FC United of Manchester 2 - 1 AFC Wimbledon

In a nutshell: United won their first ever cup thanks to an impressive second half display on a day of colour, class and celebration.
HISTORY was made under the summer sun both on and off the field at Gigg Lane, as FC lifted the Supporters' Direct Cup from friends AFC Wimbledon, while United's first ever hosting of major travelling support made for a great occasion before 2,136 spectators.
A competitive edge to the match made it worth the fans' journey, but it was the Dons who started the better, and they went on to dominate the first half.
Despite an early close-range header put wide by Stuart Rudd attacking the Cemetery End for United, AFC Wimbledon forced the play, gaining a handful of corners and putting their hosts on the back foot.
And it was a corner that lead to the visitors' only goal of the day, with Paul Barnes getting on the end of a well-delivered cross to head home for 1-0.
With Dave Chadwick out injured, the FC backline did well to hold firm, while Simon Carden, Steve Torpey and Josh Howard seldom got the midfield's passing game together, leading to an absense of any real first-half efforts on Andy Little's goal.
But it was a totally different story after the break, as Carden lead a line in the middle of the park determine to win and hold the ball at all costs.
With the exception of the odd counter attack, the second-half play was mostly in AFC Wimbledon's half as United attacked the MRE.
And it wasn't long before the reds got their just desserts for the upped effort.
Steve Torpey's perfectly weighted cross found the unmarked Dave Brown, who headed home from six yards to level up the score.
Some of the shine was taken off the game soon after when Carden and an AFC Wimbledon player were sent off - both for violent conduct.
Thankfully, the dismissals didn't detrack from the resulting 10-a-side battle, which was settled late on after a defensive mistake let in Torpey, who slotted across goal to the 'keepers left for 2-1.
Captain for the day Dave Brown went on to lift the trophy to earn himself - and his teammates - a slice of FC United history.