7.45pm Tuesday 11th September 2018

Vanarama National League North

Chester FC 0 FC United of Manchester 0



Attendance: 2,045

FC United off the bottom of the table with goalless draw at Chester

FC United are off the bottom of the Vanarama National League North table after drawing 0-0 at Chester on Tuesday night.



Caretaker-manager David Chadwick’s unbeaten start continued with the Reds’ third consecutive draw. While a win would have been a fantastic result, FC United can be happy with a well earned point and a cleansheet at a club that were much fancied going into the season.



It was the home side that started the stronger with Jon Moran heading wide from a corner inside the first minute. On five minutes, goalkeeper Dave Carnell was called into action, tipping the ball wide from Anthony Dudley.



FC United did start to see the ball and looked lively going forward, Blackburn Rovers loanee Luke Mansell was linking up well with top goalscorer, Kurt Willoughby, who hit the outside of the post.



Chester continued to attack, Craig Mahon dribbling into the FC United box but firing wide and drawing a challenge into the FC box, the referee waving away his protests. Between these, Mansell and Willoughby linked well again, Willoughby saw his cross-cum-shot fly across the six yard box but there was no-one there to tap home.



Dudley worked a good chance for himself but he finished weakly into the arms of Carnell. FC United were still looking dangerous in attack, especially down the left flank with Lewis Thompson, also on loan from Blackburn Rovers, constantly finding space behind the home right back Dominic Smalley.



The second half started at a slower pace than the first but Billy Priestley, on his FC United debut following his loan from Southport, headed a corner wide. Chester continued to look dangerous, especially down both wings but Carnell wasn’t being seriously tested, Matty Hughes and Dan Mooney both firing over the bar.



On 68 minutes, FC United substitute Liam Dickinson attempted an audacious overhead kick from 20 years out but the ball was straight at former FC keeper Grant Shenton. As the game it wore on, it seemed neither side would be able to break the other down though there was a heart in the mouth moment when Mahon fell under a challenge from Sam Tattum but again the referee waved away the protests.



Overall, this was hard fought and well deserved point for FC United. There will need to be an increase in creating clearer goal chances if the league position is to be improved but three games unbeaten is certainly movement in the right direction.



Website man of the match - Lewis Thompson. The loanee excelled in both defence and attack showing why he is so highly thought of at Blackburn Rovers.



Report by Steven Wood

