United tame Bears

FC United grabbed all the attention again as they extended their 100% record to seven games with a hard fought 3-0 victory over an organised and resolute Congleton on Wednesday night.

Goals from Rory Patterson, an own goal and the first in a red jersey from second half substitute Jamie Phoenix eased United passed The Bears in front of 2,051 supporters at Gigg Lane.

The visitors from Cheshire packed out the midfield and closed down the Reds well making them work for their goals, but it wasn’t enough as they offered very little coming forward and United ‘keeper Sam Ashton was rarely troubled.

Patterson grabbed the first goal after only seven minutes and with the lack of cutting edge shown by the visitors, the result never really looked in any doubt. The lead was doubled when Stuart Rudd forced a defender to turn the ball into his own net minutes before the interval after a swirling Josh Howard corner, making it 2-0.

After the break, United had two goals disallowed, one for offside and the other for a foul on the keeper as Patterson smashed home the rebound after chipping his 83rd minute penalty on to the underside of the bar.

But Patterson made no mistake moments later as he rounded Congleton ‘keeper Terry McCormick and squared the ball for Phoenix to seal the victory with a simple tap in.