Legend of Green: Rise of the Red Rebels

On August 3, 2013, the 13-14 season of the League Two is about to begin, a team that has been promoted from the tenth division to the professional league in only 8 years has become the focus of the media and fans, coupled with the arrival of Premier League star Delap, and the introduction of many Championship and League One players, so that major websites are optimistic about the prospects of FC United, but some media believe that FC United is only superficially strong, and this season will definitely be relegated from League Two back to the Amateur League.

Newport County, who won the promotion play-offs and moved to League Two with FC United, are also unfavorable, with relegation odds being the lowest of all teams in the media's pre-season analysis, FC United are better, but only in the middle and lower rankings, and the media predicts that they can barely complete the relegation task. FC United's city ally Burleigh is not favored to return to League One, the team's finances are the biggest factor limiting the team's development, if Lu Wei had not funded a lot of training facilities plus annual stadium usage fees, I am afraid that Burleigh would have fallen into debt sooner. The other three teams relegated from League One are Sokensp United, Hartlepool United and Portsmouth, with Sokensp United and Portsmouth in the top two in the pre-season forecast, while the other two favourites for promotion are Rochdale, also Manchester Region, and Chesterfield, the fourth oldest team in the English league system.

FC United's first professional league opponent was Sokensp United, relegated from the League One, Sokensp United is no stranger to FC United, meeting them in the FA Cup in the 11-12 season, when it was a pity that they only lost one goal, now FC United is no longer the Northern National League, and the opponent is not a League One team, the gap in strength has been narrowed or even reversed.

Lu Wei will certainly not remain in his professional league debut at FC United, with goalkeeper Pickford on loan from Sunderland, Nicholson at right-back, Lazari, who has not yet fully adapted to the English league, sitting on the bench, and the centre-back partner being veteran Mark. Roberts and Tyrone, left-back Robertson. The back position is Draper, Draper showed a professional attitude in the pre-season warm-up, so that Lu Wei has improved his prospects, once again chose to trust him as a starter, the two central midfielders are Grimes and Klucas, the right winger chose Hogan, the left wing is still the best Mane of the team, because the central defender of Sokensp United is also a strong player with a weight of 92kg, Akinfinwa's advantage is not obvious, so the center Lu Wei chose Moore to play, The good news is that seven substitutes can finally be brought into the squad this year, Edward . Mendy, Lazari, Rahmani, Darren. Carter, Naismith, Bowen and Akinfenwa were on the bench.

Although Sokensp United suffered relegation, the team did not lose much fighting power, most of the main players remained, and also loaned future forest captain Osborne from Nottingham Forest, and on paper still led the league, in addition to Osborne, former Jamaican international Deon. Burton is the biggest threat to FC United and, despite being 36 years old, the Jamaican striker has not slipped after scoring 12 league goals for Gillingham in League Two last year.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the first round of the League Two game started on time at Granford Park Stadium, just opened FC United on the contrary, not afraid that the other party had defeated their own team, in the midfield began a high-pressure struggle, just kicked off the ball has not yet entered the state of the game Sokensp United only passed the ball five times was cut off by Klucas, immediately passed the ball to Mane on the left after breaking the ball, Mane did not hesitate, saw that Moore had been targeted by the defender and immediately chose to break through, A change of line broke through Ribeiro's defense, only to be slightly hesitant in the box by Sokensp United captain David Bu. Miffin broke the line.

Klucass takes a corner kick and central defender Neil Ker. Canavan knocked Moore away to clear the ball, but did not go far, Hogan on the left side of the penalty area stopped the ball and chose to level the ball into the box, Tyrone put the ball back, Moore met the ball angrily, but there were too many people in the box, the ball did not know who hit the body and popped out of the box, FC United just gave the home team a blow at the beginning.

Of course, Sokensp United would not allow a promotion horse to suppress him, and immediately organized an attack to press FC United back to the second half, but perhaps because it was the first game of the season, the 22 players on the field were still looking for the game, and both sides had only two shots on goal throughout the first half, and both sides deflected off the goal, and both sides ended the first half with a score of 0-0.

In the first half, FC United's cooperation was still a little chaotic, and Lu Wei was not in a hurry, encouraging the players in the locker room, emphasizing that the offensive and defensive running positions entered the second half without making any adjustments.

Sokensp United were still in control of the game in the second half, but failed to organise an effective attack in FC United's pressing tactics, and the game took a turn in the 64th minute, also with a corner kick, Dave United. Sails took a corner kick from the right, Kanavan who was ambushed at the back post headed the ball in front of the goal, and Hayes snatched the spot to send the ball into the net, giving Sokensp United a 1-0 lead.

Tyrone walked into the goal, picked up the ball, tossed it to Mane with his hand, and shouted.

"It's okay, let's fight back, isn't it just a goal conceded, we haven't lagged behind, let them see our strength."

A one-goal leader Sokensp United is still immersed in the joy of breaking the deadlock, Moore has already kicked off the ball and replayed, after three passes and two downs, Draper passed the ball to Hogan, 21-year-old Hogan is also the first time he appeared in the professional arena, but there is no stage fright, every time he takes the ball to complete his task well, Williams who defends Hogan is relatively thin, Hogan takes the ball and forces the ball to break through, Williams, who is ill-prepared, quickly turned around and wanted to block the line, However, Hogan's clever stop began to cut inside to squeeze Williams behind him, taking two steps and shooting a left-footed shot into the near corner, goalkeeper Slocolm fell to the ground and failed to block FC United's goal, and in the 66th minute, FC United equalized by lightning.

Scott who scored the goal. Hogan excitedly ran to the dugout and hugged Lu Wei tightly, and he lived up to Lu Wei's trust in him as a substitute in the National League last season, scoring FC United's first goal of the new season.

"Keep going, Scott, it's all the result of your hard work on the training pitch and I'm waiting for you to score more goals for the team." Lu Wei patted Hogan and encouraged the boys in the team to continue to destroy the city for FC United.

After the celebration, the FC United players did not let their guard down like their opponents, and Lu Wei was replaced by Darren. Carter strengthened the midfield defense, and Sokensp United were not willing to get only one point at their home stadium, and began to frantically attack the FC United backfield, but they all defused the offensive with the cooperation of Roberts and Tyrone, and organized several counterattacks while defending, but they were all defused by the goalkeeper.

At the end of the game, Lu Wei replaced two youngsters, Rahmani and Bowen, to get a feel for the game, and the game ended with a close-range header from Moore that was confiscated by the goalkeeper, FC United drew 1-1 away to Sokensp United, and substitute Bowen broke the record for youngest player to play in the League Two at the age of 16 years and 227 days without everyone's knowledge.

After the game, when the media asked Lu Wei if he knew the record and specially sent Bowen to break the record before the end of the game, Lu Wei said: "Of course I don't know about this, I let Jarrod play because I believe he has the ability to change the situation on the field, if I want to break the record, I will let the players in the team who just passed their 16th birthday play, but what is the point of this, the players I choose are players who will help the team, and every player who plays has the ability to change the game. Jarrod is going to be a great professional, and coming off the bench today is just the beginning of his career. "

Drawing away from home with last season's Sokensp United in League One is not a game to celebrate, after all, you are only a relegation team." A reporter asked.

"Who said we were relegated?" Lu Wei said very seriously, "We have only one goal this season, that is, to be promoted to League One, getting a point away is not something to celebrate, only three points can make me and my team happy, Sokensp United is a very respectable opponent, I hope to be promoted to League One with them after the season."

After the game, the headline 'Goal: Upgrade' was printed on the headlines of the sports section of the Manchester Evening News.