What seemed
utterly implausible
when they were
founded five years
ago may only be
one game away. FC United
could face Manchester United.
It could be Evo-Stik Premier Division
against three-time European
champions, the club set up because of
the Glazers against the one owned by
them. A chorus of 'bring on United'
rang around Spotland after FCUM's
FA Cup first round debut came to its remarkable
conclusion, hundreds of their fans
pouring on to the pitch in jubilation.
Two much: Jake Cotterill (second bottom) celebrates scoring the second goal
There were 94 minutes on the
clock when Mike Norton, FC United striker and Manchester United
supporter, stabbed home from close range. Not quite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
in the Nou Camp, but pretty special nonetheless.
Manager Karl Marginson said: 'With a few minutes to go I put five in
the middle and thought "let's hold on". Then we scored. I don't know if
we deserved it but it's all about results and it was a fantastic
result.'
Just when a fine
Rochdale comeback seemed to have earned the League One team a replay, a
side four divisions and 95 places below them had the final say.
Theatre of dreams: More than 4,000 FC United of Manchester fans watched the drama
At times Marginson's enterprising
team outplayed them, too. They may
be in the seventh tier, but they possess
two tricky wingers in the speedy, skilful
Carlos Roca and Jerome Wright.
But for all their links with Manchester
United, it was a former Liverpool
academy player, Nicky Platt, who
struck first, finishing well from
Wright's through pass. Then Jake
Cottrell's rasping shot flew past
Rochdale goalkeeper Josh Lillis to give them a superb second.
Cottrell
went to the same school as Paul Scholes. In an instant, he took the
similarities further. 'He did well to score with that left foot of his
because he hasn't got one,' added Marginson, a former fruit-and-veg
delivery man.
Spot on: Nicky Platt puts FC United ahead
That led to a fine fightback from
Dale. First Anthony Elding pulled a
goal back. Then Richard Battersby
cleared off the line to deny Chris
O'Grady before Craig Dawson headed
in a Barry Murphy corner.
Comeback complete? Not quite.
Lillis spilled the ball, Norton kicked it
out of his hands and FC United were
through. When the second-round
draw is made, he knows what he
wants. 'That's an easy one,' said the
scorer - anyone to facilitate a
meeting with Manchester United.
This lot delight in being the thorn in
the side of the Old Trafford authorities.
Barely had the game begun when
the FC United fans chanted: 'Are you
watching, David Gill?' Manchester
United's chief executive probably
wasn't. He certainly should have been.
And he will have to if they meet in the
third round.
Naughty Norton: Michael Norton scores the winner after kicking the ball after the keeper's hands
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