BRICKNELL DOUBLE HELPS TOWN TO VICTORY VERSUS FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER

It was a lovely evening for football at Donkey Lane as FC United of Manchester visited for the 2019 Supporter's Direct Cup and brought with them a good number of very friendly travelling fans many of whom enjoyed themselves in the bar singing songs long after the game finished. 

It was FCUM'S second pre-season game as they had beaten a squad representing League Two side Morecambe on Tuesday 9th July 3-0 at Broadhurst Park with goals from Louis Myers, Paul Ennis and Chris Sharp. 

It was Town who started the better and were 2-0 up early on in front of a good attendance of 403 people. Josh Davison capitalised on a defensive mix-up to slot home the first and Billy Bricknell hit the back of the net for the second. 

Several times FC United played out from the back when their keeper Paddy Wharton had the ball and put themselves into trouble which is something i'm sure they'll sort out before the big kick off in August. 

FCUM came back into the game and their left back/winger Salou McDowell-Jallou looked particularly impressive to me especially when delivering crossed from the left hand side. McDowell-Jallou was born in Gambia but lived in Belfast from a young age and has represented Northern Ireland from u12s right through to u19s level. I would say (he's just turned 21 years of age) he's a name to look out for in the future. 

Bricknell made it 3-0 when he headed home a lovely cross from the right hand side from new Town signing Sam Bantick with FCUM going straight up the other end and scoring to make it 3-1 after a near interchange of passing. 

The second half saw a raft of substitutions for both teams which meant the game wasn't as free flowing as the first 45 minutes. For Town it was great to see fan's favourite Muahmmadu Faal get some game time after he spent much of last season out with an injury. FCUM looked the better side and were unlucky not to make the game closer with some good saves being made. 

The Final Score was 3-1. 

FCUM had a miserable 2018/19 season being relegated from the Vanarama North Division - I think they'll have a much better 2019/20 in the BetVictor Northern Premier League Premier Division. Their season proper starts on Saturday 17th August with an away trip to Grantham Town followed by a home midweek local derby against Hyde United and then entertaining Scarborough Athletic. I'm sure many Town fans will be looking out for The Red Rebel's results this season. 

They have an interesting home friendly next Saturday against the newly formed Bangor 1876 who are a breakaway club formed by the supporter's of Bangor City under it's current ownership. They state 'We want fans to reconnect with each other and restore the pride and feeling of being a supporter of our historic club. The new club is a creative and positive solution for an ever-changing and precarious situation. We are not disowning Bangor City FC or its history, the club is OURS, it belongs to the fans and local community. “Owners” will come and go but the people remain. Keep the faith.'

Bangor 1876 will play in the Gwynedd League for the forthcoming season which is the fifth level of Welsh football with Bangor City playing at level two in the FAW Championship North & Mid division.