A terrific second half performance from Sinclair United saw them move into fourth spot after a 6-3 win against Bodicote Sports. *
Having gone into half time 3-2 down, manager Steve Nash's tactical changes proved decisive as four unanswered goals, including a hattrick from Josh Nash, saw United turn the game on its head to seal victory.
Ian Timms (rib) and Matt Jeffs (groin) were the only long-term injuries, with Ben Washington serving his three-match suspension following his red card last week.
United started the game well and looked to exploit the wings, with Ben Riley and Jason Pritchard enjoying lots of space on either side. But despite the high pressure it was in fact the visiting side who took the lead.
Following a throw in on the right hand side, the ball flew into the box and following a goalmouth scramble the ball was headed in by the Bodicote striker. It was a wake up call needed for United, who had not been playing their normal attacking football.
But they did not have long to wait for the equaliser. Following a succession of corners, a Paul Rogers delivery was flicked on into the six yard box and Karl Woodcock was on hand to nod the ball past the keeper.
It seemed like the equaliser would see United take a foothold on the game but they were to go behind for the second time through another throw in. After United failed to clear their lines again the ball ended up being bundled into the goal beyond Toby Jones.
The home side's frustrations were clear to see as they were struggling to feed Nash up front on what was a very bobbly pitch. But he was to get his first goal of the game after good work down the right by Pritchard. Following a long ball from Luke Butterworth, the right midfielder did really well to nick the ball off the defender to keep it in play before feeding the ball across goal for Nash to tap into an empty net.
Steve Nash would have been happy to go in at the break level, but his side were instead going into half time behind. Following yet another throw in, a failure by the United defence gave the Bodicote striker far too much time and his shot ended up past Jones in goal.
The United boss decided to switch things around in the second half. Ben Riley was brought into the middle of midfield, with Rogers going onto the left, and the change made an instant impact. As Riley gained control of the ball, he delivered a great through ball to Nash beyond the last defender and he cooly slotted home to bring United level for a third time.
United's dominance in the midfield paid divident, as with the opposition tiring the home side were able to dictate play on both wings and give Nash and Butterworth, now paired up front, more opportunity to test the visiting defence.
And the pair combined well together to put United ahead for the first time in the game. In a well-worked move down the left, Nash beat a defender at the byline and his cross into the box was met by Butterworth who guided the ball past the keeper.
And the striker might well have got his hattrick as following a move down the right, a cushioned volley from Pritchard saw Butterworth try an audacious bicycle kick which was unlucky to cannon back off the post.
It was the least United deserved as their play was far better than what their performance was in the first half. Bodicote still had opportunities to grab more goals themselves though, and Steve Nash will have been worried on more than one occasion as their strikers were given chances on goal.
But vital interceptions from United's reliable back four, combined with some good saves from Jones, stopped the opposition adding to their tally.
And the good work of United in the middle saw Nash complete his hattrick. Another great ball saw the striker go past the last defender and as the keeper came rushing out, he calmly rounded him before putting the ball in the back of the net.
The two-goal advantage gave United a bit of breathing space and they found more and more gaps past the opposition defence. Butterworth put the game beyond doubt ten minutes from time when another ball to the defence saw him cleverly jinx past a defender before firing the ball past the keeper at the near post.
And with results going in United's favour, Steve Nash's side moved in to the top four for the first time this season. With their last four fixtures featuring matches against three of the top four sides, Nash has got plenty to be optimistic about and is hopeful of upsetting the odds and finishing the season with a flourish.
*Ben Riley and Josh Nash were given joint match of the match.
