FCUM delighted with Brighton draw

Source: SkySports

Our Road to Wembley feature continues as we bring you the best of the reaction from FC United's clash at Brighton.

The Football Club United of Manchester dream continues as they claimed a draw at League One leaders Brighton.

But things could have been so different. FCUM took the lead when midfield ace Nicky Platt scored for the second successive round.

Scott McManus was then sent-off with 20 minutes left, but despite being down to 10 men, United looked as if they would hold out for yet another famous win.

But with seven minutes left, Brighton levelled as player-assistant manager Mauricio Taricco scored.

Then six minutes into stoppage-time Brighton were awarded a penalty, but step forward FCUM keeper Sam Ashton - who saved at full stretch to write another chapter in the unfolding FC United story.


Penalty praise

Speaking after his save, Ashton was understandably delighted and he heaped the praise on assistant boss Roy Soule.

"Roy had watched a tape of Brighton's penalty shoot-out at Woking and told me that Sandaza will go left and the rest will all put it to the right," revealed Ashton.

"I did go to my right and I touched it round the post. I could tell that he didn't want to take it. He didn't look as though he was confident to take it."

Platt was equally ecstatic and he is adamant that they can dispatch of Brighton in the replay.

"We can't wait to get Brighton up to our place, which I'm sure will be packed," he said.

"Brighton will not have seen anything like it, I can guarantee it. You can see why they are top of the league - they were quality opposition. But I'm sure a lot of our lads could step up to play in League Two or in the Conference."

Last season's FA Cup runners-up Portsmouth will now travel to Brighton or FCUM in the next round, and that provides some real incentive - not that the non-leaguers need much more.

"It's mind-blowing to think we're just one game away from playing last season's beaten cup finalists," said FCUM boss Karl Marginson.

"To think Portsmouth went all the way to Wembley last May and now we could be meeting them, it's unbelievable.

"But, before we start getting too carried away, we've got to remember we've still got a big job to do if we're to get past Brighton.

"If we're fortunate enough to do that, we can look forward to another terrific occasion because Portsmouth would no doubt bring a big following up to Gigg Lane. That would mean lots of noise from both sets of fans and a cracking atmosphere.

"Pompey may be mid-table in the Championship but they have some great players and still have aspirations to get back into the Premier League.

"They're going to be decent, but we'd have nothing to lose against them, so, from our point of view, it's a great draw."

No cup of cheer here

Of course the lure of a South Coast derby is a big one for Brighton, but Gus Poyet is taking a pragmatic approach and the magic of the cup does not appear to have got a grip on the former Chelsea star.

Poyet revealed: "I will probably play the reserves.

"We lost one game and we drew two in the league because of Woking (FA Cup first round).

"I'm not going to lose and draw another game in the league because of FC United.

"We should have been two or three nil-up before they had their first shot, then it probably would have finished 4-1 or 5-1 or 6-1 or 25-1.

"If we put the ball in the net we will beat Colchester, if we don't score from three yards then we will have a problem."

Our Road to Wembley

Source: SkySports

FC United create unique atmosphere at Spotland

Last updated: 8th November 2010

As Andy Walsh and the rest of the FC United contingent celebrated in the main stand at Spotland, I could not help but smile.

I went into the match, as I am compelled anyway, with no preconceptions. I genuinely had no preference for a winner, but in the end I was happy as football was the winner on a genuine night of brilliant entertainment.

It is not very often you're able to witness FA Cup history, which is exactly what we saw on Friday evening as skysports.com's Road to Wembley kicked off with a huge giant-killing feat as FC United defeated League One Rochdale.

Now this was no normal giant-killings, it was in the sense that they were a side four divisions below Rochdale and they were odds-on not to get anything from the game.

But they were cheered on by a 3,000 strong support, this was support that any Premier League club would have been proud of.

With flares reminiscent of a European night at Galatasaray, perhaps you can see where for many of the fans their former loyalties once lay - Old Trafford.

For yes, they did sing all night, but much of it was anti-Manchester United as much as it was pro-FCUM.

But this is no slight on FCUM, they are what they are and their natural supporter base will always have divided loyalties, even if they get their eventual wish of a ground at Newton Heath - where it all began for Manchester United.

FCUM are a huge breath of fresh air as their fans showed a huge passion for the sport at a level where the game is still all about the football.

And it may seem we are just singing the virtues of FCUM, but that is because they did provide the bulk of the atmosphere. It does take two teams to make a game, as Rochdale and FCUM proved on Friday, but as FCUM also showed it does not take two teams to provide an atmosphere.

But Dale should not be too down about this as FCUM would go to most teams outside the Premier League and create the bulk of the atmosphere.

The fact a pitch invasion followed only added to the atmosphere for me, at no point was it threatening and what better marks a cup upset than a pitch full of fans.

To be honest we have been spoilt by getting FC United in our inaugural feature, we will have the pleasure of following them and their wonderful supporter base into the second round - but the atmosphere from Spotland we could be hard to find in any game up to the final.

Abbott: Just what doctor ordered

Source: SkySports

Greg Abbott feels FC United's shock win at Rochdale helped prepare Carlisle for their 6-0 FA Cup win over Tipton.

Rochdale were undone 3-2 at Spotland on Friday night, but Abbott's side were in no mood to follow the same route and blitzed Midlands Alliance side Tipton with four goals in the first 19 minutes with Gary Madine firing four and Francois Zoko adding a double.

Abbott said: "That FC of Manchester result the night before probably did us a favour. This was Tipton's cup final, whereas we want to get into the third round and draw a plum tie.

"We were terrific in the first 25 minutes. It was important not to give them any encouragement. We have looked after them well, but we wanted to make sure they didn't enjoy the game.

"The team was terrific and our passing and finishing was clinical, just what the doctor ordered.

"Maybe we might have had a few more goals, but we've done what we set out to do and can look forward now."

Dale stunned by FC United

Source: SkySports

Evo-Stick League side knock out Rochdale in dramatic Cup game

Last updated: 5th November 2010

Dale stunned by FC United

FC United produce some Cup magic

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FC United of Manchester made FA Cup history by shocking League One side Rochdale 3-2 at Spotland and securing a spot in the second round of the competition.

Non-league journeyman Mike Norton was the hero for the side 95 places below their opponents in the Football League ladder as he took advantage of Dale goalkeeper Josh Lillis' attempts to hold onto a loose ball to slot home in the final minute of stoppage time and secure a famous victory.

Nicky Platt's goal three minutes before the break had FC United ahead in their first ever FA Cup tie proper, finishing off Jerome Wright's defence splitting pass.

Former Rochdale trainee Jake Cottrell doubled the visitors' lead at the start of the second half when he lashed home from 25 yards.

However, the hosts hit back through Anthony Elding's close-range header then levelled things up with another header, this time from defender Craig Dawson, before the visitors' dramatic late winner.

The club run by fans are now remarkably just one win away from a meeting against Manchester United.
Composed

Rochdale boss Keith Hill had no new injury concerns for the side sitting in the 13th spot in League One.

Dale, who had made it past the first round only once in the last five seasons, had Craig Dawson, Jason Kennedy and Brian Barry-Murphy back after picking up knocks at Leyton Orient last weekend.

FC United manager Karl Marginson was charged with the task of steering the progressive Evo-Stick League outfit past the side four levels above them in football's pyramid.

Karl Munroe and Ben Deegan recovered from knocks to make the starting line-up. United looked towards top scorer Norton to deliver the goods.

FC United were backed by well over 3,500 supporters on a murky night with both teams set for fireworks at Spotland on Bonfire night.

Rochdale began the game the more composed side and within the opening minute Kennedy broke through a couple of tackles before his shot was blocked.

The hosts then had an appeal for a penalty turned down by referee Geoff Eltringham as Munroe appeared to handle inside the box.

Adams was next to go close when his attempted cross almost found the netting at the back post, with Ashton flapping at mid-air.

After 18 minutes the side from Manchester created their first real opportunity as Norton's cheeky back heel trickled wide of Lillis' far post.

The visiting fans were creating a tremendous atmosphere as FC United looked to the lively Carlos Roca to create and the confident winger unleashed a long-range strike which was well held by Lillis minutes later.

Dale then had further opportunities through Adams's left-foot drive and Elding's flicked header, which went just wide.

FC United started to show much more defensive fragility and attacking threat as they delivered a sucker punch three minutes before half-time.

Liverpool fan Platt broke the deadlock when he latched onto Wright's beautiful through-ball to flick the ball over advancing Lillis.

The exuberance of the away supporters was evident as they invaded the pitch in sheer delight.

Dramatic

The visitors went 2-0 up four minutes into the second half as goalscorer Platt laid the ball off to his midfield partner Cotterill to lash the it into the back of the net with a blistering strike from 25-yards.

Just two and a half minutes later Rochdale were back in the game as Elding skipped ahead of his marker to nod Barry-Murphy's free-kick past the helpless Ashton.

Dale started to dominate possession against the tiring non-league outfit and the goalscorer Elding thought he had levelled when his right-footed strike looked to be heading to the far corner, but Richard Battersby cleared off the line.

The hosts deservedly restored parity with 12 minutes remaining thanks to goalscoring defender Dawson.

The West Brom loanee bagged his third goal of the season heading in Murphy's delightful corner kick from the right.

However, FC United shocked their opponents in the fourth minute of stoppage time as goalkeeper Lillis allowed the ball to squirm through his grasp and Norton took full advantage.

Lillis and his team-mates claimed Norton had kicked the ball out of his hands, but referee Geoff Eltringham waved away their protests and the visiting fans flooded on to the field when he blew the final whistle seconds later to signal a famous win and a spot in the next round for FC United.

Silkmen clinch striker swoop

Source: SkySports

Alexander expecting Wilson to make an impact in League Two

Macclesfield Town have snapped up Kyle Wilson on a one-year contract from FC United of Manchester.

The striker had impressed in the non-league ranks this season and has secured a move back into the Football League.

Silkmen boss Keith Alexander is confident the former Crewe Alexandra youngster can make an impact in League Two next season.

"I've watched him play on several occasions and believe he has the ability to make the step up," Alexander told the club's official website.

"He'll have had a good grounding during his time with Crewe's highly successful youth set-up and will have benefited from his time last season with FC United, who are a very good club.

"More importantly he is desperate to show he can hold his own in the Football League. Every now and again you have to take a gamble on someone from the lower leagues.

"Scoring goals was our problem last season and in Kyle we have signed an exciting young talent with a proven eye for goal."