FC took to the field against the Ducks looking for their first points of the season after three straight losses. Their hosts on the other hand had made a comfortable start to life back in the Southern League and were looking for a third successive win. The form book may therefore have favoured United but as we all know derbies are strange affairs. So it proved as FC ran out comfortable 3-1 winners in a game of high drama and even higher passion.

First chance of the game fell to Brian Haule with United keeper Jack Sillitoe stealing the ball as the striker looked to shoot. United then tried their luck as Paul Edgeworth glanced a header goalwards which Rhys Marshall saved easily. On eight minutes FC took the lead, Gareth Price’s persistence paid off as he chased down a ball. The clearance hit his leg and looped over the keeper into an empty net.

A controversial moment occurred on the half hour mark, Jack Wood and Rhys Marshall challenged for the ball with Wood jumping into the keeper and Rhys in return appearing to push his rival. The referee decided a yellow for each man was fair as the apparent handbags threatened to turn the match into a ten-a-side affair. By now United were creeping more and more into the game and FC were guilty of giving away too many free kicks around the penalty area. From one of these Zack Reynolds attempted to chip the wall however in doing so, he also cleared the bar. FC earned their 2nd yellow card in the space of a few minutes. A high arm from Ben Stevens connected with Jason Blackett who dramatically fell to the ground.

Reynolds again enjoyed space on 36 minutes as his low shot was tipped round the post by Marshall. Whilst the majority of the action centred around the FC half of the field, it’s not to say that the FC didn’t have their chances with Jerome Federico, Lamar Simpson and the excellent Gareth Price enjoying the opportunity to run at Ducks’ defenders. In the dying minutes of the half, Steve Hatch had a terrific for the home team whose goalbound deflection took out its sting and it spun saved into the hands of Marshall. The Ducks' best opportunity of the half fell to Jason Blackett but his diving header flashed past the post from 5 yards out. Two quick fire Brian Haule chances, one turn and shot and the other a rising header could have given FC a real cushion at half time but as it was the team could be pleased with their work.

FC’s first chance of the half was via the busy Lamar Simpson. He fed Jerome Federico who didn’t quite connect and the effort went begging. Those free kicks were still being conceded and a Keith Williams effort soon afterwards just cleared the post. Ex Mole Greg Williams was instrumental in the Duck’s next effort as he played in Ben Baines only for the majestic Ben Stevens to perform a last ditch tackle. It proved to be vital as soon afterwards FC doubled their lead. Gareth Price was bundled over in the box with Brian Haule coolly sweeping the spot kick past Sillitoe. Brian could have had two decent chances soon after, a shot from 8 yards and a glancing header as the Duck’s defence went walkabout.

A resulting spell of Ducks' pressure was beginning to tell and a mistake by the otherwise solid Davis Haule saw him mistime a backpass. The Ducks' Dean Allen quickly latched onto the wayward pass and swept the ball past Rhys Marshall. With the score at 2-1, the final few minutes could have turned into Alex Ferguson’s fabled ‘Squeaky Bum Time’ but FC followers need not have worried. Sonny French was introduced and he soon found inviting gaps in the Duck’s defence as the home side searched for an equaliser. Gareth Price was found with a pinpoint pass and he showed composure and style to lash the ball past Sillitoe to send the vociferous FC fans delirious.

Star man: Gareth Price

Line Up
1. Rhys Marshall. Yellow Card '30
2. Lamar Simpson.
3. Matt Hall. Yellow Card '57
4. Kwasi Frempong. Sub Off '77
5. Lee Grant.
6. Ben Stevens. Yellow Card '31
7. Jack Thomson.
8. Davis Haule.
9. Brian Haule. Penalty '63
10. Jerome Federico. Sub Off '74
11. Gareth Price. Goal '6 Goal '82 Man of the Match '90

Used Subs
12. Sonny French. Sub On '74
13. Max Farrelly. Sub On '77

Unused Subs
14. Jonathan Hippolyte.
15. Nick O'Donovan.
16. Ollie Hogg.