Chorley v FC United Manchester

 Source: Chorley Guardian

 FC United Manchester 0 - 0 Chorley

Chorley’s players showed their fighting spirit to grab a point at FC United’s Gigg Lane ground in front of 2,000-plus fans.

The club’s cash crisis means the players haven’t been paid for nearly a fortnight, but there was no shortage of effort on Saturday, in a game which could have gone either way.

Both sides hit the woodwork, and Garry Flitcroft will have been impressed by the never-say-die spirit to keep FC United out.

Amid all revelations about their off-the-field problems over the club’s finances, the Magpies had to deal with an early onslaught, but the hosts wasted a few chances in the opening spell.

Things went from bad to worse for Chorley, as they lost the influential Jamie Vermiglio after 20 minutes with a suspected hamstring injury.

Striker Chris Denham failed to find the back of the net when his shot rolled wide of the goal, and watched as another effort was well-saved.

The final chance of the half fell to Adam Roscoe, as his free-kick rattled the crossbar.

Manager Flitcroft was forced to bring Andy Russell on in the place of skipper Andy Teague, who was struggling with a chest infection and tonsillitis.

The Magpies went close with chances for Denham and Wayne Maden, who put in a man-of-the-match display.

Chorley fans were brought to life when the hosts’ keeper controversially appeared to handle the ball outside the area, but the officials did not see it.

Maden became a more influential figure as the game progressed, and looked like the player he was before last season’s groin injury.

The last 10 minutes of the game were full of incident, as Shelton Payne replaced Steve Foster, and then striker Denham was given his marching orders after his second yellow of the afternoon.

Chorley survived a late scare as the woodwork rattled, following a powerful header from an FC United corner, but neither side could grab a winner.

Chorley: Russell Saunders, Mark Ross, Tom Ince, Andy Teague (capt), Wayne Maden, Jamie Vermiglio, Dale Whitham, Steve Flitcroft, Chris Denham, Steve Foster, Adam Roscoe. Subs: Andy Russell (for Teague), Matt Walwyn, Tom Williams (for Vermiglio), Shelton Payne (for Foster), Dean Porter

Attendance: 2,075

Published on Wednesday 7 December 2011 09:00