Rebels’ dream goes on

 Source: Bury Times, Liam Chronnell

 FC United’s reward for their FA Cup victory over Rochdale is a trip to Brighton or Woking in the second round.

The Rebels shocked the League One club 3-2 at Spotland on Friday night to pocket more than £100,000.

Striker Mike Norton was the hero in front of the live television cameras as he grabbed an injury-time winner to pull off the upset of the round and cap a famous night for the breakaway club.

Manager Karl Marginson said: “With a few minutes to go I put five in the middle and thought ‘let’s hold on’. Then we scored. I don’t know if we deserved it but it’s all about results and it was a fantastic result.”

Nicky Platt grabbed a 42nd-minute opener before Jake Cottrell’s screamer four minutes after the restart put Marginson’s men in control.

But Rochdale, 97 league places above them, fought back to make it 2-2 with 12 minutes to go, only for Norton to send FC into dreamland.

They must now wait until Tuesday’s replay between League One leaders Brighton or Woking, of the Blue Square South, to discover who they will play next.

FC return to EvoStik Premier League action at Northwich Victoria on Saturday before travelling to Colwyn Bay on Tuesday night.