Wednesday 8 December 2010 23:02, UK
FC United's FA Cup adventure came to a crushing end with a 4-0 second-round replay defeat to Brighton at Gigg Lane.
The Evo-Stik Premier League outfit battled valiantly to bridge the 113-place chasm with their opponents. But after goals from Francisco Sandaza and Inigo Calderon had given the visitors a two-goal cushion at the break, FC United's comeback dreams were ended when Jake Cottrell missed a penalty midway through the second period. Elliott Bennett and Matt Sparrow sealed a victory that earned Brighton a south coast derby with last season's finalists Portsmouth. For FC United, there was the consolation of what appeared to be a record crowd, in excess of 7,000 bringing in useful revenue ahead of their proposed new ground move.
