Tippers Howler!

 Dwayne (7), Jimer (6), JT (6), Rodger (6), Ruddy (6) (Sub: Gawley 80 mins 6,), T Kane (7), O Kane (5) (Sub: Thompson 58 mins 7), Jenks (7), Cush (6), Matty (6), Tippers (6), (Sub: Maggers 85mins 6,). Subs (not used): Paddy Mac and Gavin.

Man of the match: Tony (Kane)

Referee: Ian McNabb: 2

United striker Tippers, had scored 3 penalties against Chickenville, but blotted his copybook against Crues yesterday, when he didn't work the keeper with his penalty, as he bleanged it over the bar, an unforgivable miss. If he had scored with his spot-kick, I fully believe we could have got something out of the game, but in the end we got nothing and it must be said, we got what we deserved, but we made the Champions sweat for their victory and that can't be all bad.

But Tippers, wasn't the only culprit, the ref, Ian McNabb, played his part too. Not only did he not book Burns of Crues, who tripped Tippers, he didn't book any Crues players and he let the 'diver' Heatley off scot-free, when he blatantly dived at least four times, when there was no contact. Our manager Spike, rightly highlighted this in an interview after the match, we had, had players sent-off for far less, never mind a yellow card.

The Crues started off at a whirlwind pace and with 3 mins on the clock, Owens dived after coming into contact with JT and incredulously, ref McNabb, gave a penalty. Contrast this when Tippers, was fouled constantly trying to get the ball and nothing was given. As usual, Dwayne, guessed the wrong way, from Healey's spot-kick and the Crues were one up. Two mins later, Mike Ruddy, fouled Heatley on the edge of the box and the ref, booked Ruddy and rightly so, it was a foul.

I thought, wrongly as it turned out, the ref is  going to keep a close eye on foul play and stamp it out, some chance! Crues players claimed that Heatley was inside the box, but luckily for us the ref gave it outside and even luckier, it came to nothing. United's first real effort on goal arrived after 10 mins when Owen Kane's sliced shot beat Ogre, in the Crues goal, but ended up in the top of the net, with Ogre, grasping at thin air.

Two mins later Matty was fouled about 25 yards from goal, no yellow card this time, surprise, surprise and Cush rolled the ball to Tony, but his shot cannoned off the Crues wall and away for a corner. Seven mins later United got a lifeline and it owed much to the Crues tactics, when JT hoisted a fifty yard pass, a real hoof ball and Jenks nodded it back across the box, where Tony, with a bicycle kick, set the ball goalwards and Jenks got the merest flick, or did he, to send on his way into the net past the transfixed Ogre.

This goal seemed to breathe new life into United and they should have taken the lead, when Burns tripped Tippers, when he was bearing down on goal. The ref gave the penalty, but incredulously he didn't flourish the red card or even add insult to injury, by issuing a yellow one. Then we had Tippers, howler, when he blasted the ball over the bar, failing to work Ogre, an horrendous miss and one that was to have repercussions on his team.

Tippers, miss seemed to breathe new life into the Crues and they pressurised our defence and Owens somehow got his head to a Mitchell cross and scored at Dwayne's near post to leave the score 2-1 in Crues favour. That was Owens, third free header, surely we had got to stop the supply if we couldn't mark him as seemed obvious. As the match inched toward halftime, we were treated to a 'diving display' by Crues, ace diver Heatley, claiming he was fouled every-time he got the ball. But the ref wasn't fooled, but he took no action to stop this display and it continued throughout the match.

2nd half
The Crues starting off the second half trying to get the insurance goal, that surely would have settled the points. First, Owens, with yet another free header, had Dwayne scrambling to his right, eventually colliding with post, as Owens header just missed the target. Then the diver, had a shot, which Dwayne saved and then Whyte got the better of Ruddy, but Dwayne saved with his legs at the expense of a corner. Then Spike, acted taking off Owen Kane and bringing on Thommo and United started to press the Crues defence.

Then the ref took a hand penalising Jenks, twice in succession, for 'ghost fouls', in other words, for nothing. Tippers, nearly atoned for his earlier miss from the penalty spot, we he got a bit of room in the penalty area, but his curling shot came back off the bar with Ogre, beaten all ends up. But United deservedly drew level, when after Ogre, could only parry a Cush shot, Thommo, was on hand to score from a tight angle. Surely we were back in the game and our manager woukld get on a tackler, Gavin or Paddy Mac, to quell the invaders.

But before he could act, Crues were back in front when Whyte, eluding two powder puff tackles from Ruddy and JT and gave Dwayne, no chance from about twelve yards. United almost got back on level terms, when Matty showed his talent by beating three defenders, but his shot cannoned off the post. Crues, made the points safe with 13 mins to go and inevitably it was from corner, when Robinson, this time, was allowed a free header and Forsythe forced the ball home.

Our manager's response was to take off Ruddy and bring on the Barber and five mins later, he took off Tippers and brought on Maggers. We continued to press for a goal, right on to the end of the 90 mins and the three mins of added time, but in spite of forcing a corner right at the death, we were frustrated by the Crues machine and if to add insult to injury, JT got booked when Heatley, took another dive with little or no contact. The referee, blew up when another United attack led to nothing and we surrendered our unbeaten record but we made them work for their victory, bring on the Ports!