Reserves Sign Off With A Win At Stalybridge
FC United of Manchester Reserves brought their season to an end with a 3-0 win at Stalybridge Celtic with goals from Jamal Branker, Steeve Eddy and Dean Hope.
There was in truth little to play for with the league won by Curzon Ashton and second pace already secured and the first half reflected that with few real chances. The highlight of the half was Nick Culkin racing from his area to deal with a Stalybridge break on 13 minutes. With that and a decisive claim of a long throw into the box he established a barrier that for all their effort the home side never looked like breaking down.
As a result Danny Miller in the Celtic goal was the busier keeper and shortly afterwards he was called in to action to save from Jamal Branker and Jack Ward. Perhaps the best chance of the half came on 21 minutes when a Chris Hill shot was scrambled unconvincingly for a corner. The best chance for Stalybridge came on the half hour mark, a free kick from the right was turned goal wards by the knee of a home player but providing an easy catch.
The second half was a livelier affair to which the three goals serve testimony. Stalybridge had chances, getting past the FC back four on at least three occasions. Each time it would seem the presence of an advancing Culkin persuaded them it would be better to shoot wide.
FC United opened the scoring on 63 minutes with a sweeping move. Chris Hill burst forward and fed Joel Bestley for what may have been his first touch. He sidestepped Miller but took the ball a little too wide for his liking but the pull back across goal left Branker with an easy finish.
The other two goals came in quick succession midway through the half, a Dean Hope corner was headed home by Steeve Eddy and then Hope scored himself direct from a free kick two minutes later. FC United then saw the game to a close with little more cause for alarm in either defence.
Man of the Match? It would be bad manners not to give it to Nick Culkin – A man now challenging Frank Sinatra for the number of comebacks but who provided an exemplary lesson in how good communication makes the game easier.
There was in truth little to play for with the league won by Curzon Ashton and second pace already secured and the first half reflected that with few real chances. The highlight of the half was Nick Culkin racing from his area to deal with a Stalybridge break on 13 minutes. With that and a decisive claim of a long throw into the box he established a barrier that for all their effort the home side never looked like breaking down.
As a result Danny Miller in the Celtic goal was the busier keeper and shortly afterwards he was called in to action to save from Jamal Branker and Jack Ward. Perhaps the best chance of the half came on 21 minutes when a Chris Hill shot was scrambled unconvincingly for a corner. The best chance for Stalybridge came on the half hour mark, a free kick from the right was turned goal wards by the knee of a home player but providing an easy catch.
The second half was a livelier affair to which the three goals serve testimony. Stalybridge had chances, getting past the FC back four on at least three occasions. Each time it would seem the presence of an advancing Culkin persuaded them it would be better to shoot wide.
FC United opened the scoring on 63 minutes with a sweeping move. Chris Hill burst forward and fed Joel Bestley for what may have been his first touch. He sidestepped Miller but took the ball a little too wide for his liking but the pull back across goal left Branker with an easy finish.
The other two goals came in quick succession midway through the half, a Dean Hope corner was headed home by Steeve Eddy and then Hope scored himself direct from a free kick two minutes later. FC United then saw the game to a close with little more cause for alarm in either defence.
Man of the Match? It would be bad manners not to give it to Nick Culkin – A man now challenging Frank Sinatra for the number of comebacks but who provided an exemplary lesson in how good communication makes the game easier.
First Posted ~ 21:16 Fri 6 May 2016
News ID ~ 6829
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021