FC see off Colls in dominant display

On a day where Lancashire Cricket legend John Abrahams would visit FC to make an on-field presentation at half time, it was FC who would bowl Atherton out of proceedings. The Reds would come out as 2-0 winners thanks to goals from home debutant Josh Askew and Regan Linney.

FC would find the first 45 minutes hard going, and despite having the best of the chances early on, they just couldn’t get the rhythm of that fast-paced game we’re all used to by now.

It was a real end to end game when it did get going, with both teams working good chances and looking dangerous on the attack. It was at points difficult to tell who was in the ascendancy such was the volatility of possession, and for a side that has the lowest goals to games ratio in the league, the Colls were looking a threat.

It was evident that changes were needed at half time for FC and two attacking subs were made. Waddecar and Bange came on replacing Sikora and Ennis. The game was there to be won in the second half and FC were certainly trying to finish with a flourish.

Flourish they would and it took just 2 minutes of the second half for Reno’s changes to bear fruit, as debutant Josh Askew converted a scuffed chance for Bange low into the net.

FC always looked in control from this point keeping possession well in the centre of the pitch. Rather than running at their opponents as Atherton were trying to do, the Rebels were more than happy to pass the ball around them.

The second goal came in the 92nd minute as a mix up by Atherton ‘keeper Taberner left him at the mercy of the ever-dangerous Regan Linney, and he made no mistake of stealing the ball and tucking it into the back of the net.

After the game, I got the thoughts of FC Manager and CEO, Neil Reynolds:

“Today was a potential banana-skin, Atherton had done their homework on us, and everyone raises their game when they come here. We knew we had to be at our best and in the first half we weren’t really. We came in at half time, changed some things around tactically and we were better in the second half, we were in control.

“I challenge everyone, I have 11 leaders in there, and I’m delighted for the likes of Pottsy and Doddy, I’ve had them for a number of years now and I class them as my own, I’m delighted for them.

“There was a lot of talk around the playoffs, people expect FC United to be up there, and I’ve said all season, wherever we finish, be it playoffs or 7th or 10th, we’ll finish where we deserve to finish. We’ve dropped some silly points this season but we’ve also had some excellent results. It’s been a challenging season. There are 12 points left to play for, let’s see what we can get out of them and try to finish as high as we can.”

Man Of The Match – Jonathan Smith. His assured work in the middle of the park was instrumental in FC being able to move the ball from defence into attack, and this was the basis of the two goals that got FC all three points.

Next up, FC travel to sunny Milan to face Brera in the Fenix Trophy on Wednesday 6th April, in what is sure to be a great occasion for both clubs.