Manchester United news and links

Proud player-boss Neil Tolson hailed his Hyde United heroes after they’d taken another big step towards Blue Square North survival with victory over promotion-chasing neighbours Droylsden.


Chris Lynch secured the tenacious Tigers a hard-fought 2-1 win with a goal seven minutes from the end of a pulsating Tameside derby which had earlier seen Droylsden’s top scorer Tony Gray net for the 19th time this season to cancel out Scott Mooney’s 33rd minute opener.

FC United slipped to their first defeat of 2010 with a 3-0 loss at Buxton.


The Rebels lacked a cutting edge up-front following Kyle Wilson’s recall to Macclesfield and never looked like extending their unbeaten run to nine games.

An injury-time winner from Ben Deegan gave FC United a vital 2-1 win over Ossett Town at Gigg Lane on Wednesday night.



Jerome Wright opened the scoring in the 10th minute, but Andrew Catton seemed to have snatched a point for the visitors with an equaliser on 76 minutes.

FC United must avoid complacency if they are to make it eight games without defeat when they host Ossett on Wednesday (7.45pm) according to Karl Marginson.

 
Graham Firth’s 19th-placed side are battling relegation and go into the game on the back of a 7-0 hammering at Boston on Saturday.

Boss Gary Lowe insists Curzon Ashton can bridge a 15-point gap to pinch the UniBond North title.


Fifth-placed Curzon stepped up their promotion challenge with goals by Chris Worsley and Dean Canning earning them a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory over visiting Prescot on a weekend when fellow high-fliers Colwyn Bay and FC Halifax both lost - the latter crashing 3-2 at Radcliffe.

Karl Marginson believes that his in-form FC United side can send out a message to by beating North Ferriby at Gigg Lane on Saturday.


The Rebels are yet to taste defeat in 2010, and go into the game against the promotion-chasing Villagers on the back of a four-game winning streak.

Goals from Ben Deegan and Kyle Wilson helped FC United to their fourth consecutive league win at Frickley on Saturday.


In-form striker Deegan broke the deadlock from close range in the first minute of the game, and Wilson then sealed the victory with a classy finish from Jerome Wright’s cross midway through the second half.

Altrincham were left fuming as a hotly-disputed late spot-kick denied them a quickfire Blue Square Premier double over Eastbourne.


The Robins, who’d crushed their Sussex hosts 3-0 at Moss Lane just four days previously, had to settle for a 2-2 draw on the south coast after Eastbourne’s Simon Weatherstone thwarted their hopes of a repeat win by netting a controversial 83rd minute penalty equaliser.

Goals from Ben Deegan and Kyle Wilson helped FC United to their fourth consecutive league win at Frickley on Saturday.


In-form striker Deegan broke the deadlock from close range in the first minute of the game, and Wilson then sealed the victory with a classy finish from Jerome Wright’s cross midway through the second half.

Jake Cottrell has boosted FC United’s play-off push by signing a contract that keeps him at the club until the end of the season.

 
The 20-year-old central midfielder has arguably been the Rebels’ player of the season so far, and Karl Marginson is delighted that he has agreed to stay at Gigg Lane.

FC United’s clash with Kendal Town has been postponed because of a frozen pitch.


Gigg Lane was inspected on Wednesday lunchtime and considered unfit to play after temperatures plunged overnight.

Karl Marginson wants his play-off chasing FC United side to maintain their momentum against Kendal at Gigg Lane on Wednesday (7.45pm). 

 
The in-form Rebels are unbeaten in five games since returning to action after the big freeze, and their 2-0 win over Worksop on Saturday took them up to tenth in the Unibond Premier League.

FC United continued their recent run of good form with a comfortable 2-0 home victory over Worksop on Saturday.
 
A brace from Simon Carden made it three consecutive league wins for the Rebels, and Karl Marginson was happy with his side’s display.

Australia-bound Adam Tong wants to fire FC United further towards the Unibond Premier League play-off zone before he leaves.


Defender Tong is scheduled to move Down Under to play semi-professionally on March 1.

A vintage performance from FC United saw them cruise to a 6-1 victory at Nantwich on Saturday.


Kyle Wilson scored a superb hat-trick as the Rebels produced their best display of the season to record their second Unibond Premier League win in a row.

Altrincham boss Graham Heathcote is mulling over a tactical switch in a bid to halt the Robins’ poor home form this season.


Last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Wrexham meant Alty have won just three times in the league at Moss Lane this season - a stark contrast to seven wins on their travels.


Meanwhile, Adriano Rigoglioso says the lure of playing for FC United was too much to resist - despite being offered more money to go elsewhere.

NON-league Altrincham’s Blue Square Premier clash with Wrexham survived two pitch inspections, but the Robins are probably wishing it hadn’t.


The poor home form of Graham Heathcote’s men, who have won just three of their 13 league games at Moss Lane this season, continued as they lost 3-1.


Andy Mangan and Wes Baynes gave the Welsh visitors a half-time lead before Mark Jones made the points safe. Matt Doughty smashed home a penalty four minutes from time for the Robins, who stay 11th.

Second half  goals from Joe Yoffe and Phil Marsh spared FC United’s blushes in an unconvincing 2-1 victory at rock-bottom Durham on Saturday.



A woeful first half display from FC saw them fail to create a single chance against a young Durham side who have lost every league game this season, conceding more than 100 goals in the process.

Second half  goals from Joe Yoffe and Phil Marsh spared FC United’s blushes in an unconvincing 2-1 victory at rock-bottom Durham on Saturday.



A woeful first half display from FC saw them fail to create a single chance against a young Durham side who have lost every league game this season, conceding more than 100 goals in the process.

PROLIFIC striker Kyle Wilson has rejoined FC United on an initial one-month loan deal.

Wilson scored 24 goals in 32 appearances for the Rebels last season before moving back in to league football with Macclesfield over the summer.

But the 24-year-old has had limited first-team opportunities Moss Rose, and FC boss Karl Marginson was only too happy to bring him back to Gigg Lane.

PROLIFIC striker Kyle Wilson has rejoined FC United on an initial one-month loan deal.

Wilson scored 24 goals in 32 appearances for the Rebels last season before moving back in to league football with Macclesfield over the summer.

But the 24-year-old has had limited first-team opportunities Moss Rose, and FC boss Karl Marginson was only too happy to bring him back to Gigg Lane.

FA Cup heroes Northwich Victoria are again facing expulsion from Blue Square North - just as they appeared to be emerging as unlikely promotion contenders.


Andy Preece’s side, who famously knocked Charlton Athletic out of the Cup only two months ago, stepped up their bid for a swift return to Blue Square Premier with Brian Dutton’s 81st- minute strike securing them a 3-2 win at Farsley.


But Vics’ third triumph in eight days - one which lifts them to 11th despite having started the season on minus 10 points for entering administration - came as they were hit by the news they once more face being demoted to the UniBond League.

FA Cup heroes Northwich Victoria are again facing expulsion from Blue Square North - just as they appeared to be emerging as unlikely promotion contenders.


Andy Preece’s side, who famously knocked Charlton Athletic out of the Cup only two months ago, stepped up their bid for a swift return to Blue Square Premier with Brian Dutton’s 81st- minute strike securing them a 3-2 win at Farsley.


But Vics’ third triumph in eight days - one which lifts them to 11th despite having started the season on minus 10 points for entering administration - came as they were hit by the news they once more face being demoted to the UniBond League.

FC United missed the opportunity to return to action with three points by conceding a late equaliser at Stocksbridge Park Steels.

The Rebels, who had not played since early December due to the big freeze, looked to have claimed a vital win through Carlos Roca’s second half strike but had to settle for a point in a game they controlled throughout.

Karl Marginson’s side started on the front foot and carved out the best chances of the first half.

FC United missed the opportunity to return to action with three points by conceding a late equaliser at Stocksbridge Park Steels.

The Rebels, who had not played since early December due to the big freeze, looked to have claimed a vital win through Carlos Roca’s second half strike but had to settle for a point in a game they controlled throughout.

Karl Marginson’s side started on the front foot and carved out the best chances of the first half.

STALYBRIDGE Celtic have suffered a major blow to their Blue Square North promotion ambitions with the departure of manager Steve Burr.


The Bower Fold outfit last night announced they had “reluctantly” released Burr from his contract, which ran until May next year, to enable him to take charge of Blue Square Premier full-timers Kidderminster Harriers.


Burr’s assistant Benny Phillips will take charge for tomorrow’s home clash with Hinckley while Bridge begin the job of finding a permanent successor.

STALYBRIDGE Celtic have suffered a major blow to their Blue Square North promotion ambitions with the departure of manager Steve Burr.


The Bower Fold outfit last night announced they had “reluctantly” released Burr from his contract, which ran until May next year, to enable him to take charge of Blue Square Premier full-timers Kidderminster Harriers.


Burr’s assistant Benny Phillips will take charge for tomorrow’s home clash with Hinckley while Bridge begin the job of finding a permanent successor.

ON a normal Saturday afternoon, FC United are battling it out for three points in the Unibond Premier League.
 
However, after their game against Bradford Park Avenue was postponed, the Rebels spent last Saturday at the ‘Challenge 4 Change’ training centre at Trafford Park.


The centre teaches effective team-building through various tasks and exercises, and FC boss Karl Marginson said the trip was a big success.

ON a normal Saturday afternoon, FC United are battling it out for three points in the Unibond Premier League.
 
However, after their game against Bradford Park Avenue was postponed, the Rebels spent last Saturday at the ‘Challenge 4 Change’ training centre at Trafford Park.


The centre teaches effective team-building through various tasks and exercises, and FC boss Karl Marginson said the trip was a big success.

ALTRINCHAM and Northwich Victoria made a winning return to action on a day when most of the region’s non-League clubs were again beaten by the weather.


The thaw came too late to save most games but conditions were better in Kent, where travel experts Alty, making their first Blue Square Premier appearance in six weeks, emerged from their long winter hibernation with goals by Chris Senior and Greg Young giving them a 2-1 victory over struggling Ebbsfleet - their seventh away triumph of the season.


The Robins’ pre-match preparations were hit when keeper Stuart Coburn was injured in the warm-up, forcing his deputy Russell Saunders to take over.

ALTRINCHAM and Northwich Victoria made a winning return to action on a day when most of the region’s non-League clubs were again beaten by the weather.


The thaw came too late to save most games but conditions were better in Kent, where travel experts Alty, making their first Blue Square Premier appearance in six weeks, emerged from their long winter hibernation with goals by Chris Senior and Greg Young giving them a 2-1 victory over struggling Ebbsfleet - their seventh away triumph of the season.


The Robins’ pre-match preparations were hit when keeper Stuart Coburn was injured in the warm-up, forcing his deputy Russell Saunders to take over.

FC United have submitted proposals for their own 4,000-capacity stadium to Manchester council.


Although a final location for the project is yet to be confirmed, the club say they are hoping to complete the planning process before the end of the season.


“We’ve been working on the business plan for a few months and had meetings with the council before Christmas to talk about our draft proposals,” said general manager Andy Walsh.

FC United have submitted proposals for their own 4,000-capacity stadium to Manchester council.


Although a final location for the project is yet to be confirmed, the club say they are hoping to complete the planning process before the end of the season.


“We’ve been working on the business plan for a few months and had meetings with the council before Christmas to talk about our draft proposals,” said general manager Andy Walsh.

ALTRINCHAM’S England C international star Shaun Densmore reckons the rusty Robins can emerge from their winter hibernation to push for promotion to the Football League.


Part-timers Alty haven’t kicked a ball since knocking Wrexham out of the FA Trophy a month ago and are praying their weather-enforced break will end on Saturday, when they’re due to return to Blue Square Premier action at Ebbsfleet.


Ex-Everton reserve-team skipper Densmore believes the fixture backlog Alty now face could actually help them strive for the play-offs.

ALTRINCHAM’S England C international star Shaun Densmore reckons the rusty Robins can emerge from their winter hibernation to push for promotion to the Football League.


Part-timers Alty haven’t kicked a ball since knocking Wrexham out of the FA Trophy a month ago and are praying their weather-enforced break will end on Saturday, when they’re due to return to Blue Square Premier action at Ebbsfleet.


Ex-Everton reserve-team skipper Densmore believes the fixture backlog Alty now face could actually help them strive for the play-offs.

FC United’s home game against Bradford Park Avenue has been postponed.
 
The Rebels’ next scheduled fixture is away at Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday 23 January.

FC United’s home game against Bradford Park Avenue has been postponed.
 
The Rebels’ next scheduled fixture is away at Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday 23 January.

THE big freeze looks set to have claimed yet another FC United fixture as tomorrow’s home game against Bradford Park Avenue is in serious doubt.
 
Due to league regulations, the game cannot be officially called off more than 24 hours in advance.

 
But Bury’s clash with Macclesfield at Gigg Lane on Tuesday was postponed, and it seems certain that the Rebels’ fixture will follow suit.

ALL weekend games involving local non-league clubs have fallen victim to the weather.



The scheduled fixtures at Stalybridge, Droylsden, Hyde and Ashton have been postponed, while Altrincham’s FA Trophy tie at AFC Wimbledon and FC United’s Unibond Premier League trip to Boston have also been cancelled.


Stalybridge’s home FA Trophy game against Corby and Altrincham’s match at AFC Wimbledon have both been provisionally rescheduled for Tuesday 12th January.

ALL weekend games involving local non-league clubs have fallen victim to the weather.



The scheduled fixtures at Stalybridge, Droylsden, Hyde and Ashton have been postponed, while Altrincham’s FA Trophy tie at AFC Wimbledon and FC United’s Unibond Premier League trip to Boston have also been cancelled.


Stalybridge’s home FA Trophy game against Corby and Altrincham’s match at AFC Wimbledon have both been provisionally rescheduled for Tuesday 12th January.

FC UNITED’S New Year’s Day home fixture against Ossett Town has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.

However, the planned ‘Big Coat Day’ appeal for winter clothing for the homeless will still go ahead at Gigg Lane from 2pm today and then again at FC’s next home game against Bradford Park Avenue on January 16th.

FC UNITED’S New Year’s Day home fixture against Ossett Town has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.

However, the planned ‘Big Coat Day’ appeal for winter clothing for the homeless will still go ahead at Gigg Lane from 2pm today and then again at FC’s next home game against Bradford Park Avenue on January 16th.

FORGET New Year’s Day - January 1st is known as ‘Big Coat Day’ at FC United.

The Rebels are appealing to supporters to bring unwanted winter clothing along with them to Friday’s game against Ossett Town at Gigg Lane (3pm) for the benefit of Manchester’s homeless community.

All coats, hats, scarves and gloves will be collected outside the ground by the Salvation Army and the Boaz Trust before being redistributed to homeless people across the city.

FORGET New Year’s Day - January 1st is known as ‘Big Coat Day’ at FC United.

The Rebels are appealing to supporters to bring unwanted winter clothing along with them to Friday’s game against Ossett Town at Gigg Lane (3pm) for the benefit of Manchester’s homeless community.

All coats, hats, scarves and gloves will be collected outside the ground by the Salvation Army and the Boaz Trust before being redistributed to homeless people across the city.

BLUE Square North promotion hopefuls Stalybridge will get another chance to close the gap on runaway leaders Southport after the top-of-the-table clash between the two was abandoned because of floodlight failure.


Five minutes remained at Bower Fold when the lights went out with the score at 0-0.


Altrincham’s game with York was postponed due to a frozen pitch, as were Droylsden’s derby at Northwich and Hyde’s visit to Gainsborough.

BLUE Square North promotion hopefuls Stalybridge will get another chance to close the gap on runaway leaders Southport after the top-of-the-table clash between the two was abandoned because of floodlight failure.


Five minutes remained at Bower Fold when the lights went out with the score at 0-0.


Altrincham’s game with York was postponed due to a frozen pitch, as were Droylsden’s derby at Northwich and Hyde’s visit to Gainsborough.

FC United’s Unibond Premier League fixture at Ashton has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
 
The Rebels return to action when they host Ossett Town on New Years Day (3pm).


Meanwhile, new goalkeeping coach Joe Paladino has only been at FC United a matter of weeks - but already sees himself staying for years to come.

FC United’s Unibond Premier League fixture at Ashton has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
 
The Rebels return to action when they host Ossett Town on New Years Day (3pm).


Meanwhile, new goalkeeping coach Joe Paladino has only been at FC United a matter of weeks - but already sees himself staying for years to come.

UNIBOND North foes Woodley Sports and Leigh Genesis each celebrated with home victories on a day when other non-League games were frozen off.


Woodley beat Wakefield 3-1 on their artificial pitch and Leigh thrashed AFC Fylde 4-1 with Jordian Stepien,Jack Dorney, Chris Page and Chris Baguley - back from Salford City, on target for Garry Flitcroft’s sixth-placed side.

FC United’s Unibond Premier League fixture at Guiseley scheduled for midday on Sunday has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.


The Rebels return to action on Boxing Day (3pm) when they visit Ashton United.