FC’s Unbeaten Run Ends In Seven Goal Thriller Against Play Off Rivals

FC United were brought back down to earth as they came out on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller, a 4-3 loss at Broadhurst Park on Tuesday night.

The game began at electric pace with Whitby taking the lead through Harry Green. A low corner was driven in and it received a deft touch from Green to sneak it in past Lavercome.

FC responded a minute later as The Reds went up the other end and got a corner of their own. Jonathan Smith rose high above the rest and the ball flew in to level the proceedings once again. The game was now being played at a frantic pace, and neither side were willing to give up on any loose ball as tackles flew in left, right and centre.

It took just one minute for FC to be behind again as Bradley Fewster, scorer of the only goal in the reverse fixture last year, breached the FC back line and simply tapped the ball home.

The Seasiders were now in the ascendency, and they looked very dangerous every time they went forward, but the reds held firm as the game began to calm down from the tempo of the early exchanges.

It would take until the 30th minute for the FC defence to be breached again. Dan Lavercombe initially made a world class save to tip the ball onto the crossbar and out for a corner, but Brad Fewster was there once again from the set piece getting his second of the game and making it 1-3.

FC would get a lifeline in somewhat fortunate circumstances in the 42nd minute from yet another corner. The ball was whipped in and somehow found its way into the net, initially there was some confusion as to who scored but it turned out to be Wilson. FC looked to be turning it around going into the break.

There was a half time change for the reds, as Joe Duckworth was replaced by Josh Galloway, an attacking midfielder that was signed at the very last minute from Leeds United. He was booked inside two minutes of his debut, I like him…

One player that FC really had to marshal closely for most of the game was Malik Dijksteel, on loan from Championship club Middlesbrough with brilliant pace and good footwork, but FC managed to keep him quiet through the second half.

The roof would lift off Broadhurst on the hour mark as Aaron Morris was on the end of a smart lay off and tucked the ball neatly into the net to send the FC fans behind that goal into delirium. The game was now level for the first time and FC United looked to be absolutely in control.

FC hearts would be broken just ten minutes later as a mix up at the back meant that FC were caught in possession which led to a one-on-one situation and an easy goal in the end for Jacob Hazel to put the visitors from Yorkshire into a 4-3 lead.

What would follow this goal would be an onslaught of pressure from the reds as they looked for a way to level the game once again. They came ever so close in the closing stages of the game as the ball was gathered by the Whitby ‘keeper Shane Bland, and referee Liam Corrigan ended proceedings shortly after.

I spoke to FC manager Neil Reynolds after the game:

“We played superbly well, I’m very proud of the boys but I’m going to echo what I said to the radio and any other interview I’ll do tonight, if you defend like we did today, expect to concede.

 “We like to play attacking, free flowing football, and we’ve shown at times that we can go and get clean sheets, we can defend a lot better than what we have tonight, but we haven’t done, and it’s left a really good game of football for the neutral.

“We’ve been undone by a couple of forwards who’ve been around the block at this level, and they’ve got the better of out two centre halves which doesn’t happen all the time, but unfortunately if you play at home or you play away, the attackers are normally the ones getting the plaudits for scoring the goals.

“We want to win as many games between now and the end of the season, and we’re still confident of achieving the position in the league that we want.”

FCs next fixture is away at the leagues basement club Grantham in what has been described by manager Neil Reynolds as ‘a must win fixture’.

Image Credit – Alicia Day