardian

11:12am Friday 23rd October 2009

Northwich Victoria v FC United of Manchester (Kick off 3pm)
FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
Venue Victoria Stadium
Admission Adults £14 (£12 stand), Concessions £12 (£10 stand), U16s £5, U12s £2
Prize Money £12,500
Odds (Blue Square) Vics 4/7, Draw 13/5, FC United 4/1
Previous Meeting n/a

Vics (from) Aspden (GK), Spencer (GK), Aspin, Kerr, Bailey, Grand, Ryan Brown, Horrocks, Elam, D’Laryea, Herring, Connor, Vaughan, Winter, Taylforth, Riley, Allan, Danks, Edwards, Newby
Doubtful Edwards (ankle)
Injured Junior Brown (broken ankle), Meadowcroft (fractured leg)
Suspended none
Top scorer Mark Danks (14)
Route to this round 3QR bt Chorley (h) 4-1; 2QR bt Bardon Hill Sports (h) 8-0
Last season in FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
Form (Home) P6 W4 D1 L1 F11 A7 Pts13
Form (Overall) P13 W7 D3 L3 F21 A17 Pts14

FCUM (from) Ashton (GK), Shenton (GK), Stott, Chadwick, Morris, Nugent, Garner, Tong, Warrender, Adam Carden, Cottrell, Ibrahim, Moses, Quistin, Roca, Wright, Deegan, Mack, Marsh, Williams, Yoffe
Doubtful Chadwick (calf)
Injured none
Suspended none
Cup tied Neville
Top scorer Phil Marsh, Carlos Roca (both six)
Route to this round 3QR bt Stalybridge Celtic (a) 1-0 in replay; 2QR North Ferriby United (a) 1-0; 1QR bt Sheffield (a) 3-1
Last season in FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Form (Away) P5 W1 D3 L3 F6 A9 Pts4
Form (Overall) P12 W5 D2 L5 F22 A17 Pts17

Match Pointers
NORTHWICH Victoria take on UniBond Premier Division promotion hopefuls FC United of Manchester for a place in the first round proper.

It is the first meeting between the two clubs.

Andy Preece’s men, unbeaten in their past seven league and cup encounters, start as favourites against a team that did dump out Blue Square North opposition in the previous round.

The Vics boss gave a clue as to his starting line-up for tomorrow’s game when he rested every player that started at Ilkeston Town last weekend during the Mid-Cheshire FA Senior Cup win over neighbours Middlewich Town in midweek.

Declan Edwards (ankle) limped off in that game is a doubt to face the Rebels.

Long-term absentees Junior Brown (ankle) and Danny Meadowcroft (leg) are absent once more, but everybody else is available for the hosts.

Vics have scored 12 goals in their two FA Cup ties to date, Mark Danks claiming eight of those, in victories over Bardon Hill Sports and Chorley.

Opponents FC United of Manchester are also enjoying their best run of form this season, last weekend’s FA Trophy success at Ashton United extending their unbeaten stretch to six matches.

Skipper Dave Chadwick (calf) is their only fitness worry, but he is expected to pass a late fitness test to face Vics.

Midfielder Dave Neville is cup-tied after appearing for Vics’ neighbours Witton Albion in this season’s preliminary round.

Newcomer Joseph Yoffe is available though.

FC United’s victory over Steve Burr’s Stalybridge Celtic after a replay in the previous round proves they can beat higher-ranked opposition.

Phil Marsh and Carlos Roca, both former Northwich players, are the Bury-based outfit’s leading scorers this season. Ben Deegan and Jerome Wright, who scored the winner against Bridge, have five goals each.

FC United have played at the Victoria Stadium before, drawing 2-2 with Winsford United back in August 2005 on their inaugural season in the North West Counties League’s Division Two. They beat Ashton Town 4-0 there the following week.

Football youngsters go solo

Source: This is Staffordshire

FOLLOWING in the footsteps of newly-born sides such as FC United of Manchester and AFC Wimbledon, a group of teenagers in Werrington have kick-started their own football club.

AFC Werrington made its inaugural bow in the North Staffs Junior Youth League under-15s division earlier this season after a group of school friends worked hard during the summer months to create the brand new side.

All 14 members of the squad attend Moorside High School on Cellarhead Road and came up with the idea to start their own football club during the summer break.

Joe Ratcliffe, aged 15, who was elected as captain by his team-mates, said: "It's good being in a team with all your mates.

"We used to watch football on television and were a bit fed up as we wanted to play.

"We have all played in teams before but this is better and we can play with our mates now."

Central midfielder Dylan Peers, aged 14, said: "For a while we were all talking about what it would be like to get a team together with your mates and start playing.

"It's really enjoyable because we know each other really well and you don't mind when your mates tell you what mistakes you are making."

The team's manager Craig Ratcliffe agreed to help run the side after being approached by son Joe.

Craig, aged 33, of Ash Bank Road, said: "It was during the summer holidays and Joe came in and asked me if I would manage a football team if him and his mates set one up.

"I told him I would, but he needed to do things like find a sponsor, get some kit, and find somewhere to play. Thirty minutes later he came back to me and said the sponsor was sorted."

The side haven't enjoyed the best of starts losing all of their first four games – 4-1, 14-1, 4-0 and 6-0.

Craig, a former trainee goalkeeper with both Crewe Alex and Stoke City, added: "I'm enjoying managing them and the lads seem to enjoy playing."

Joint owner of Bucknall-based coach firm Scragg's, Wayne Scragg, shelled out £500 to purchase full kits for the players.

Wayne, aged 40, whose 14-year-old son Thomas plays for the side, said: "I knew they wanted to get a side going so I told them if they could get it all sorted I would pay for it.

"The lads have done well to get it all sorted. It helps they are all from the same community and are friends anyway."

Mark Peers, aged 46, of Ash Bank, has assisted with the running of the side.

Mark, whose son Dylan plays for the team, said: "I think it's been good for the lads as it gives them something to do. All the parents are pitching in to help."

Werrington Parish Council member Nigel Meakin found the side a pitch on Meir Road in the village, along with securing a set of goalposts and organising lines to be painted on the plot.

He said: "We just want the youngsters round here to be enjoying themselves."

UniBond League preview

Source: Chorley Citizen

9:15am Friday 23rd October 2009

CLITHEROE are still smarting after dominating their UniBond Division One (North) match against Leigh Genesis in midweek, only to go down to two hotly disputed penalties in the dying moments of the game.

But there were some plus points for the Blues with left winger Danny Williams, formerly of FC United, and striker Nathan Taylor ex-Gretna catching the eye.

Manager Peter Smith will hope to build on that for tomorrow’s game at Radcliffe Borough and will have striker Jerrome Matthews in the squad for the last time before a four match ban for a red card kicks in.

Centre-back Ian Flannery has re-signed for the club from Lancaster City, while Danny Toronczak has signed forms as cover but striker Marcus Calvert has gone on loan to Nelson.

After their recent cup excursions, Chorley manager Steve Waywell is now looking forward to his side consolidating their place in the league.

And they made great strides towards that with a midweek win over AFC Fylde in a match that Waywell described as one of the club’s biggest of the season.

“We have had our run in the FA Cup and FA Trophy but it was important we got back towards achieving our major aim this season, which is trying to get into the play-off places. And to do that it was important we did well against Fylde,” he explained.

“It really was important for us to do well and now we want to carry on that good work against Prescot Cables tomorrow.”

Rossendale, sitting next to bottom of the table, welcome Warrington Town at Dark Lane tomorrow hoping to end a run of five games without a league win.

Their latest defeat came in a midweek 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ossett Albion but manager John Hughes will want his side to get the better of a Warrington outfit that lie just six places ahead of them.

From The Bolton News

Edited from: The Bolton News

FC United are dreaming of a glamour tie in the first round proper of the FA Cup if they can overcome Northwich Victoria.

The likes of Leeds, Southampton, Charlton and landlords Bury all await the breakaway club if they can beat their Blue Square North opponents. And, having already upset Stalybridge Celtic from the same division in the last round, the Gigg Lane tenants will be confident of keeping their Wembley dream alive at Victoria Stadium.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Cheshire Police issue warning ahead of Saturday's FA Cup match at Northwich

Source: Northwich Guardian

4:08pm Thursday 22nd October 2009

POLICE in Cheshire have repeated Northwich Victoria’s warning that supporters should buy tickets for Saturday’s crunch FA Cup clash against FC United of Manchester before match day.

They say they expect the fourth qualifying round fixture to be a sell out.

“We advise fans to buy their tickets for Saturday’s match in advance as a large crowd is expected,” read a statement issued today, Thursday.

“The match is all-ticket and a capacity crowd is expected.

“Supporters are being asked to arrive in plenty of time to avoid unnecessary delays at the gate.”

Vics owner Jim Rushe has told the Guardian that all the turnstiles at the Victoria Stadium will be open, while extra staff will be working in the ticket office.

It opens on Saturday at 10am.

The club has also advised that extra parking spaces will be available at the New Cheshire Salt Works business park off Wincham Avenue.

The record crowd at the Victoria Stadium is the 3,154 that watched the hosts beat Stafford Rangers to win the Conference North title in April 2006.

FA Cup Betting: Fans who are worth a goal a game

(image text) Frank Stapleton in his Manchester United days. Adam Tong of FC United has a long way to go to reach the dizzy heights of top-flight English football and captaining your country but there's something about him that is reminiscent of the Irish ace.

Source: betfair.com

FA Cup / Gary Boswell / 22 October 2009

Gary Boswell tells us about FC United, who have something of the Manchester United of old about them and some of the most vocal supporters in the land. This weekend they're outsiders against Northwich Victoria in the FA Cup and can book their place in the third round draw.

Betfair traders will no doubt already be forming their opinions on the FA Cup outright market. What price United for the silverware is a thorny conundrum causing many a sleepless night every year. Favourite for sure. But what is a correct price? Will Ferguson have his mind focussed on the domestic trophy with all the other superior distractions around him? Are United a back or a lay?

The fascinating possibility is that this year they could be faced with a game against the inimitable FC United supporters team as Karl Marginson has the Rebels just one game away from the first round proper.

The Boz ain't joking. Prepare yourself now for the sight of Trevor Brooking plucking ball number 34 out of the black bag in Soho Square and breathlessly whispering 'Manchester United' whilst Sir Bobby Charlton is poised over the corresponding opposition sphere and anticipates the global gasp as he announces.......

Alright so it's a few games away yet and the non-league phenomenon - which I have forecast as the future of football - have three more games to win starting with a tricky visit away to Northwich Victoria on Saturday.

The Vics are 1.68 to back but are my idea of a prime lay as the Rebels come on a mission and have the on pitch ammunition to bring the shock about.

Marginson has them in prime current form - unbeaten in their last five - including a pulsating 3-3 draw against Stalybridge Celtic last round that was turned into a 1-0 win in the replay. That form alone reads well enough to give them a realistic chance on Saturday against a Northwich side also in good form but vulnerable to the awesome power that is the FC United support. It must not be underestimated as a factor at non- league level. AFC Wimbledon are benefitting from it too in BSP and in Unibond Premier, the travelling Rebels army are worth a goal a game at least.

On the pitch, United will look to ex-Vics starlet Carlos Roca who has a touch of the Lou Macari about him and who has scored four in the last four games. Adam Tong is the non league version of Frank Stapleton and most crucially, the Rebels have their very own Peter Schmeichel in Sam Ashton who is to be seen regularly whipping up the crowd and joining in with the singing that makes their games such a pleasure to attend.

Not fair really to compare FC United to the Manchester Uniteds of the past. They are a team in their own right. You have to forgive old romantics like me who just can't help themselves! Make no mistake though, The Boz also has a hard-nosed business brain which has done its sums and will be backing FC United on Saturday at the blinding Betfair price of 5.2.

It's my main forecast FA Cup shock of the day but I do have a couple of other possibles. Chris Wilder's Oxford United come into the competition as non-league's premier force but it will be no surprise to see them consider the FA Cup an unwanted distraction from their league ambition. They have in any case a potential banana skin in Thurrock for whom Fola Orinolishe looks an exciting acquisition. The BSS title contenders are in exquisite form scoring nine in their last two and remain unbeaten on the road in the league. Sure to present a stiff test for the Us who are a Boz Lay at 1.5.

Keep an eye also on the Ducks of Aylesbury who languish at the foot of the Zamaretto Midlands and are a big price at 4.5 to upset Ryman Premier title contenders Wealdstone. Word is the Ducks landed a touch last round against Chesham by recalling old players for the day who managed to squeak through 4-3! Bookmakers were reputedly a-blushing and a similar coup is planned for this weekend.

THE BOZ'S BEST THREE BETS FOR THE WEEKEND:

BACK FC UNITED to beat NORTHWICH VICTORIA at 5.2 or longer
BACK AYLESBURY to beat WEALDSTONE at 4.5 or longer
LAY OXFORD UNITED (5 points) against THURROCK at 1.5 or shorter