Match Report: FC United of Manchester 3-2 Radcliffe FC

FC United of Manchester edged out Radcliffe 3-2 in a tense local derby to kick off the new year. Boro took a 1 goal lead into the break through Tyrese Sinclair, however FC United fired in a quick double in the 64th and 68th minutes through Mike Potts and Tunde Owolabi, before Owolabi put pay to a defensive mistake to give the home team a 3-1 lead in the last minute of normal time. Anton Forrester pulled a goal back in the dying embers of the match, however Boro couldn’t find an equaliser to leave with a share of the spoils.

The two teams have become more than accustom to eachother this season with this being the 4th meeting of the sides already this season. United squeezed past Boro in both the Manchester Senior Cup and also the FA Trophy, in the reverse meeting in the league both sides left with a point. This was the first time this season Radcliffe had made the short trip to Broadhurst Park and were backed by a large contingent of away fans hoping to see the team get a statement win on the road.

If this game needed any extra importance, the two sides found themselves in the play off places at the start of the day level on 38 points, FC United were 3rd whereas Boro were in 5th, separated only by goal difference. The teams knew how important it was to find a way to win to keep pace with the teams above them in the table in the race for promotion.

As expected in a local derby, the game was fast paced from the get-go. In the opening exchanges it was the home team that looked to find an early breakthrough. From a Radcliffe corner, the reds broke forward well. The ball was played forward to Luke Griffiths who cut inside and looked to catch Ollie Martin out, however Martin saved well at the expense of a corner. From the resulting corner Adam Dodd played it to Aaron Morris at the near post, however Morris’ effort hit the side netting.

The away team then had a chance of there own. Javid Swaby-Neavin looked to have lost the ball in a tackle, however managed to win it back and produce a lovely bit of skill to play in Sinclair down the left hand side. Sinclair then looked to curl a shot into the top corner, however he got the angle of the shot wrong and it sailed harmlessly wide.

United began to exert some dominance over there opponents and had a golden chance to take the lead. Alex Curran caught the Radcliffe defenders napping and played the ball through to Regan Linney who only had Martin to beat. His shot was straight at Martin, he then tried to fire the rebound towards goal however Martin was again on hand to save at point blank range. Curran then had a great chance of his own as he drove a shot hard and low from just outside the box, however his shot went inches wide of the goal.

FC United were made to pay for missing those chances as Boro snatched a lead in the 36th minute through Sinclair. Cameron Belford kicked a goal kick straight to Swaby-Neavin. He then drove towards the reds box. He was tackled well but Kingsley Williams ran onto the loose ball and pushed into the box. He then pulled the ball back from the by-line and into the 6 yard box. The ball first fell to Anton Forrester, he saw his effort saved well by Belford, but Sinclair was on hand to stab in the rebound to give his side the lead just before the break. Sinclair incidently, scoring on his final appearance for the club before he returns to his parent club Mansfield Town.

The goal for Radcliffe really gave the team confidence they could win this match and at the start of the second half they began to create chances of there own. Debutant Eliot Goldthorp played the ball out wide to Sinclair, who then looked to cut inside and curl a shot past Belford, however Belford was more than equal to the shot. The away team had another great chance shortly after this, the ball was cleared out wide to Forrester, Forrester flicked the ball towards Sinclair in the box. Sinclair waited for Forrester to run inside of him and played the ball back to him however Forrester saw his shot blocked at the last moment.

Just as Radcliffe looked like they had a stranglehold on the game, FC United managed to find an equaliser. In the 64th minute Norris and Finlay Sinclair-Smith combined well down the right hand side of the pitch. Sinclair-Smith then pulled the ball back to his skipper Potts who slotted the ball past Martin to level the score.

In the 68th minute the game turned on its head as the reds found themselves infront. Dodd swung a corner in from the right hand side and the ball was headed down into the 6 yard box. From the resulting goal mouth scramble former Boro favourite Owolabi was on hand to direct the ball goalwards, the goal in the end may go down as an own goal, but regardless it meant the home team now had a 2-1 lead.

After falling behind, Radcliffe looked to respond and find a way back into the match. Second half substitute Matthew Wolfenden up against his old club, dug out a great cross from the right, however Forrester saw his header fall into the hands of Belford. Forrester had another great chance to put his side level shortly after. A ball over the top caught the home team napping and he was through on goal. Forrester was unable to find the finish and put his shot wide.

United looked as though they had wrapped up all 3 points when they found a 3rd goal in the 90th minute. Boro looked to throw everybody forward in the hopes of finding a late goal and the reds took full advantage. A clearance found its way to Owolabi in the Radcliffe half and he managed to hold off Callum Grogans attempted challenge. He then bared down on Martins goal and cooly slotted past him to give his side a 2 goal lead going into the final moments of the match.

From the resulting kick off, Boro found an immediate way back into the game and halved the deficit. Ben Wharton, who entered the game in the second half, was played through on goal and looked to find a finish. His shot was saved well by Belford, the ball fell kindly to Forrester who tapped into an empty net to make the score 3-2. Unfortunately for the away team there wasn’t quite enough injury time left for them to snatch a draw from the game and the game finished 3-2 to FC United.

In the end then Boro were made to rue the chances not taken in the game. The result means that Radcliffe have slipped down the table from 5th to 7th, with Stalybridge Celtic and Warrington Town moving up to take there place. Radcliffe will be keen to take advantage of the games in hand they have over there opponents above them. The team will now look forward to welcoming Bamber Bridge to the Neuven Stadium on Saturday and continue the push for promotion.