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United versus City in the FA Cup this Saturday

A rejuvenated FC United will be looking to record our fourth consecutive victory and claim a place in the third qualifying round draw of the FA Cup with Budweiser as we take on Lancaster City at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds stopped a recent rot of five games without a win with victories over Woodley Sports, Burscough and Whitby Town in the last week and a half and now the team will be looking to kick-on with another good performance against the Dolly Blues.

United have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the visit from the Evo-Stik Division One North side and will be hoping that this season’s joint top-scorer with five goals, Matthew Wolfenden will be passed fit to at least take up a place on the substitutes’ bench after overcoming a hamstring strain which has forced him to miss the last six matches.

Despite some hairy moments, manager Karl Marginson was pleased with Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over Whitby. He said: “It was very pleasing, obviously, to get a clean sheet. I have to say that every one of the team contributed to that. But a special mention must go to goalkeeper James Spencer, who has come in for some criticism over the past few weeks for a few mistakes.

“As a keeper, nine times out of ten, the mistakes you make end up as goals for the opposition. But on Wednesday night he was absolutely magnificent. He made a couple of point blank saves that were out of this world.???

Margy has also been pleased by the two substitute appearances by former Manchester City trainee striker Ryan McGreevy in the last two matches. He said: "We were pleased to be able to give Ryan a run out in the last couple of games. He was at Preston North End last season and ended up on loan at Rhyl before being released by Preston.

"He came here and has shown that he has enough in his locker to make a mark with our squad. He is a striker who can score goals by getting in the right positions so we are looking forward to seeing more of him.???

FC United and Lancaster are no strangers, having met five times before with current standings; two victories for the Reds, one for the Blues and two draws. As well as welcoming back former FC United favourite Dave Swarbrick, who now plays for Lancaster, the Reds will be welcoming our first ever opponents in the Northern Premier League as the Dolly Blues beat us 2-1 at the Giant Axe on the opening day of the 2007-08 season. United did extract revenge in April that season though with a 5-2 victory back at Gigg Lane.

The two clubs have also drawn each other in an FA competition before. In October 2009, the Reds travelled to the Giant Axe for the FA Trophy second qualifying round and within 21 minutes striker Joe Yoffe had netted twice on his debut. But the home side responded seconds before the interval when Roger Sharrock forced a rebound past goalkeeper Sam Ashton. Carlos Roca seemed to have clinched the tie in the 75th minute by putting the Reds 3-1 up.

However, the Dolly Blues scored two goals in the last seven minutes through Jordan Connerton and Sharrock to force a replay at Gigg Lane. Four days later, the visitors were reduced to 10 men in the first 15 minutes and then went into retreat. Despite a rather one sided contest, it took an extra-time goal by Ben Deegan to finally separate the two sides.

FC United of Manchester versus Lancaster City is this Saturday at Gigg Lane with the traditional kick-off time of three o’clock. It’s pay on the gate as usual with entrance fees at £8 for adults, £5 concessions and £2 for under-18s, as voted for by our club’s members. Get yourself to that football ground and get your scarlet ribbons at the ready.



First Posted ~ 19:00 Sun 2 Oct 2011
News ID ~ 3800
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021