The UNITS took on Chainwire in their last game at Brown Westhead for the season. Once again Cuzer had a few missing and a couple of late drop outs never helped as we lined up: Tom, DJ, Taylor, Sean, Chinner, Gilo, Azza, Newt, Ashton, Seeks and Pountney. Subs were Si, Baker, Trigger and returning from his injury lay off Coco
The UNITS were asked to build on their performance of last week and despite the game being played at a comfortable pace the UNITS were having 70% + possession and in control of the game as the flow of football was towards the Chainwire goal. DJ threatened early and shot narrowly wide and Azza blazed over twice when in good positions, Newt's then had a good chance on 10 minutes when after some nice build up play his shot from the edge of the box was pushed away by the visiting keeper. The UNITS took the lead on 15 minutes with a fine team goal when Taylor did superbly to play out from the back and fizz a 40 yard ball into Ashton who spun and switched a diagonal ball to Gilo who cushioned his header across the box for Newton to side foot home from 7 yards to give the UNITS the lead. It was no more than we deserved as we were in total control of the game.
This trend continued for the next 10 minutes but our tempo was slow and this enabled a well drilled Chainwire side to defend in numbers and keep chances to a minimum, again Azza shot wide then Seeks dragged a good chance wide as we kept asking questions. The warning sign were there for the UNITS when from a Chainwire corner their centre half powered a header against the bar to remind us a 1-0 lead was no cushion at all and 5 minutes later Chainwire did draw level when the same defender had his header from a debatable corner hacked off the line by Ashton but following in Chainwire poked the ball home to level things up. It was a rude awakening for the UNITS who had been in control of the game but everything was a little comfortable including our build up play and this had cost us as Chainwire drew level. Chainwire then raised their game approaching half time buoyed by their goal and the game became more even but approaching half time the UNITS got back on top again and went close from two Azza corners and Newt's had another attempt saved as we came in 1-1.
UNITS 1 v Chainwire 1 HT
Cuzer asked the boys for an improved tempo, we had let Chainwire back into the game due to our poor tempo despite being in control and we had to get out of cruise control going into the 2nd half. We started the half on the front foot, Seeks had a shot blocked and Ashton shot wide as we asked questions of the visitors. The flow of football was once again towards the Chainwire half yet they were defending well, from a DJ lay off Azza stung the palms of the keeper from 20 yards as we almost increased our lead. Seeks then got away from a long Tom kick yet took his shot early with space ahead of him but could only shoot wide with the keeper untested. On the hour mark a Taylor header from an Azza corner was hacked off the line, despite the ball looking well over and the Chainwire defender deep into the net the referee gave no goal despite the UNITS complaints.
Despite being nowhere near our most fluent we kept the pressure on Chainwire and on 65 minutes we got our noses back in front, the UNITS won a debatable free kick some 35 yards out and DJ whipped in a delightful ball which Millette ghosted in on at the back post and side footed past the keeper from 8 yards out to give the UNITS a 2-1 advantage. A 3rd goal was the cushion we were looking for Taylor almost added it from another corner yet we couldn't ease off a case highlighted by Chainwire almost drawing level on 70 minutes when Taylor's clearance only found the Chainwire wide man who headed forward and with Taylor in a wide position this afforded the Chainwire striker a clear run on goal and Tom made a fine one on one save and held the ball when the striker should have done better.
Cuzer then replaced Newt with Baker in a like for like swap. The last 15 minutes were edgy as the UNITS needed to hang on for the 3 points and Chainwire threw men forward chasing the point, Cuzer introduced Coco for Pountney with 10 left for his long awaited return from injury and Trigger replaced Seeks with 5 left as the UNITS saw out the remainder to record the all-important 3 points against an always spirited Chainwire side who make you work for everything.
Man of the match went to The Strap who stepped in again at the back, helping out playing out of his natural position and put in an assured performance.
Next up the UNITS travel to Hare & Hounds for a tough looking double header as we hope to keep our title ambitions alive.
