FC United of Manchester boss Mark Beesley challenges Reds to reach new heights in FA Cup

By Andrew Simpson

After watching FC United of Manchester progress in the FA Cup last weekend by beating their toughest opponent to date this season, Mark Beesley has set his side a challenge.

“We have to scale those heights more often,” he told The NLP while reflecting on an eye-catching 3-0 win at higher-ranked Worksop Town.

“When we needed to be, we were clinical. We had a good shape about us too that made us hard to beat.

“There’s proof now of what we’re capable of, and that should give us belief we can do the same against teams from our own division.”

Focus

The 45-year-old’s focus is on improving on a return of just five points from the opening ten games in the Northern Premier League’s top flight, leaving the men from Broadhurst Park bottom of the table before kick-off at Stockton yesterday.

That sequence has yielded a single victory at home to Warrington Town last month – too meagre a return for a club that ranked third last season before losing to Warrington Rylands in the play-offs semi-finals.

“We should be doing better, and we know it,” admitted Beesley.

“There have been challenges, not least with injuries, but we’ve must find it within ourselves to get going quickly.”

Success in knockout games has boosted confidence, and goals from Jordan Buckley, Michael Donohue, and Matty Grivosti against the Tigers delivered a third FA Cup victory this term for the Reds, who shut out an opponent for the first time since March the same afternoon.

They were then paired with Altrincham, flying high in the National League, in Monday’s draw for the final qualifying round.

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No pressure

“We can give it a go without pressure because they’ll be expected to beat us,” said Beesley, who played as a Robin for a six-month spell in the 2010-11 campaign.

“They’re a different club now to the one I played for, and I’m happy for the people there that they’ve grown into the force that they are at that level.

“During September, we’ve been better all around and wins in the cup have been a help; we’ve improved in attack, and been tough to beat.

“To cause an upset, we’ve got to be at the top of our game while hoping they take us lightly.”

Reds supporters with a longer memory might also recall an FA Cup success at Altrincham’s Moss Lane home some 19 years ago; they saw off Trafford 5-2 on their competition debut in a game switched from Shawe View to accommodate a crowd north of 2,000.

Saturday’s victors will be rewarded with a place in the first round, a stage FC United have reached three times previously in their history and most recently in 2020 when they hosted Doncaster Rovers in front of the television cameras.

“It’s a big incentive to reach the next stage and give our fans an occasion to remember,” added Beesley.

“If the FA Cup is a distraction right now, then let’s make it a positive one.”