Two for Carr as Man Met thrash UCFB in the cup

Man Met FC’s first team progress to the third round of the Northern Conference Cup with a resounding 6-1 win against UCFB’s third team. 

Having already beaten UCFB last week 2-0 in the league it was clear from the offset there was some unfinished business between the two sides. 

It was MMU who drew first blood after sustained pressure in a nervy opening 30 minutes.

A surging run from Man Met’s left back, Dom Robinson, caught UCFB’s defence off guard as he skipped past three or four players before laying the ball to Tom Carr. 

The attacking midfielder made no mistake and rocketed the ball into the roof of the net from 25 yards out giving the goalkeeper no chance 35 minutes in.

The saying ‘all good things come in threes’ sprung to mind as Man Met followed up with another two goals inside just five minutes. 

The first was a well worked corner routine by Mark Faflik who found the head of centre back Aadi luck inside a crowded penalty area to make it 2-0. 

The second was a second for Carr, beating the keeper at his near post from just inside the box to make it three and confirm MMU’s complete domination.

However, just as the game looked done and dusted before half time, UCFB hit back.

A mistake from goal scorer, Aadi Luck, gave their winger a golden chance through on goal which he calmly took to make it 3-1 before the break.

As the second half began Man Met almost instantly achieved what they failed to do in the first half, putting the game to bed just one minute in. 

Man of the match Tom Carr took on a spectacular solo run down the right, drilling a low cross into the box. UCFB could only clear as far as captain, Tom Richardson, who scored a brilliant side footed shot from outside the box to make it 4-1 to Man Met. 

Seven minutes later and it was Fafliks go at getting on the score sheet as he neatly put away a cross from Ben Coward to kill the game. 

At this point it was damage limitation for UCFB who had to defend against an inform MMU attack. And it was the substitute, Hamza Abuzar, who had the final say of the game as he finished a delightful through ball from Carr with a cheeky chip to make it 6-1. Game over. 

Speaking after the game, Man Met FC Head Coach Gareth Smith said: “It was credit to the players today that they’ve learnt from last weeks match and training on Monday and transferred it into todays game.

“The composure and patience we showed in the opening half an hour was excellent and it was what was needed for us to control the game in the way we did.”

“UCFB are always well organised and have the quality to punish teams on the break, we guarded against this with a good shape behind the ball and made ourselves tough to break down.

“We know we have quality on the ball but the most pleasing aspect of the game was our patience in the build up and our ability to draw them onto us before looking to attack.”

“Conceding our first goal of the season is frustrating and particularly in the manner it was conceded but to win four on the bounce, conceding only one goal and scoring 18 in the process is a fantastic start to the season.”

Captain Tom Richardson added:  “Another great win for the boys against a well organised UCFB side.

“We know as a team we’ve got the quality to match and better any team we play against and that showed during the game with us scoring three in 10 minutes to put the game out of sight.

“It was slightly annoying to have conceded but at the end of the day 6-1 in a cup game is a great result and puts us on a good platform for UCLan away next week.”

The unbeaten start to the season continues for Man Met’s first team as they now face UCLAN’s second team away from home, next Wednesday the 17^th of November. 

• All credits for photography go to Ben Stiff. Check out his website here.