In their two previous games, against Maltby Main and Arnold Town, United had to battle to gain a share of the spoils in successive 1-1 draws. At Grange Park yeasterday, they clawed their way back from a 2-0 deficit against Winterton Rangers to level the game, via a well-taken double strike from substitute Shaun Rickford.

With Dean Whiley and Kev Mabon missing through injury, former United defender Wayne Duik and Cashel Walters were drafted in on loan from Hucknall Town. Paul Gamble deputised as captain for the day in the absence of Whiley.

Nathan Parker would have been disappointed to have been named as one of the substitutes after his two recent strong performances, and his scoring contributions before the enforced break, and new name Harry Lord was also on the bench with Shaun Rickford. Josh Williams was again missing through injury.

Prior to the game, United were unbeaten in their last five NCEL games and Winterton themselves had not lost a league game in their previous nine. Significantly, in Liam Wilkin, they also had the Premier Division’s leading goal-scorer in their starting line-up.

On a particularly heavy pitch, United started the better of the two sides and they continued to dominate for long periods during the first half. Gamble had an early effort that the visiting ’keeper Jack Ward held on to and Gary Breach had two attempts within minutes of each other, the second of which struck a post.

Martin Bowles went close to opening the scoring and another well-struck shot from Gamble was pushed over the bar by the over-worked Rangers custodian.

Then on forty-minutes, with United looking the more likely to score, the visiting side broke on the left and a simple low cross was tapped home by Danny Barlow.

United’s disappointment was compounded minutes later as Winterton went further ahead almost on the stroke of half time. Following a smooth build up, a dangerous cross from wide on the right was met with exquisite timing by Wilkin and the striker volleyed past United’s Simon Baldwin with some aplomb. It also illustrated the clinical nature of Winterton's style.

The double setback was somewhat hard to take but United started the second half with a level of spirit that encouraged the Grange Park faithful. Yet another long range effort from Gamble was tipped over the bar and Kelvin Mushambi found space to fire an attempt just a little too high from twenty yards out.

Shaun Rickford was introduced to the fray after sixty-two minutes, to great cheers from the local contingent, and his impact was immediate as he rose to meet a telling cross from Chris Murdock and head powerfully past the despairing Winterton ‘keeper with his first touch of the game.

Baldwin was forced to make a crucial save shortly after Rickford’s goal but United continued to push forward, as first a header from Mushambi and then a shot from Bowles were thwarted by the visitor’s defence.

United’s leveller came on seventy-eight minutes after Murdock fired a low cross into a congested penalty area. Rickford seized on the loose ball and used his strength and determination to elude the despairing challenges of the Winterton rearguard before firing the ball into the net for his second goal of the game. In doing so, he became the first United player to score twice in a league game at Grange Park in almost a year.

Despite a late scare, that saw the ball ricocheting around the United box, the game ended all-square. Although United were relieved to recover from being two goals adrift at the interval, they were perhaps a little unlucky not to take all three points after going close on so many occasions.

Defensively, United again looked confident for long periods, with Michael Martin and Paul McGinty both giving their all for the cause. Baldwin made his customary crucial save and Duik was able to cover for the team's missing captain in an out-of-position role.

Up front, Walters started well and harried the Winterton defense during the first half but was unable to produce a worthwhile strike on goal. However, he showed touches that could produce a return if he had a strike partner whose style played to his strengths.

Gamble produced a dominating midfield performance and seemed to revel in conditions in which his opposite numbers seemed to toil. On another day' he would have had his name on the scoresheet had it not been for an alert performance by Ward in the Winterton goal.

Rickford's contribution was a great boost for both the player himself and the local supporters of the club, which may result in reward for his patience in recent weeks. His two goals were only the second time this season that a player had scored more than once against Winterton in a league game.

United's Man of the Match was Geoff Woolley.