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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > FC United of Manchester (30.04.08)

MATCH REPORT

FC United of Manchester 3 Bamber Bridge 2

Northern Premier League 1st Division North - Semi-Final Play-off

at Gigg Lane

Saturday 30th April 2008

By Dave Rowland

Despite a gallant effort, Bamber Bridge went down to a narrow defeat against United of Manchester in this highly entertaining Semi-Final of the First Division North play-offs. United had taken a 22nd minute lead against the run of play, before adding a second just prior the break, and despite making a tremendous fight of it after the interval, Brig were always chasing the game. Two fine goals by Neil Zarac proved insufficient in preventing their slick hosts from a Play-Off Final date at home to Skelmersdale United next Saturday.

Brig arrived at Gigg Lane, Bury, in a confident mood after finishing their campaign with the best away record in the league which had been capped by a particularly impressive 5-0 away victory at promotion seeking rivals Ossett Albion last Thursday night. The South Ribble side were also boosted by the fact that United had been unable to lower their colours in any of the three league meetings between the teams during the course of the season. Second placed United of Manchester had finished their league campaign with an unbeaten run of seven games, five wins and two draws, and had been even more impressive at home, winning nine and drawing four of the last thirteen played in the First Division North.

Brig boss Phil Entwistle made two changes to his starting line-up from the game at Clitheroe at the weekend. Tom Ince returned to take up a position on the left of midfield with Alex Porter moving over to the right in place of Stephen Brown who picked up a knock at Clitheroe at the weekend. Neil Zarac came back to partner leading marksman Ryan Salmon in the front line with Ryan-Zico Black named as one of the substitutes.

Bamber Bridge kicked off and took the game to their hosts with some good football. However, United looked dangerous on the break and Jerome Wright came close following an excellent cross by Shaun Roscoe after Adam Carden had won the ball in midfield.

The visitors came even closer to a goal in the 8th minute when a Ryan Salmon drive was deflected onto the crossbar by Roscoe after a fine run and cross by Tom Ince on the left flank.

The game was a fairly open affair and Nicky Platt was inches away from reaching a fine cross by Liam Foster on 15 minutes. Whilst at the other end Neil Zarac shaved the post with a header following an astute Porter centre.

Brig began to make the United defence work hard and Zarac was just over with an effort from a Danny Mahoney long-ball which caught the home defence square.

Despite a period of Brig pressure, United took the lead on 22 minutes with a well worked goal on the break. After an incisive move down the right flank, Rory Patterson made a neat flick-on to set up ADAM CARDEN on the edge of the penalty box and the midfielder drove the ball beyond the reach of Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick.

The goal knocked the visitors out of their stride and United began to find their way through on goal. Wright sent in a dangerous cross from the left on 27 minutes and Adam Carden had a couple of efforts from close range blocked by the Brig defence.

The visitors were presented with a real chance to get back on terms shortly afterwards when United full-back Liam Foster made a complete hash of a clearance to put Ince away on goal, but the former Burnley man couldn’t get control and the opportunity was lost.

Bamber Bridge fell further behind on 38 minutes with a move involving both of the Carden brothers and Nicky Platt through the middle. Simon Carden found RORY PATTERSON in a suspiciously looking off-side position in front of goal and the United striker dispatched the ball into the net from close in.

Stuart Rudd nearly scored a third for the home team on the stroke of half-time; shooting wide at the back post following some good work by Adam Carden.

Brig came out with determination at the beginning of the second-half and were rewarded with a quick goal. Substitute Ryan-Zico Black, on for Tom Ince at the break, sent in a well struck free-kick from the left on 51 minutes and Glenn Steel’s header came back off the crossbar. NEIL ZARAC was first to react and stooped to head home his first goal for the club from close range.

The goal brought renewed hope to the visitors who began to apply some pressure on the United defence. After Patterson and Simon Carden had come close with a couple of efforts for United, Salmon was inches away from reaching a Porter cross for Brig.

The Mancunians restored their two goal lead on 69 minutes after a good build up through the middle. JEROME WRIGHT picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty box and drifted over to the left before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the far corner of the net with McCormick well beaten.

Bamber Bridge refused to lie down and mounted a series of dangerous sorties. Porter found Salmon with a neat cross on 75 minutes and Salmon’s shot flew inches past the goalpost.

Brig got back into the game four minutes later with, arguably, the best strike of the night. Black whipped over a cross from the right and NEIL ZARAC turned and volleyed home with confidence leaving United goalkeeper Sam Ashton with no chance of saving.

Patterson came close at the other end on 82 minutes with a drive that struck the top of the crossbar following a fine cross from the right by Foster.

Brig nearly equalised in time added on when Salmon got a foot to an Adam Tong cross-shot, but Ashton was not deceived by the deflection and saved comfortably.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Steel, Crowder (Edmeads 45mins), Williams, Tong, Bowen (Fleming 75mins), Ince (Black 45mins), D Mahoney, Zarac, Salmon, Porter.

Goals: Zarac (51,79 mins)

Attendance: 1820

HT: 2 - 0