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Reserves lose to Curzon Ashton at Nichols

Curzon Ashton took a short trip along Ashton Old Road to Nicholls and returned with all three points. A ninth-minute strike from Adam Bezzina was sufficient to secure a 1-0 victory. The strike came as the visitors were allowed to break down the right wing with a cross from beyond the FC back four to Bezzina.

FC United spent the rest of the game chasing an equaliser. On several occasions it seemed tantalisingly in reach without truly testing Jordan Latham in the visitors’ goal. Dean Hope had two efforts before the visitors scored, the second requiring a save. Jake Shawcross continued to provide a threat. A strong presence leading the line saw him create chances for Keenan Tuck and he himself got on the end of Scott Cheetham free kick. He wasn’t allowed freedom to run the line and was replaced by Connor Martin at half time suffering a back injury. Leo Magnone also came on, replacing Josh Smethurst. The effect was almost immediate as Magnone was quickly into a break down the left wing, unfortunately the shot off target reflected the team’s fortunes throughout the match.

In the first 15 minutes of the second half the home side had five corners, Chris Hill had a shot saved and Hope and Martin saw efforts blocked by defenders. That said, the visitors were not entirely without chances, playing largely on the counter attack, Brad McLaughlin went close as they broke the length of the pitch midway through the half. As the game drew to a close, two free kicks saw chances for them to extend the lead. One saw a free header go wide and Matty Crothers forced Ben Jupp to turn away a 40-yard effort that may just have crept in at the near post.

Hope had a shot saved, Tuck was inches short of being able to help a long clearance beyond Latham to create a chance for a tap in and a 40-yard effort from Scott Cheetham in added time was agonisingly wide.

All in all it seemed to be a day where FC were destined not to score, but in many ways such performances can give a young side more to think about than any comprehensive win. The challenge is to come up with the right answers when they go to AFC Fylde on 26 March.

FC United of Manchester: 1. Ben Jupp 2. Charlie Doyle 3. Scott Cheetham 4. Ryan Saxon 5. Nathan Chorlton 6. Jacob Holt 7. Keenan Tuck 8. Dean Hope 9. Jake Shawcross 10. Chris Hill 11. Josh Smethurst Substitutes 12. Leo Magnone (for 11, 45 mins) 14. Gideon Dosunmu 15. Jordan Rutter 16. Toby Wright (for 4, 56 mins) 17. Connor Martin (for 9, 45 mins)

Curzon Ashton: 1. Jordan Latham 2. Benito Lowe 3. Dominic Welsby 4. Josh Logan 5. Sam Cunliffe 6. Remero Coley 7. Danny Tavares 8. Matty Crothers 9. Adam Bezzina 10. Nathan Green 11. Yaya Embolo Substitutes: 12. Jack Melville 14. Alex Green 15. Toby Fergusson 16. Brad McLaughlin



First Posted ~ 15:52 Sun 15 Mar 2015
News ID ~ 6081
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021