Power Display!

United, despite a temporary loss of electricity supply midway through the second half, were way too powerful for the punch-less Whites. United manager Spike made three changes from his starting line-up on Monday last, Tony Kane for the injured Vaulsey and Archie and Ally returning after injury for Gavin and the unlucky Neil Lowry. I thought Lowry was hard done by given his display on Monday, but he had the last laugh. The first half was a non-event, United had the majority of the play, but the final pass was lacking. Cush came close from a free-kick when his daisy cutter just missed the target, but Jamie D missed a glorious chance when through on the keeper, hitting his shot straight at Windrum in the visitors goal.

The Whites forwards were well marshalled by the superb Johnny Taylor and Cookie and the two fullbacks, Kane and Ruddy. Some of the link-up play between these four was a joy to behold, but the pessimist in me was shall we say, concerned. The visitors were hampered by losing the veteran Halliday early on and were reduced to trying to break down United's resolute defence with long throws from Marty Hunter. That they didn't trouble United unduly shows what a difference Spike and the boys have made, last year under Roy Walker we had been panicking every time a long throw came in. But last night we dealt capably with the threat, but unfortunately at the other end we couldn't turn our superiority into goals.

Captain Jenks rode his luck when he charged down a clearance, which hit his hand, but his finish was woefully wide. With the half drawing to a close Jenks was fouled about 25 yards from goal. When the referee was making sure the Whites defensive wall was back, Tony Kane took a quick shot which the keeper saved easily, but the referee hadn't signalled for him to take it and he motioned for it to taken again. The Whites players and manager Tim McCann were angry about this turn of events and remonstrated with the official, all to no avail. This time Kane slipped the ball to Cush and his fierce grounder took a deflection off Harkness on it's way into the net and gave United a fortuitous halftime lead.

2nd half
United should have increased their lead two minutes into the half when Thompson found himself with only the keeper to beat but bleanged his shot over the bar. This signalled the pattern for the rest of the game, United subjected the visitors to relentless pressure, but just couldn't get the vital touch. Next it was Cush's turn shooting over from 25 yards when with nobody to challenge him, he could easily have made sure he scored, we who know him weren't surprised. But I don't want to detract from this virtuoso display from the Cush and he got appreciation from the spectators. Referee Burns and his assistant at the Fisherwick end, managed to miss a blatant elbow on Cush which threatened to turn ugly and then added insult to injury and booked United's Michael Ruddy for a foul five minutes later.

Despite forcing several corners United couldn't find the vital touch and Spike made a double substitution bringing on Gavin and Neil Lowry for Jamie D and Ruddy. This substitution meant Archie going to leftback and whether it was a tactical move, I honestly don't know. The visitors luck was completely out when they did mount a meaningful attack, we lost the power of the floodlights due to a power cut. It's not true that Davey King pressed the wrong button in the control tower. We lost about four minutes but we didn't lose our focus but we couldn't get the vital touch. Although were pounding the visitors goal, I couldn't help feeling that we didn't hardly deserve to be in front, missing so many chances.

Gary Thompson missed a real sitter against his former club when Cush swivelled and crossed into the six-yard box and he couldn't only side-foot the ball past the post when it looked easier to score. With time running out Neil Lowry saved his blushes when he burst into the box and his on target shot squirmed under the flailing dive of Windrum to give United a 2-0 cushion. Late in injury time Cush delivered a gem of corner which no United man could get to but Hunter headed it behind. From the resultant corner Jenks night was summed up when he missed an open goal with a header from six yards. The referee brought proceedings to a halt and United had earned a hard fought victory which takes them to the summit of the league, but it should have been easy peasey, never satisfied, am I!

Dwayne (8), Kane (7), Ruddy (7)(Sub: Gavin 7,), Cookie (7), Taylor (8), Archie (7), Thompson (7)(Sub: Sparky 7,), Jenks (6), Ally (6) Cush (8) Jamie D (6)(Sub: Lowry 8,)

Man of the match: David Cushley