FCUM MEMBERS

Atherton Colls v FC UNITED. 7.45pm Tuesday, 10th September 2019 (FA Cup 1QR REPLAY).

Ground Address: Skuna Stadium, Alder Street, Atherton, Wigan, M46 9EY.
Ground Capacity: 2,500.

Match video highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf36xgR4690

Match report
FC United will face Warrington Town in the Emirates FA Cup second qualifying round after winning 1-0 at Atherton Collieries in Tuesday’s replay.

Fullback Aaron Morris scored a header with 12 minutes to go, settling what turned out to be a toughly contested 180 minutes of a cup tie and setting up a meeting with Warrington Town a week on Saturday.

Saturday’s 2-2 draw had been a hotly contested game, with Atherton having a goal ruled out and then a last-ditch clearance deep into stoppage time denying the Reds passage through to the next round, but the replay started as a much more tense, low tempo affair in the first half.

Neither team really got a hold on the game in the first half and chances were at a premium, with nothing much of any note registering in the opening 45 minutes.

In the second half the Reds (who were playing in their blue away kit) had the advantage of attacking down a very noticeable gradient on the Atherton pitch and FC seemed to register this early as they came out strong for the second half.

FC enjoyed large periods of the ball in the home half of the pitch, but again the only chances of any note came in the form of speculative efforts from outside the box from Michael Potts and Michael Donohue.

The home team looked dangerous on the break, and forward Tom Bentham was only a half yard away from being onside and clear on goal on several counter attacks and the home team also had a close shout for a penalty for handball turned down.

With the game coming close to moving into extra time and even the possibility of penalties on the horizon, it was FC who eventually got the break through. With 12 minutes left-back Morris headed home after Atherton had failed to deal with a corner. FC United had the breakthrough on what had been a very tough evening’s work.

The home team came forward with everything including the kitchen sink in the late moments of the game and it really did have the feel of an important cup tie as both teams fought to the end. It was FC United who held on though, and booked their place in the next round with a home tie against Warrington Town; a match which will be a first ever meeting between the two clubs.

After managing to get through what turned out to be a tough 180 minutes of football, you could see what it meant to the players and manager as they celebrated at the final whistle. The Reds are now unbeaten in their last five games, with two clean sheets in their last three.

Website man of the match: Adam Dodd – going against my natural instinct to pick Tunde Owolabi as man of the match, Prime Minister and President in every game. Dodd was solid at the back and looked hungry to get forward and give attacking options on the left at every opportunity.

Report by Craig Phillips

The view from the Colls

A late goal from visiting full back Aaron Morris saw Colls suffer FA Cup replay heartbreak having twice come from behind to draw 2-2 in the original tie at Broadhurst Park on Saturday.

Colls boss Micheal Clegg made three changes from Saturday’s tie, Jack Egan, Jordan Cover and Brad Lynch coming in to the side to replace Ian Rowlands, Ben Conway and the unfortunate Ben Hardcastle, who picked up an injury in a heavy challenge in Saturday’s tie.

An even first half saw both sides remain competitive without creating any particularly clear cut chances in what was ultimately a goalless first 45 minutes. Jack Lenehan and Michael Donohue saw low shots kept out by Colls goalkeeper Oliver Byrne, while Tom Bentham flashed a shot wide of the far post at the other end having beaten the visitors’ offside trap before Brad Lynch dragged a shot wide of the near post on 36 minutes having done the hard work in cutting inside and creating the opening for himself.

Bentham went close again early in the second half as he saw a shot deflected over the crossbar, while Jordan Cover saw a 67th minute effort tipped around the post by visiting goalkeeper Patrick Wharton.

A tense game finally started to open up in the final 15 minutes, Cover firing wide of the target before the visitors took the lead on 78 minutes, Aaron Morris heading home at the far post after Donohue‘s effort had been tipped over the bar for a corner.

Colls pressed late on for an equaliser in the hope of forcing extra time but it was to no avail as they failed to find the breakthrough and end this season’s FA Cup interests.

League action is the order of the day this coming Saturday (14th September) when they travel to Stalybridge Celtic for a 3pm ahead of welcome Prescot Cables to the Skuna Stadium for a League Cup tie the following Monday (16th September, 7.45pm).

Atherton Collieries: Oliver Byrne, Niall Battersby, Gareth Peet, David Sherlock (Kieran Feeney 79’), Daniel Lafferty ©, Clive Smith, Jack Egan, Vinny Bailey, Tom Bentham, Jordan Cover (Oliver Roberts 79’), Brad Lynch (Ben Conway 53’). Substitutes (not used): Ian Rowlands, Chris Cheetham.

Rama Spice Man of the Match: Daniel Lafferty

Attendance: 947
Match Report: Matt Lawton