FC United of Manchester 6

Kendal Town 0

Evo-Stik Premier Division

THE gulf in class between plucky Kendal Town and Manchester United’s breakaway club was exposed as the Black and Whites were hit for six at Gigg Lane.

Though they should have been awarded what looked like a stonewall penalty, and created enough chances to score at least once, the Mintcakes were exploited by an unforgiving FC United of Manchester side.

With the Mintcakes set up in a 4-5-1 formation, FC United sought to bypass the packed midfield by lifting the ball over the top of Town’s often dangerously high defence whenever they could.

Kendal could not cope with this tactic, especially against the pace of the impressive winger Jerome Wright, hat-trick hero Greg Daniels and his fellow striker, Rhodri Giggs, well-known for being the younger brother of Ryan.

FC took the lead after just four minutes, when an unmarked Matthew Wolfenden headed home at the far post, and it was 2-0 five minutes later when a long ball from the imposing centre-back Lewis Lacy was brought down by Daniels, who was given too much time on the ball before finishing from 10 yards.  

After the excellent Giggs made it three on 25 minutes with a sweet finish from eight yards, the Black and Whites could have been forgiven for employing a damage limitation approach, especially in light of the often deafening soundtrack provided FC United’s vocal fanbase inside Bury FC’s impressive home.

But Kendal deserve credit for the way they caused FC United problems in the second half, and have every right to feel aggrieved by referee Paul Hodskinson’s decision to deny them a spot-kick after 42 minutes.

After some good work by Mike Rushton, the ball fell to midfielder Jack Cook, who was about to pull the trigger when he was brought down inside the box, but the referee waved away Town’s understandable protests.

Kendal’s best moments in the match came from the industry and determination of the talented Maison McGeechan, whose head never dropped until he began to tire shortly before being replaced on 75 minutes.

The former Bolton Wanderers winger tried his luck with a fierce shot from long range in the first minute of the match after capitalising on some unusually sloppy play by FC United’s back four.

Eager to track back and slide into the tackle, the number 10 refused to be intimidated by FC United, and should have scored on 65 minutes when Rushton’s low cross from the right wing ran through to him, but his shot from eight yards was too close to the home team’s keeper Jon Worsnop, who pushed the ball to safety.

From the resulting corner, Danny Mitchley’s close range volley on the turn flew over the bar, and the signs were there that the Mintcakes could net what might have been a vital goal in their fight to avoid the drop. 

Further chances fell to Mitchley and Rushton as Kendal gained a handful of corner kicks in quick succession.

But on 72 minutes, Town’s failure to capitalise on their best period of the match was punished by FC United when yet another ball from deep played in Daniels, whose lob beat Kendal’s substitute goalkeeper Ryan Robinson, who replaced the injured Craig Dootson seven minutes into the second half.

FC turned the screw, scoring again through substitute Tom Greaves on 81 minutes before Daniels secured his hat-trick, firing in from close range on 85 minutes.

 

FC United of Manchester: Jon Worsnop, Dean Stott, Greg Daniels, Jake Cottrell, Adam Jones (C), Lewis Lacy, Carlos Roca, Oliver Banks, Rhodri Giggs, Jerome Wright, Matthew Wolfenden

Subs: Lee Neville for Jones (51), Astley Mulholland for Wolfenden (64), Tom Greaves for Roca (74) 

Subs not used: Dave Birch, Mike Norton

Kendal Town: Craig Dootson, Dean Overson, Callum Hoctor, Martin Grundy, Adam Freeland, Reiss Lee, Rob Wilson, Jack Cook, Danny Mitchley, Maison McGeechan, Mike Rushton (C)

Subs: Ryan Robinson for Dootson (52), Zach Clark for McGeechan (75),

Bookings: Freeland

Subs not used: Aaron Taylor, Adam Rawnsley, Jamie Hasting.

Star man: Maison McGeechan

Attendance: 1517