Fnk united won for the second time this season, first in the league with a sage header from a corner early in the second half being the difference in a close and hard fought match. Manager s.batten made three changes to the starting line up against Elmer, with Turner, Mayell and Davis replacing Webb, Weller and Merrett respectivley. A.Owens kept his place in goal, with the ever dependable Folly and Mitchell in front with Turner as the back three were reunited. The midfield was the same for the second week in a row with the pace and flair of E.Owens and D.Batten on the wings, with a central workhorse trio of Hooper, Sage and captain Noller. And after impressing when coming on as subs last week a partnership of Davis and Mayell up front with the latter given lisence to roam.
United started brightly, looking solid defensivley, but dangerous on the attack. The first half was full of fantastic passing football all over the pitch from the oranges, carving out oppotunities with Noller, Batten, Mayell and Davis all having shots blocked from a stubborn home defence. With united limiting westbourne with only a few long range efforts, united almost took the lead towards the end of the half, with a Noller corner whipped in, E.Owens rose at the far post looking certain to score only for a defender to get the slightest of touches to divert the ball onto E.Owens and over the bar. After all the posseion and great play, united were in debt to A.Owens in the final minutes of the half when twice a westbourne broke clear one on one with the keeper, with A.Owens making two great saves too keep the scores level at half time.
The second half united started exactly the same as the first, with more great attacking play united forced a corner, Noller again with a great delivery, found Sage, who's header crashed against the crossbar, but the ball came straight back to Sage to nod home his fifth goal of the season scoring in each of the last three games! Fnk almost doubled their lead, with the opposition rattled, a delightful ball threw, to a well timed Mayell run left the forward with only the keeper to beat, however like his opposite number, pulled off a great save to keep his side in the game. The impressive D.Batten was replaced by Weller and Mayell after his tireless running was replaced by West. Noller had a shot from the edge of the box that just creeped past the post, and with the match entering the last ten, Westbourne started to pile on the pressure, but the back three and midfield were well organised, and the only major chance they had was a goal mouth scramble from a corner, and united also had a last chance to seal victory, when Weller won the ball just in his half, with one defender to beat and West and Davis in support, Weller decided to go alone and shot high and wide from twenty five yards to the dismay of Davis who calapsed to the floor in disbelief. United held on for a well deserved victory, in which they dominated from start to finish, manager S.Batten said the performance as a whole, for 90mins was just as impressive as the result, and congratulated all involved.
