United extended their unbeaten league run to eight games with a competent victory over Liversedge at Grange Park on Saturday. The 2-nil triumph was made even more enjoyable owing to sixteen year-old Michael Armstrong’s first goal for the club, which was a stunning strike by any standard.

Following on from the two recent goalless draws against Thackley last weekend and second-placed Bridlington Town on Tuesday, Manager Glyn Stacey’s only changes were both enforced after Paul Gamble’s midweek fracture against Bridlington and the unavailability of George Morgan.

Paul McGinty returned to the side in his customary left back role and striker Kev Mabon was in the starting line-up after late work commitments had resulted in a bench start for the previous NCEL match.

Despite their lowly position, the visitors had only lost once in their previous seven league games and were boosted by a worthy victory seven days earlier against Lincoln Moorlands.

It was apparent during the first quarter of the game that United have grown in confidence of late and the shape of the side appears more balanced than it had earlier in the season. Any creativity that the visitors may have possessed was ably snuffed out by United’s hard working midfield of Michael Martin, Nathan Parker, Martin Bowles and Armstrong.

After a couple of early scares for the the Liversedge defence, United took the lead just after the half hour mark. Armstrong controlled a pass from deep with great coolness and struck a fierce drive across the ‘keeper and into the net from the right hand edge of the penalty area. It was a tremendous strike, made even more memorable by coming from a player so young.

United’s pressure continued and a Mabon effort was fired into the side netting and a Martin shot was blocked by a frantic defender. Occasional forays into their own third were comfortably thwarted by central defenders Micky Allsop and Dean Whiley, who were given good support on the flanks by veterans McGinty and Gary Breach.

Five minutes before the interval a United free-kick from the right from Breach was not dealt with effectively enough by the visiting defence and the ball was touched past the Liversedge custodian to double the lead. United’s Allsop turned away in delayed celebration of the goal but there were claims later that a defender had edged the ball past his own ‘keeper.

The second half was not as entertaining as the opening forty-five minutes but United maintained their overall control.

Mabon and Bowles created half chances for themselves that went close and Kelvin Mushambi ran out of room when put clear by Martin. Armstrong also had a good late scamper into the Liversdge box that ended with a bizarre booking for the youngster, and substitute Harry Lord had a clever effort tipped over the bar in the closing minutes. United’s other late substitute, Adam Campbell also had a headed effort saved in the dying moments of the game.

At the final whistle, United had recorded another victory in their recent impressive run and once again the rearguard held firm. Goal-keeper Simon Baldwin played his part with another dominating display and resulting in him being part of a defence that has now produced the meanest league sequence in the club’s history after conceding just a solitary goal in their last eight games.