The Isuzu FA Trophy

FA Trophy and Vase round-up: FC United show how it's done

Saturday 24 Jan 2015
The FA Trophy

FC United of Manchester showed their namesakes how things were done as they sealed a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy on Saturday. 

While Manchester United struggled to progress in the FA Cup and were held to a draw by Cambridge United on Friday night, the Northern Premier League side, formed by United supporters in 2005, moved closer to a Wembley appearance with a 3-1 win over Fylde. 

Former Liverpool forward Craig Lindfield got the party started with two goals in the first 20 minutes.

Meanwhile Conference South side Bath City upset the odds by dumping Altrincham out of the competition. Paul Walsh headed them into the next round in the closing stages in front of 863 at Twerton Park.

And there were dramatic scenes at the Kingfield Stadium as Scott Rendell struck in the seventh minute of stoppage time to earn Woking a replay against fellow Conference Premier side Dover.

There is nothing between the two in the league table, and they could not be separated on the pitch either, with the sides thrashing out an entertaining 3-3 draw.

Rendell had struck in the final minute of the first half to put the hosts 2-1 up, but Dover, who bowed out of the FA Cup 4-0 against Crystal Palace earlier in the month, battled back and had taken the lead through Stefan Payne’s 54th-minute strike.

Meanwhile Hemel Hempstead Town had a disappointing afternoon at home to former Football League side Torquay, the ten men going down to Ryan Bowman and Aaron Downes in front of 1,116.

Elsewhere, North Ferriby triumphed 2-0 at Farnborough, Dartford drew 2-2 with Halifax and Wrexham were held 1-1 at home by Gateshead.

And in the FA Vase Fourth Round, it was third time lucky for AFC Mansfield as they cruised to a 5-0 win at Chadderton

The fixture had been postponed on two previous occasions; Craig Mitchell scored a brace, while Ryan Williams scored one and set up another. 

Meanwhile Worksop Town were eliminated by Glossop North End, who triumphed 1-0 in extra-time after the tie was 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes.

Nothing could separate Tunbridge Wells and Highworth Town in the Fourth Round Replay, as the pair were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time as Terry Bohane cancelled out Paul Booth’s effort, then 2-2 after 30 minutes of extra-time. 

But Booth and Jake Beecroft both had efforts saved as Highworth won the resulting shoot-out 4-1 in front of a bumper 788 crowd.

By Andy Lloyd-Williams Reporter