What seemed utterly implausible when they were founded
five years ago may only be one game away. FC United could face
Manchester United.
It could be Evo-Stik Premier Division against three-time
European champions, the club set up because of the Glazers against
the one owned by them. A chorus of 'bring on United' rang around
Spotland after FCUM's FA Cup first round debut came to its
remarkable conclusion, hundreds of their fans pouring on to the
pitch in jubilation.
Two much: Jake Cotterill (second bottom) celebrates
scoring the second goal
There were 94 minutes on the clock when Mike Norton, FC
United striker and Manchester United supporter, stabbed home from
close range. Not quite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the Nou Camp, but
pretty special nonetheless.
Manager Karl Marginson said: 'With a few minutes to go I
put five in the middle and thought "let's hold on". Then we scored.
I don't know if we deserved it but it's all about results and it
was a fantastic result.'
Just when a fine Rochdale comeback seemed to have earned
the League One team a replay, a side four divisions and 95 places
below them had the final say.
Theatre of dreams: More than 4,000 FC United of
Manchester fans watched the drama
At times Marginson's enterprising team outplayed them,
too. They may be in the seventh tier, but they possess two tricky
wingers in the speedy, skilful Carlos Roca and Jerome
Wright.
But for all their links with Manchester United, it was a
former Liverpool academy player, Nicky Platt, who struck first,
finishing well from Wright's through pass. Then Jake Cottrell's
rasping shot flew past Rochdale goalkeeper Josh Lillis to give them
a superb second.
Cottrell went to the same school as Paul Scholes. In an
instant, he took the similarities further. 'He did well to score
with that left foot of his because he hasn't got one,' added
Marginson, a former fruit-and-veg delivery man.
Spot on: Nicky Platt puts FC United ahead
That led to a fine fightback from Dale. First Anthony
Elding pulled a goal back. Then Richard Battersby cleared off the
line to deny Chris O'Grady before Craig Dawson headed in a Barry
Murphy corner.
Comeback complete? Not quite. Lillis spilled the ball,
Norton kicked it out of his hands and FC United were through. When
the second-round draw is made, he knows what he wants. 'That's an
easy one,' said the scorer - anyone to facilitate a meeting with
Manchester United.
This lot delight in being the thorn in the side of the Old
Trafford authorities. Barely had the game begun when the FC United
fans chanted: 'Are you watching, David Gill?' Manchester United's
chief executive probably wasn't. He certainly should have been. And
he will have to if they meet in the third round.
Naughty Norton: Michael Norton scores the winner after
kicking the ball after the keeper's hands