FRIENDLY: FC United of Manchester 3 Wanderers B 1

Nelson Khumbeni was on target as the B team headed into a mid-season break in their games’ programme with a friendly defeat at Broadhurst Park.

Khumbeni (pictured) slotted home 11 minutes from the end following a neat Wanderers’ move as Matt Craddock’s youngsters gained some valuable game time.

However, three goals in a 15-minute spell before the break left the Whites with too much to do to complete a comeback as the Northern Premier League top-flight outfit held on to win.

Wanderers had wing-back Linford Sackey back in their starting line-up and also included Lamine Toure, Matthew Tweedley and Arran Pettifer who are currently out on loan to NPL clubs.

With the recent weather limiting their fixture lists they benefitted from the run-out, while the Whites also included Connor Stanley following his recent loan spell at FC United.

Wanderers tested the Reds early on with United keeper Dan Lavercombe saving well from Gez Sithole and Khumbeni.

But the home side – looking to resume their promotion push over Christmas after a couple of recent postponements – then took control with three swift strikes.

Mackenzie Chapman had made a couple of decent stops in the Whites' goal but was then beaten by a long-range effort from Joseph Rodwell-Grant, who also added the third after Brayden Shaw had made it 2-0 to the hosts.

Wanderers responded well after the break with Stanley going close to scoring against his first former team-mates.

And the Whites got the goal they deserved when midfield man Khumbeni - a recent substitute in League One for Wanderers - did pull one back before the end as Craddock’s men now look forward to a resumption of their Central League campaign next month.

B team: Chapman, Sackey, Toure, Trialist, Inwood (Kamara), Khumbeni, Tweedley (Sharples), Pettifer, Stanley, Jones (Frimpong), Sithole (Loureiro).

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