Hebburn Town exited the Isuzu FA Trophy at the Third Qualifying Round stage on Saturday, suffering a three-nil defeat at home to FC United of Manchester. A Jordan Buckley brace and former Premier League and Championship man, Adam Le Fondre, ensured the visitors came away from the Sports Ground with a convincing win.

Daniel Moore made one change from Tuesday’s win at Hyde United, as Dan Groves replaced the injured Liam Noble.

FC United of Manchester got off to a flyer inside the first thirty seconds of the game. Buckley saw Adam Richardson off his goal-line, and lobbed the goalkeeper from twenty-five yards to give his team the lead. A great finish, but a nightmare start for Hebburn. Le Fondre tried to repeat his teammate’s success in the fourth minute, but the ball was narrowly over the crossbar.

In the thirteenth minute, neat play between Michael Turner and Joe Posthill, saw the latter breakaway from the defender, but his cross was blocked and forced a corner for his side. Although, the resulting set-piece was easily cleared away. The Hornets’ first real chance of the game came in the fifteenth minute. Arron Thompson swung a ball into the box that was met by Jack Donaghy, but could only ricochet off the head of the defender and went wide.

Four minutes later, another half chance went the way of the hosts. This time, the corner was cleared to the edge of the box, and Matthew Elsdon’s volleyed-strike was deflected into the goalkeeper, Charlie Casper’s gloves. The Reds doubled their advantage in the twenty-seventh minute of the match. FC United won a free-kick near the Hebburn box, and the delivery from captain Paul Ennis was met by a header into the air, and Le Fondre adjusted his body to perfect an overhead kick into the back of the net.

Following the second goal, Moore opted for a change as Olly Martin replaced Groves. It then went from bad to worse for the Hornets, as they found themselves three goals behind after thirty-five minutes. Jan Palinkas played a ball down the line for Le Fondre, and the forward delivered a first-time pass into the box for Buckley to grab his second of the match and FC United’s third.

In the thirty-ninth minute, there was a stoppage as Ennis had to be treated following a clash with Robbie Spence. Just before half-time, Aidan Heywood floated a cross towards Amar Purewal but Casper came out to claim the ball with ease.

The referee then brought an end to a frustrating first half.

In the fifty-third minute, Ennis set up Guy Hall to strike, but his effort was straight down Richardson’s midriff. There were then penalty appeals from the Hebburn players and supporters, after Martin’s strike was blocked with a hand, but the referee waved it away. In the fifty-ninth minute, Martin appeared to have found himself through on goal for the Hornets, but the attacker lost his footing and the chance came to nothing as the visitors cleared.

In the sixty-fifth minute, Hebburn won a free kick inside FC United’s half. Walton delivered a ball into the box that was cleared and launched a counter attack. It was Ennis and Le Fondre involved again, and the latter forced a save out of Richardson and a corner were awarded. The resulting corner was cleared away by Donaghy.

Moore looked to his bench again in the sixty-eighth minute as Bailey Adamson and Leo Robinson, replaced Thompson and Walton. The visitors also opted for a change as goal scorer Buckley made way for Jordan Preston. Six minutes later, Hebburn nearly pulled a
goal back. Martin’s corner was met by the head of Turner and hit the crossbar from close range. Purewal then went close but fired over. The Hornets were starting to create chances but the shots on target were minimal after eighty minutes of football.

With five minutes remaining, Posthill was denied by an outstretched leg of Casper that forced a Hebburn corner. The corner was swung in by Martin, and Purewal headed towards goal but Casper saved again, and Elsdon put the rebound wide. A flurry of pressure came too late in the match as the Hornets were minutes away from bowing out of the Isuzu FA Trophy. Charlie Cowin replaced Le Fondre in the ninetieth minute and after three minutes of injury time, the referee blew his whistle for full-time.

A disappointing day at the office for Hebburn Town, but they will look for an immediate response when they host Newton Aycliffe at the Sportsy on Tuesday night, in the Durham Challenge Cup, First Round Proper.

Man of the Match: Michael Turner

Match Attendance: 505

By Dan Carlton