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Sell out crowd in attendance as fan-owned non league clubs face off in friendly

A sell out crowd were in attendance as two fan-owned non league clubs face off in a tasty pre-season friendly on Saturday.

The initial allocation of 2,000 tickets for Bury AFC’s friendly at FC United of Manchester had sold out in under 24 hours.

After a long time without spectators in the stands at Broadhurst Park, it was back bouncing again of course with the correct protocols in place.

FC United said on tickets selling out earlier this year: “We are hopeful that the current 50 per cent restriction currently in place will be lifted, but we will not know whether this is possible until mid-June, at which point we will make a further announcement so please keep an eye on both clubs social media.”

Both clubs dubbed the game ‘Football and Fans United’ with AFC saying in a statement: “This is a special moment for both clubs as we have developed especially close ties since the creation of our fan-owned club.

“Senior figures at FC United offered considerable assistance in following their lead in setting up a new club, as they did in 2005.

“It is sure to be a great occasion and a celebration of football club fan ownership.”

The game will saw FC United’s record goalscorer Tom Greaves return to his former club having made an impressive start to his career with the phoenix club in the curtailed 2020/21 campaign.

“Returning to the ground that holds so many great memories for me, and to play in front of the FC United fans again is something I’m delighted to be able to do, though what I’m looking forward to most is meeting up with the many friends I made during my time there,” he said.

How did the game play out? Updates by Bury AFC’s Twitter…

2′ – Early sniff for Gilboy as Daniels nicks the ball in midfield, then Greaves gets the ball into Lewis’ feet – his threat is snuffed out by the United full back though

4′ – First half-chance for the home team as a deep ball from the right finds Linney at the back post but he’s off balance and his effort goes well over the bar

9′ – Goal to FC United – Paul Ennis picks up a loose ball on the edge of the Bury area and drives a firm shot past the triallist keeper and into the bottom corner

11′ – United full-back White gets away on the left, and sends in a dangerous ball that Ibrahim does well to turn behind – the corner is headed clear by Metcalfe

13′ – Corner for Bury – initially Greaves almost gets the chance to strike but the United defence clear behind – it’s whipped in and JUST kept out at the back post by Lavercombe!

16′ – Bury are definitely going for this – on the left wing, Metcalfe gets it forward, and then a through ball to Greaves is cleared with a last-ditch tackle!

17′ – United show their clear threat though, and a cutback for Sinclair-Smith sees him shoot, but it’s blocked behind – the corner comes to nothing and Bury break forward

18′ – Greaves thunders forward on the right side, getting to the goal line, and tries to cut inside but the ball runs away from him and United clear

19′ – What a challenge by Captain Scotty Metcalfe! A ball in would have had Waddecar through on goal but the tackle blocks the effort!

20′ – Another great block! This time Metcalfe stops Ennis, and Ibrahim and Williams combine to clear the ball behind!

22′ – The triallist keeper rushes out and gets to the ball ahead of the onrushing United forward – behind for a corner which Bury clear easily. The home team building up a head of steam now

26′ – Daniels finds a lovely ball over the top for the Triallist on the right – Greaves is lurking in the middle, but Triallist can’t find him and the United keeper dives on the ball

28′ – From deep on the right, a long ball almost releases Sinclair-Smith, but Matty Williams stands strong to snuff out the threat

30′ – This game is flying by! Donohue gets forward on the right, into the box, and tries to lift it over the keeper and into the net – GREAT SAVE!

36′ – The Triallist keeper reads the game well, seeing a through ball for Sinclair-Smith – he rushes out to clear it upfield

37′ – CLOSE! Greaves wrestles the ball under control near the right corner flag, and dances along the line into the box – he finds Williams, but that’s a great stop by Lavercombe in the United goal!

38′ – HANDBALL! Wait, it’s the ref – he caught the ball in his midriff! A drop ball restarts play

43′ – Chance for FC United – a ball in to Waddecar has him clear through but the Bury defence is strong and able to clear the threat

46′ – WHAT A SAVE! Straight away United break forwards, and Sinclair-Smith has a great effort – turned behind by the triallist keeper who is having a belting game!

48′ – THEY CAN’T BEAT HIM! Regan Linney capitalises on a mistake from the halfway line to be clean through on goal – that should have been two but he turns it behind!

49′ – OFF THE POST! What a start to the second half! Gilboy breaks forward, twisting and turning, and drives a shot across goal – off the base of the post and clear!

50′ – GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL BURY! TOM GREAVES! This goal had it all – strength, pace, skill, and what a finish! Greaves steals the ball on the half way line, holds off his man, and slides the ball coolly past the United keeper into the bottom right!

56′ – United make another change as Linney is replaced by Keaton Mulvey

60′ – Greaves is sniffing for a second, as he’s sent free by Metcalfe – it’s towards the right of the pitch though, and he can’t shake free of his man this time

63′ – A straight swap of triallists as Bury make their first change of the game

65′ – CLOSE! Bury still probing, and pick up a loose ball on the edge of the United area – it’s the triallist who’s just come on as he tries to find Greaves but it’s JUST out of his reach!

68′ – Bury get a free kick on the edge of the United area after Greg Daniels is bundled over. Scott Metcalfe lines it up, but curls it over the bar

71′ – Second change for Bury as Greg Daniels makes way for Kamar Moncrieffe

73′ – Great tackle! United are nearly in on goal but Williams has tracked back brilliantly and slides in to clear the danger!

75′ – Metcalfe swings a corner in from the right, looking for the head of Moore, but he can’t get on top of it and it’s behind

76′ – Greaves hungry – Hunt lofts a ball over the United defence for him to chase, and he tries to fashion a chance but under pressure he can’t get power in the shot

77′ – CLOSE! Tony Whitehead gambles and steals the ball from a United player, then drives a daisycutter towards goal – JUST wide!

79′ – Triple change for AFC – swap of triallist ‘keepers, McWilliam on for Lewis, and Downing replaces Hunt

84′ – Matty Williams makes way after a good afternoon, to be replaced by Tommy Lent

86′ – What a block! A goalmouth scramble should have seen United retake the lead but Emery and Ibrahim combine to somehow keep the ball out!

88′ – Ibrahim down on his back – bit of cramp!

90’ – SO CLOSE TO A WINNER! Tommy Greaves gets in and beats the United keeper to the ball, but it’s cleared off the line!

With a sell out crowd in attendance as the fan-owned non league clubs face off in a friendly, Twitter users reacted…

@dannyg182pilt: Well done Bury 👏👏👏

@nathanscholes26: The first keeper number 6 and 7 looked good

@suebowenok: Really enjoyed the game – sign up that keeper AKA “A Triallist”!!! 👏👏💙🤍💙

@Ludd1885: Really well played from our lot and a good result against a much higher division side 👍

@nomoresurfin: Fitting that @tomgreaves85 the #GOAT 🐐 of both @OfficialBuryAFC & @FCUnitedMcr should score in the pre-season friendly between the two clubs. Who writes your scripts Tom?

Were you part of the sell out crowd in attendance as the fan-owned non league clubs face off in a friendly on Saturday? Let us know via our socials!

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