Manchester United news and links

BOSS Karl Marginson issued a “catch us if you can” challenge to four of FC United’s fellow UniBond premier promotion contenders after seeing his red-hot Rebels step up their sensational late push for a place in the play-offs with a 4-0 rout of North Ferriby.


Inspired by a magical Carlos Roca performance and watched by a bumper Gigg Lane crowd of 3,120, Marginson’s men tore into the Humberside visitors with three goals inside the opening half hour from Jerome Wright, Tungi Moses and Simon Carden, effectively ending the game as a contest.

BOSS Karl Marginson issued a “catch us if you can” challenge to four of FC United’s fellow UniBond premier promotion contenders after seeing his red-hot Rebels step up their sensational late push for a place in the play-offs with a 4-0 rout of North Ferriby.


Inspired by a magical Carlos Roca performance and watched by a bumper Gigg Lane crowd of 3,120, Marginson’s men tore into the Humberside visitors with three goals inside the opening half hour from Jerome Wright, Tungi Moses and Simon Carden, effectively ending the game as a contest.

ASHLEA Gotham was the hero as Glossop booked a place at Wembley in the FA Vase final.

The 17-year-old keeper pulled off a fantastic save in the sudden-death penalty shoot-out in the semi-final second leg at home to Chalfont St Peter after North End had scored a dramatic equaliser with the last kick of extra-time.

ASHLEA Gotham was the hero as Glossop booked a place at Wembley in the FA Vase final.

The 17-year-old keeper pulled off a fantastic save in the sudden-death penalty shoot-out in the semi-final second leg at home to Chalfont St Peter after North End had scored a dramatic equaliser with the last kick of extra-time.

FC United have lost key defender Danny Warrender for the rest of the season with ankle ligament damage.


The Rebels are in terrific form, with five wins and a draw in their last six which have boosted them into the play-off places.


They face North Ferriby United at Gigg Lane tomorrow (3pm), and manager Karl Marginson is expected to name an unchanged team.

FC United have lost key defender Danny Warrender for the rest of the season with ankle ligament damage.


The Rebels are in terrific form, with five wins and a draw in their last six which have boosted them into the play-off places.


They face North Ferriby United at Gigg Lane tomorrow (3pm), and manager Karl Marginson is expected to name an unchanged team.

GLOSSOP North End boss Steve Young is convinced his headline-grabbing Hillmen will have time on their side when they make their last big push for Wembley in Saturday’s sell-out FA Carlsberg Vase semi-final, second-leg showdown with Chalfont St Peter.


A capacity crowd of 1,600 will cram into Glossop’s tiny Surrey Street ground to witness the High Peak club’s bid to seal a dream trip to the national stadium to face either Whitley Bay or Lowestoft next month.

GLOSSOP North End boss Steve Young is convinced his headline-grabbing Hillmen will have time on their side when they make their last big push for Wembley in Saturday’s sell-out FA Carlsberg Vase semi-final, second-leg showdown with Chalfont St Peter.


A capacity crowd of 1,600 will cram into Glossop’s tiny Surrey Street ground to witness the High Peak club’s bid to seal a dream trip to the national stadium to face either Whitley Bay or Lowestoft next month.

GENEROUS FC United fans gave Yura Veretemko the pilgrimage of a lifetime by paying for him to see their team play Ossett Town last night.


The 21-year-old Ukrainian has been a fan of the supporter-owned club since its inception in 2005, but had despaired of ever seeing them play due to the high cost of air fares and the difficulty of getting a visa from his homeland.

GENEROUS FC United fans gave Yura Veretemko the pilgrimage of a lifetime by paying for him to see their team play Ossett Town last night.


The 21-year-old Ukrainian has been a fan of the supporter-owned club since its inception in 2005, but had despaired of ever seeing them play due to the high cost of air fares and the difficulty of getting a visa from his homeland.

GLOSSOP North End’s teenage keeper Ashlea Gotham insists he has no regrets about turning his back on the chance of a pro career with Stockport - and it’s little wonder.


Less than a year since he quit Edgeley Park, 17-year-old Heywood lad Ashlea stands on the verge of fulfilling every footballer’s dream with the Vodkat North West Counties League Hillmen this weekend.

GLOSSOP North End’s teenage keeper Ashlea Gotham insists he has no regrets about turning his back on the chance of a pro career with Stockport - and it’s little wonder.


Less than a year since he quit Edgeley Park, 17-year-old Heywood lad Ashlea stands on the verge of fulfilling every footballer’s dream with the Vodkat North West Counties League Hillmen this weekend.

AILING Altrincham are still looking for the win which would almost certainly guarantee their Blue Square Premier survival after crashing 1-0 at lowly Ebbsfleet.


 Ricky Grand’s seventh minute strike was enough to send Alty spinning to their sixth defeat in eight games – one which leaves them still three points short of boss Graham Heathcote’s safety target of 50 with now just seven left to play.

AILING Altrincham are still looking for the win which would almost certainly guarantee their Blue Square Premier survival after crashing 1-0 at lowly Ebbsfleet.


 Ricky Grand’s seventh minute strike was enough to send Alty spinning to their sixth defeat in eight games – one which leaves them still three points short of boss Graham Heathcote’s safety target of 50 with now just seven left to play.

FC UNITED have suffered a blow to their play-off hopes with key defender Danny Warrender out of Wednesday’s Gigg Lane clash with Ossett Town (7.45).


The right back twisted an ankle while running in Heaton Park, but may be available for Saturday’s home game with North Ferriby United.


Adam Carden is expected to step in for Warrender, but manager Karl Marginson will otherwise name an unchanged team after a run of four wins and a draw have sent the Rebels surging towards the play-offs.

FC UNITED have suffered a blow to their play-off hopes with key defender Danny Warrender out of Wednesday’s Gigg Lane clash with Ossett Town (7.45).


The right back twisted an ankle while running in Heaton Park, but may be available for Saturday’s home game with North Ferriby United.


Adam Carden is expected to step in for Warrender, but manager Karl Marginson will otherwise name an unchanged team after a run of four wins and a draw have sent the Rebels surging towards the play-offs.

DARREN Hamilton went off to sea after coaches at Stoke, Crewe and Stockport gave him the same heartbreaking news: “Sorry son, you’re too small to be a pro.”


But life on an ocean waves aboard HMS Coventry didn’t work out and now Glossop North End talisman Darren has returned to dry land, hoping to emulate the football success of his former Fletcher Moss under-15s team-mate Wes Brown.

DARREN Hamilton went off to sea after coaches at Stoke, Crewe and Stockport gave him the same heartbreaking news: “Sorry son, you’re too small to be a pro.”


But life on an ocean waves aboard HMS Coventry didn’t work out and now Glossop North End talisman Darren has returned to dry land, hoping to emulate the football success of his former Fletcher Moss under-15s team-mate Wes Brown.

FC UNITED boss Karl Marginson backed his resolute Rebels to squeeze into the UniBond premier play-offs after seeing them step up their dramatic late promotion push by winning a see-saw battle at Marine.


Two Carl Lomax goals proved decisive in giving Marginson’s men a hard-fought 3-2 victory after they’d allowed the mid-table Mariners to storm back from trailing to Simon Carden’s 32nd minute opener to briefly lead 2-1. The win in Crosby takes FC up to sixth and to within a point of a play-off place with just five games remaining.


Said Marginson: “We had to dig deep, but we’ve got players who can do that and, when we perform, I feel we can get a positive result every time.”

FC UNITED boss Karl Marginson backed his resolute Rebels to squeeze into the UniBond premier play-offs after seeing them step up their dramatic late promotion push by winning a see-saw battle at Marine.


Two Carl Lomax goals proved decisive in giving Marginson’s men a hard-fought 3-2 victory after they’d allowed the mid-table Mariners to storm back from trailing to Simon Carden’s 32nd minute opener to briefly lead 2-1. The win in Crosby takes FC up to sixth and to within a point of a play-off place with just five games remaining.


Said Marginson: “We had to dig deep, but we’ve got players who can do that and, when we perform, I feel we can get a positive result every time.”

GLOSSOP North End boss Steve Young praised his teams tenacity after they came from 3-1 down in Saturday’s FA Vase semi-final 1st leg to snatch a draw and set up a grandstand return fixture next Saturday.


“We showed great mental strength.” said Young.


“The team just don’t know how to lose. We’ve not played that well today, to be fair, but we’ll be too good for them next week.”

GLOSSOP North End boss Steve Young praised his teams tenacity after they came from 3-1 down in Saturday’s FA Vase semi-final 1st leg to snatch a draw and set up a grandstand return fixture next Saturday.


“We showed great mental strength.” said Young.


“The team just don’t know how to lose. We’ve not played that well today, to be fair, but we’ll be too good for them next week.”

GLOSSOP North End manager Steve Young says his Wembley hopefuls will be going for the kill in the first-leg of their FA Carlsberg Vase semi-final at Chalfont St Peter on Saturday.


Young believes the Hillmen can make the return leg at Surrey Street little more than a formality by soundly beating South Midlands League high-fliers Chalfont in their own Buckinghamshire backyard.


Having seen Glossop plunder no fewer than 28 goals in eight ties en route to the semis, Young is adamant Glossop’s best chance of reaching the May 10 Wembley final is to play to win straight from the off.

GLOSSOP North End manager Steve Young says his Wembley hopefuls will be going for the kill in the first-leg of their FA Carlsberg Vase semi-final at Chalfont St Peter on Saturday.


Young believes the Hillmen can make the return leg at Surrey Street little more than a formality by soundly beating South Midlands League high-fliers Chalfont in their own Buckinghamshire backyard.


Having seen Glossop plunder no fewer than 28 goals in eight ties en route to the semis, Young is adamant Glossop’s best chance of reaching the May 10 Wembley final is to play to win straight from the off.

FC UNITED are on a roll as they head to Merseyside for Saturday’s all-ticket game with Marine.


The Rebels blitzed Ashton United 4-0 in midweek to move within three points of the play-off places, and manager Karl Marginson believes the four teams directly above them in the Unibond premier table will be casting a few anxious glances over their shoulders.

FC UNITED are on a roll as they head to Merseyside for Saturday’s all-ticket game with Marine.


The Rebels blitzed Ashton United 4-0 in midweek to move within three points of the play-off places, and manager Karl Marginson believes the four teams directly above them in the Unibond premier table will be casting a few anxious glances over their shoulders.

CARLOS Roca’s hat-trick fired FC United back into Unibond Premier League play-off contention last night.


The nippy striker was too hot for Ashton United to handle, and another goal for co-striker Carl Lomax secured a 4-0 win for the Rebels, their biggest home win of the season.


Roca began the rout after just two minutes, pouncing on the ball after Danny Warrender’s free kick into the box had caused havoc, and firing home a well-struck shot.

CARLOS Roca’s hat-trick fired FC United back into Unibond Premier League play-off contention last night.


The nippy striker was too hot for Ashton United to handle, and another goal for co-striker Carl Lomax secured a 4-0 win for the Rebels, their biggest home win of the season.


Roca began the rout after just two minutes, pouncing on the ball after Danny Warrender’s free kick into the box had caused havoc, and firing home a well-struck shot.

GLOSSOP North End will be backed by an army of fans when they step out for the first leg of their FA Carlsberg Vase semi-final at Chalfont St Peter on Saturday.


As many as 400 Hillmen supporters - twice the club’s average home attendance - are expected to make the trip to Buckinghamshire to cheer on Steve Young’s side as they strive to book a Wembley final date with Whitley Bay or Lowestoft on Sunday, May 10.

GLOSSOP North End will be backed by an army of fans when they step out for the first leg of their FA Carlsberg Vase semi-final at Chalfont St Peter on Saturday.


As many as 400 Hillmen supporters - twice the club’s average home attendance - are expected to make the trip to Buckinghamshire to cheer on Steve Young’s side as they strive to book a Wembley final date with Whitley Bay or Lowestoft on Sunday, May 10.

NEW Leigh boss Garry Flitcroft was given an instant lift as Genesis hoisted themselves off the foot of the UniBond premier division with a gutsy goalless draw at Frickley Athletic.


The point earned at Westfield Lane in the former City and Blackburn star’s first game in charge does little to enhance ailing Leigh’s seemingly hopeless bid to avoid relegation.

NEW Leigh boss Garry Flitcroft was given an instant lift as Genesis hoisted themselves off the foot of the UniBond premier division with a gutsy goalless draw at Frickley Athletic.


The point earned at Westfield Lane in the former City and Blackburn star’s first game in charge does little to enhance ailing Leigh’s seemingly hopeless bid to avoid relegation.

NEW Leigh boss Garry Flitcroft was given an instant lift as Genesis hoisted themselves off the foot of the UniBond Premier Division with a gutsy goalless draw at Frickley Athletic.


The point earned at Westfield Lane in the former City and Blackburn star’s first game in charge does little to enhance ailing Leigh’s seemingly hopeless bid to avoid relegation.

NEW Leigh boss Garry Flitcroft was given an instant lift as Genesis hoisted themselves off the foot of the UniBond Premier Division with a gutsy goalless draw at Frickley Athletic.


The point earned at Westfield Lane in the former City and Blackburn star’s first game in charge does little to enhance ailing Leigh’s seemingly hopeless bid to avoid relegation.

ALTRINCHAM looked set to end any lingering fears of relegation by felling Forest Green when star striker Colin Little put them two-up in 21 minutes.


They still led 2-0 at the break, but the visiting Gloucestershire strugglers then came roaring back with goals by Paul Lloyd and David Brown putting them back on terms before Alty’s James Smith was sent off.


Forest Green seized on the advantage that gave them to sink Alty with three further goals, leaving Graham Heathcote’s men to chew over their fifth defeat in six games as they continue to look ever more nervously over their shoulders at the teams below them.

ALTRINCHAM looked set to end any lingering fears of relegation by felling Forest Green when star striker Colin Little put them two-up in 21 minutes.


They still led 2-0 at the break, but the visiting Gloucestershire strugglers then came roaring back with goals by Paul Lloyd and David Brown putting them back on terms before Alty’s James Smith was sent off.


Forest Green seized on the advantage that gave them to sink Alty with three further goals, leaving Graham Heathcote’s men to chew over their fifth defeat in six games as they continue to look ever more nervously over their shoulders at the teams below them.

FC UNITED have given their promotion hopes a major fillip by signing former Manchester United starlet Phil Marsh.


The Rebels tried to sign the 22-year-old from Leigh Genesis last month, but the St Helens-born player - who has one United first-team appearance to his name - elected to stay with the Unibond League strugglers.

FC UNITED have given their promotion hopes a major fillip by signing former Manchester United starlet Phil Marsh.


The Rebels tried to sign the 22-year-old from Leigh Genesis last month, but the St Helens-born player - who has one United first-team appearance to his name - elected to stay with the Unibond League strugglers.

FC UNITED are hoping for a double play-off boost in the space of two days.


The Rebels travel to promotion rivals Hednesford on Saturday, a win which could lift them back into the top five, with only one automatic promotion place and one play-off spot to be contested.

FC UNITED are hoping for a double play-off boost in the space of two days.


The Rebels travel to promotion rivals Hednesford on Saturday, a win which could lift them back into the top five, with only one automatic promotion place and one play-off spot to be contested.

FC UNITED moved to within two points of the Unibond premier division play-offs with a 2-0 win at promotion rivals North Ferriby United last night.


The Rebels, backed by 350 travelling fans, who made the long journey to Humberside, leapfrogged their opponents and also also benefited from Guiseley’s shock home defeat by Frickley.

FC UNITED moved to within two points of the Unibond premier division play-offs with a 2-0 win at promotion rivals North Ferriby United last night.


The Rebels, backed by 350 travelling fans, who made the long journey to Humberside, leapfrogged their opponents and also also benefited from Guiseley’s shock home defeat by Frickley.

ALTRINCHAM assistant-boss Graham Barrow stood by the ruthless Robins after they’d shown crisis-torn Weymouth no mercy in ending a run of four successive Blue Square Premier defeats with a resounding triumph over the visiting Dorset strugglers, writes TONY GLENNON.


Alty looked set for a cricket score after rattling in three goals inside the first 14 minutes but were ultimately content to settle for a 4-0 win over a team made up of emergency loanees and academy players to move to within touching distance of manager Graham Heathcote’s 50-point safety target.

ALTRINCHAM assistant-boss Graham Barrow stood by the ruthless Robins after they’d shown crisis-torn Weymouth no mercy in ending a run of four successive Blue Square Premier defeats with a resounding triumph over the visiting Dorset strugglers, writes TONY GLENNON.


Alty looked set for a cricket score after rattling in three goals inside the first 14 minutes but were ultimately content to settle for a 4-0 win over a team made up of emergency loanees and academy players to move to within touching distance of manager Graham Heathcote’s 50-point safety target.

BOSS Steve Burr is challenging Stalybridge Celtic to maintain the sensational return to home form which he believes will propel them towards promotion to Blue Square Premier.


Bridge have hit 11 goals in their last two Bower Fold outings after going more than four months without a home win and entertain Fleetwood tomorrow.


And Burr, whose side boast comfortably the best away record in Blue Square North, insists the key to promotion for Bridge now lies firmly in their own backyard.

BOSS Steve Burr is challenging Stalybridge Celtic to maintain the sensational return to home form which he believes will propel them towards promotion to Blue Square Premier.


Bridge have hit 11 goals in their last two Bower Fold outings after going more than four months without a home win and entertain Fleetwood tomorrow.


And Burr, whose side boast comfortably the best away record in Blue Square North, insists the key to promotion for Bridge now lies firmly in their own backyard.

GLOSSOP North End boss Steve Young urged his hungover Wembley hopefuls to sober up to the reality that they risk blowing their chance of promotion from the Vodkat League following a shock 4-3 home defeat by lowly Formby.


Young’s FA Vase semi-finalists lost valuable ground on third-placed neighbours New Mills, 3-0 winners over Winsford, as well as top-two Newcastle and Fylde as they were brought crashing down to earth by the Squirrels in front of their own Surrey Street fans.

GLOSSOP North End boss Steve Young urged his hungover Wembley hopefuls to sober up to the reality that they risk blowing their chance of promotion from the Vodkat League following a shock 4-3 home defeat by lowly Formby.


Young’s FA Vase semi-finalists lost valuable ground on third-placed neighbours New Mills, 3-0 winners over Winsford, as well as top-two Newcastle and Fylde as they were brought crashing down to earth by the Squirrels in front of their own Surrey Street fans.