County 5-1 FC United- An Alternative Review

County sent out a serious statement of intent on the opening day of the National League North season, sweeping aside an admittedly dire and woeful FC United side to storm to the top of the table after matchday 1 on a glorious sunny afternoon at Edgeley Park.

It was an afternoon full of encouraging performances from the County boys, both old and new, with Mulhern, Minihan, Duxbury, Turnbull and Sam Walker, who looks a completely different player to the one who walked through the Edgeley Park door last season, in particular impressing. This was a day where, for now at least, County lived up to their somewhat surprising tag as promotion favourites.

County were superb on the opening day, dispatching FC United with ease

County lined up, as expected, in a 4-2-3-1 formation, ditching the three at the back that so often failed to impress last season. New signings Palmer and Keane formed a new look centre-back partnership, whilst, with Connor Dimaio not yet fully fit and on the bench, Walker partnered Captain Turnbull in the middle of the park. With Jake Kirby another injury absentee, Sam Minihan was somewhat surprisingly pushed forward on the right wing. Much less surprisingly however, it was a role he excelled in, going on to pick up the Man of the Match award in a tireless display. Stephenson and Warbuton completed the attacking trio playing behind new boy Frank Mulhern up front.

There were also a few familiar faces lining up amongst the opposition, with last season’s duo of Harry Winter and Stephen O’Halloran, now captain and vice-captain respectively, whilst leader the line for the reds was former County hero Liam Dickinson, the recipient of some rather odd booing from certain sections of the Edgeley Park crowd.

Attacking a rocking Cheadle End in the first half, County quickly set about taking control of the game, with Walker and Turnbull in particular imposing themselves in midfield, and it was from the latter’s in-swinging corner that County created their first chance of the game after 9 minutes, Mulhern’s header brilliantly blocked on the line by O’Halloran, before Walker fizzed the rebound inches wide of the post. County’s threat from set pieces was evident all game, and it was from another Turnbull corner just moments later that brought about the games first goal, the delivery again finding Mulhern unmarked, and this time he made no mistake, heading it down and under the goalkeeper. A debut goal for County’s new number 9, and the season was up and running already!

County celebrate Frank Mulhern's debut goal setting them on their way to victory

Perhaps the one criticism that could be levelled at County’s performance was that the defence did look at times exposed, with the front two of FC United given far too many opportunities to isolate their man 1 on 1 on far too many occasions, and although for the most part Keane and Palmer stood firm, you would expect better quality opposition to punish such leniency. It is, however, a brand-new Centre Back partnership in the making, and will surely develop and grow as the season progresses. One such occurrence almost cost County dearly as Bannister cut inside the County box, forcing a fine reaction save down low from Big Ben Hinchcliffe in the County goal.

That, however, was as close as FC got to ever looking like they would get something out of this game, as the rest of the half was played out almost entirely in their own half as County moved through the gears. At times the football was as slick and exciting as it was at its best last season, with Minihan an constant threat on the right, Duxbury surging forward at every opportunity from left back, and Darren Stephenson beating his full back for fun on the left wing.

It seemed only a matter of time before County doubled their lead, and so it proved on the half-hour, O’Halloran with a loose ball intercepted again by Turnbull, who drove forward into the box, Yaya Toure-esque, before drilling it across for Matty Warbuton to slide it home in front of an ecstatic Cheadle End. Amidst all the debate after losing the goals of Jason Oswell, and whether Mulhern and Bell are quite good enough to replace him, it has been easy to forget that Warby himself scored over 20 goals last season and was at times unplayable. Another big season surely looms for him.

Matty Warbuton celebrates yet another goal against FC United, putting County 3-0 up at half time

At this point the Hatters were brimming with confidence, peppering the FC goal with shots, a wonderfully flowing interchange between Walker, Minihan and Mulhern led to Warbuton having an effort blocked inside the area, whereas Mulhern should have scored again from a Stephenson pull-back. It mattered little however, as just before half-time it was indeed three, a trademark run down the wing from Duxbury, his low cross finding Minihan at the back stick, who rolled it goalward for that man again Warbuton, tabbing it in from on the goal-line for what is incredibly his 7th goal in 5 appearances against this particular opponent for Stockport.

Against any other opponent, this would surely have felt like game over, although the nightmare of last seasons FA cup collapse from a similar position cast something of a shadow over the half time break, something FC United’s travelling support were keen to remind us of. In truth, however, a repeat never looked likely. Within the opening minutes of the second half, Mulhern was presented with two glorious chances to put the game to bed, again denied on the line by O’Halloran, before his effort from another Sam Minihan cutback was brilliantly saved by Crellin in the FC goal. Although he may not produce the same amount of goals as Oswell did last season, Mulhern is clearly far more adept in both his movement and his link up play with those around him and looks to be another extremely astute signing by Gannon.

Gannon would surely have been impressed by his new look side as they storm to the top of the table

The game entered something of a lull after that point, County taking their foot off the gas somewhat, so it was something of a surprise when FC, who had been as poor as County were superb up until that point, pulled one back with 20 minutes to go. It was slack defending from County in truth, the cross coming in from the right finding Willoughby unmarked in the area, his effort taking a huge deflection off Ash Palmer before ending in the back of the net.

In previous seasons that goal would surely have meant panic stations for the remainder of the game. Not with this team however, as in truth County never looked like conceding again, remaining in control of the game and always looked more likely to add to their own tally, and so that proved to be right on 90 minutes with another goal glorious in its execution, two subs combining with Mantack floating in a left-wing cross for Bell, who intelligently headed it back for Turnbull on the edge of the area to chest down and strike a glorious half volley into the far corner to cap a fine display from County’s captain.

A goal and two assists for captain Paul Turnbull, sealed with a magnificent half-volley

This was the queue for many of FC United’s fans to head for the exit, those who stayed were treated to one more superb County goal and arguably the moment of the match, as Mantack, on his first official appearance since that horrific injury last December, bursting down the left flank chasing a ball over the top, before delicately lobbing it over the keeper and into the net to put the seal on an outstanding afternoon for the Hatters, with celebrations to match, Mantack showing his ankle is as good as new with some extravagant back-flips in celebration.

In truth, it is hard to know just how much to take from this particular result, as it’s unlikely that County will face many worse sides this season than FC United, who look destined for another long battle with relegation. The next week will surely provide a bigger indication of just what level County are at this season, with two away games that are about as difficult as they will get at this level, in York and Southport back to back, two full time times who have invested heavily over the summer. Interestingly both fell to defeat on the opening day and will surely be keen to rectify that. For now, however, County have crushed their local rivals and for the next few days at least, sit happy at the top of the table. Let’s hope it’s a sign of things to come.

Superb celebrations from Kallum Mantack who sealed the win on his return from injury

Full time Score: County 5-1 FC United of Manchester (Mulhern, 12; Warbuton, 30 and 44; Turnbull, 89; Mantack, 90/Willoughy, 70)

Attendance: 4577 (761 away)

Man of the Match: Sam Minihan

Next Fixtures: York (A) Tuesday 7th August