Laird out of cup after clinical FC United display (From Wirral Globe)

Laird out of cup after clinical FC United display

2:20pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in Sport By Gary Langley

CAMMELL Laird's dream of lifting the FA Cup is over for another season courtesy of an effective display by FC United on Sunday at Gigg Lane.

Laird’s started this game defensively and found themselves a goal down on 27 minutes when Neville cut in from the left hand side at pace then struck hard and low to beat Molloy at the near post to put the Manchester side a goal ahead.

They doubled their advantage just five minutes later when Jerome Wright struck after a defensive lapse by Lairds allowed him the opportunity to tuck the ball away from all of six yards. On 42 minutes Michael Norton made Lairds task almost impossible before the half-time whistle when he added a third after an error by Molloy between the posts.

In the second-half Laird’s seemed subdued and FC United who were pressing at every single opportunity bagged another when Michael Grogan put past his own keeper on 47 minutes to make it 4-0 to FCUM.

At this point Laird finally got going and they did manage to create an occasional opportunity, a chance by Jamie Henders just after the hour marker the most notable for the visitors.

Michael Norton completed the scoring for the home side when his well taken opportunity beat the keeper on 66 minutes to make it 5-0. Laird’s exit the FA Cup and will be ruing their indecisiveness.

Manager Tony Sullivan was clearly disappointed: “To be honest, we cannot complain about the result today based upon our own performances.

“For a lot of players this was one of the biggest games of their career so far but many of them just were not at the races today. “It’s more disappointing given the fact that this season so far in the league we have looked hungry and closed down loose plays and carried an attacking threat, things that were missing for large parts of the game today.

“FC United were effective on the park today in front of nearly 1100 people and stuck away most chances that they have and you have to respect the ruthlessness of their finishing.

"I expect our players to dust themselves down and focus themselves for next weekend.”

Laird’s have a few days to recuperate and prepare to return to league action next week when they travel to Ossett Town looking to get the result out of their system and look to build on a solid start in the league.