Town’s recent break made no difference to their title push as they cruised to an impressive victory over F C United of Manchester, in front of a bumper crowd.
Simon Weaver announced an unchanged starting line up, although Jake Wright and Ryan Fallowfield were given places on the sub’s bench.
It took only seven minutes for Town to set the ball rolling when Josh Falkingham’s through ball was helped onto Jack Emmett by Dom Knowles, and he advanced to lash the ball past Lloyd Allinson.
Louie Swain twice threatened from Joe Leesley crosses and John McCombe placed an header, just over the bar from another Leesley centre, as Town dominated proceedings.
It took over twenty minutes for the Reds to menace the home goal,when play maker,Steve Irwin,had a thirty yard free kick caught under the crossbar by James Belshaw.
However, two goals in quick succession put Town firmly into the driving seat.
Firstly, a Matt Hughes foul on Mark Beck enabled Liam Kitching to head in Leesley’s free kick via the inside of the far post and seven minutes later, George Thomson,drove in from the edge of the area,after the Reds defence only half cleared a Leesley cross.
The half ended with Thomson almost stealing a second,when he intercepted a weak Allinson clearance and tried his luck from forty yards, only to see the ball sail narrowly wid
The first half hour of the second period was a low key affair with Town well in control,although United’s, Jeff King blazed over Town’s bar and Belshaw had to make a timely block to deny sub, Tom Greaves, after a rebound off Kitching.
With fifteen minutes left,Thomson tapped in his second and Town’s fourth, from close range after Allinson fumbled Emmett’s stinging cross.
Three minutes later, sub Jake Wright ,headed in after Allinson failed to deal with a Leesley centre, to make it five.
As the game entered added time,Thomson wriggled through the visiting defence and shot into the far corner to earn himself the “Man of the Match”award and propel Town back to the top of the National League North.
Town
Belshaw,Burrell,Swain, Falkingham(c)(Agnew 77),Kitching,McCombe,Thomsom,Emmett(Fallowfield 82),Beck,Knowles(Wright 69),Leesley.
Unused subs,Cracknell,Thewlis Bookings nil Att.1547
Scorers, Emmett 7,Kitching 30,Thomson 37,75,90,Wright 78. Man of the Match, Thomson.
F C United of Manchester
Allinson,Senior,Higham,Kay(c),Hughes,Baird,Glynn(Racchi 62),Fagbola,Garner(Greaves 62),King,Irwin(Linfield 62).
Unused subs,McCarthy,Crawford. Bookings nil
Referee,S Copeland.
By John Harrison.
