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Reserves lose at Curzon Ashton

They needed a win to keep up pressure on Colne in the title race, and having a desire to atone for a home defeat only a month earlier, FC United reserves arrived at Curzon Ashton full of hope. They left on the wrong end of a 4-1 defeat. The score did not perhaps reflect the run of play but was a harsh lesson in the price paid for individual mistakes.

FC United had most of the possession in the first half, their best move came after eight minutes, a sweeping move from Dean Hope via Chris Hill saw a Connor Martin shot hit the bar and a follow up shot from Mike Norton just cleared it.

Curzon Ashton weren’t without chances, most fell to Danny Tavares, thrilling crowds and frustrating management in equal measure as he created and missed them. They took the lead on 40 minutes; breaking forward, a shot was blocked by Ben Jupp and ran out for a throw on the right. A long throw was all too easily moved across goal and Brad McLaughlin had a relatively easy finish. It was 1-1 at half time because just before the break a cross from Charlie Doyle on the right found Norton at the far post. His header hit the cross bar and dropped down behind the line.

The optimism that generated was carried in to the second half and could have lasted even longer. On 51 minutes, substitute Robson Buckley ran into the area and was brought down for a penalty. Hope’s kick was saved by Cameron Matson diving to his right. Unfortunately it was the home side that responded positively to that, taking the lead on 58 minutes. A free kick was conceded near the right corner flag. The cross to the near post was headed in by Matty Crothers. Within five minutes it was 3-1, the reds lost possession in midfield and allowed Alex Meaney a clear run on goal.

For the rest of the game it was mounting frustration as whilst FC United battled for a way back in to the game, Curzon could have had more, an exchange involving Bezzina and Crothers came close and Tavares brought more than one save from Jupp. They did get a fourth near the end as Yaya Embola punished another defensive lapse.

Curzon Ashton: 1. Cameron Mason 2. Dominic Welsby 3. Josh Lawman 4. Josh Logan 5. Thomas Souevsmainen 6. Alex Meaney 7. Danny Tavares 8. Matty Crothers 9. Adam Bezzina 10 Brad McLaughlin 11. Remero Coley Substitutes: 12 Travis Brown 14 Yaya Embola.

FC United of Manchester: 1. Ben Jupp 2. Charlie Doyle 3. Scott Cheetham 4. Jason Fowles 5. Nathan Chorlton 6. Adam Lockett 7. Frank van Gils 8. Dean Hope 9. Mike Norton 10. Chris Hill 11. Connor Martin Substitutes 12. Robson Buckley (for 5, 45 mins) 14. Boris Melingui (for 11, 63 mins) 15. Keenan Tuck (for 7, 75 mins) 16. Leo Magnone 17. Ryan Saxon.



First Posted ~ 14:18 Sun 12 Apr 2015
News ID ~ 6143
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021