United Share Six Goals in Final Game

United concluded their season with an entertaining game against Pickering Town at Grange Park on Monday and having led 2-nil at one stage, it was three defensive lapses that enabled the visitors back into a game in which United also thumped the woodwork three times during the second half.

Micky Allsop and Michael Martin returned to the side following Saturday’s victory over Nostell Miners Welfare and 16 year old Michael Armstrong found himself on the bench after a run of seven recent starts. Danny Chambers, Jake Webster and Elliot King were also among the named substitutes. Gary Breach was again unavailable due to injury.

In sunny, blustery conditions, much the same as the game a week previously in Pickering, both teams adapted well to the swirling wind but it was the visitors who appeared to have the early impetus.

United’s left-back Paul McGinty, making his 366th and possibly final start was called into early action and twice cut out sharp passing moves from the Pickering midfield. Goalkeeper Simon Baldwin made a save low to his left and Allsop prevented a developing situation with a clever interception after fifteen minutes.

Slowly, United began to establish their own imprint on the game and Martin Bowles, Kelvin Mushambi and Martin were often at the hub of matters. A shot from distance from Nathan Parker tested Toby Wells in the visitor’s goal and Adam Campbell had a decent effort after Kev Mabon had provided an opening.

It was Mabon who created and scored United’s opener after twenty-two minutes when he was impeded as he worked his way into the box from the left. Following little protest from the Pickering players, Mabon dusted himself down to coolly fire the spot-kick past Wells.

United continued to be the more self-assured of the two sides and two minutes before the break a lofted ball into a dangerous area was met by Campbell, who headed home from close range to record a rare headed effort.

With the comfort of a two-goal lead, concentration was the key as half time approached. Unfortunately, Pickering hit back within a minute following an uncharacteristic lapse in defence that allowed Tom Fenwick both time and space to slot his shot past the advancing Baldwin.

The goal clearly lifted the visitors as it was a hesitant United that emerged after the interval, highlighted when a mix-up between Allsop and Baldwin gifted Josh Greening a Pickering equaliser on fifty minutes.

To their credit, United regained control and appeared un-phased at having surrendered a two-gaol lead in such a short time and pushed forward with renewed spirit. As Mushambi came more and more into the game he created room for himself just after the hour mark and from twenty-five yards struck a wicked shot that Wells was unable to prevent from entering into his net, giving United the lead once again.

With United in control, it was a further lapse that led to an equaliser on sixty-eight minutes when Fenwick added his second from close range during only Pickering’s second serious foray of the half.

It was notable that both sides were playing some credible passing football in difficult conditions but during the remaining twenty minutes United pushed forward with some style. Substitute Chambers, who had replaced Parker just before the interval, fired a rasping drive against the bar and a Dean Whiley header struck an upright with Wells well beaten. Mushambi, Mabon and Campbell all went close to edging United ahead and a Chris Murdock cross from the right caused some panic in the Pickering defence. With time ebbing away, McGinty almost snatched a late winner but his powerful effort went wide and the game ended all-square, much to the relief of the visitors.

The result ensured United finished their season in 12th place, after perhaps too many drawn games during a low scoring campaign. The game against Pickering was the first time they had scored more than twice in a league game at Grange Park all season and a fourth goal today would have resulted in the clubs 3,000th league goal since their formation in 1956. That distinction now awaits the first goal-scorer of the season ahead.