Match Report



3.00pm Saturday 14th December 2019

FA Trophy

Broadhurst Park, 310 Lightbowne Rd, Moston, Manchester, M40 0FJ

FC United of Manchester 2 - 1 Kettering Town Owolabi 23, 83 Graham 90



Attendance: 1,218

FC United of Manchester 2 Owolabi 23, 83 Kettering Town 1 Graham 90



Attendance: 1,218

FC United of Manchester

1 Cameron Belford

2 Aaron Morris

3 Adam Dodd

4 Michael Donohue

5 Chris Doyle

6 Curtis Jones

7 Paul Ennis

8 Mike Potts (capt)

9 Tunde Owolabi

10 Alex Curran

11 Regan Linney



Subs.

12 Jordan Buckley (for 7, 72 mins)

14 Jack Lenehan (for 10, 77 mins)

15 Ashley Young (for 4, 77 mins)





Kettering Town

1 Paul White

2 Gary Stohrer

3 Matthew Taylor

4 Luke Graham (capt)

5 Michael McGrath

6 Marcus Kelly

7 Daniel Nti

8 Joel Carta

9 Connor Kennedy

10 Lindon Meikle

11 Michael Richens



Subs.

12 Ben Milnes (for 11, 75 mins)

15 Tre Mitford (for 8, 45 mins)





FC United progress in Buildbase FA Trophy after Kettering victory FC United progressed to the last 32 of the Buildbase FA Trophy after a 2-1 victory over the Vanarama National League North outfit Kettering Town at Broadhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.



Before the game manager, Neil Reynolds had spoken about the match up against a team from the league above being a real test for the current group of players and if this was the case then it was a test they passed with flying colours.



The game started with a real cup tie feel to it with a quick tempo and both teams looking to get the upper hand. But within the first 10 minutes it was FC who had the upper hand on the pitch and looked the better team, whilst keeping to their own playing style which has served them well so far this season.



That early momentum was quickly turned into a goal after 22 minutes, as Aaron Morris turned the opposition defence inside out before squaring the ball to Tunde, who slotted home the easiest goal of the season to give the Reds a deserved lead.



Even after the goal the Reds kept control of the game and the frustration was clear to see in the visiting side as a few underhand tactics and questionable challenges came into play, but the Reds showed they’re not scared to roll their sleeves up when necessary and stood firm.



Just before the break it could have, and should have, been 2-0. Charlie Ennis struck a beautiful free-kick, which was heading for the top corner before somehow being stopped in amazing fashion by the visiting ‘keeper.



The second half followed the routine of the first early on, with FC playing the ball around well, looking confident and in control of the game, but knowing they’d probably need a second to make sure of their place in the next round.



Despite the control of the early part the away team slowly crept into the game and going into the last twenty minutes it was clear the Reds needed a few fresh faces to keep the energy up in the middle of the park.



On came Young, Lenehan and Buckley, but it was two of the regular starters that combined to double the lead. Regan Linney produced an inch perfect defence splitting ball that put Tunde through, powering his way into the box, before driving home a low shot to double the lead and send the fans and players into hysteria.



The second should have put the game to bed, but in the FC tradition of making things difficult for themselves we conceded a soft headed goal in the 90th minute, meaning a rather tense five minutes of stoppage time was coming our way.



Despite the away team pushing forward and the wonderful sight of a goalie up for a corner, the FC defence stood tall and made sure of our place in the second round for only the second time in the club’s history.



The scenes at the final whistle and afterwards were a joy to be part of and the feeling around the club at the moment is definitely what makes this thing of ours so special.



With an unbeaten run stretching to eleven games and back to mid-October the Reds now eagerly await Monday’s draw for the next round.



Website man of the match – Tunde Owalabi. Lots of great performances again, but Tunde’s two goals were both clinical and made the difference. The brace takes him to an incredible 21 goals from 24 games in a red shirt this season.