United took on Millfield Oddies in the first league game of the new season with a strong 16 players available and despite making hard work of it came away with a nice 5-2 victory
United started well and the first chance came to Stephen Sheriff but his header from Scott Stevenson's free kick went wide
United took an early lead on 6 minutes after some lovely football. Andy Meikle played a neat one-two with Dan Musther and Andy crossed the ball into the box and it was met with a lovely half volley by Chris Brown which nestled into the bottom corner. 0-1
United doubled the lead a minute later. Andy Meikle again involved this time releasing Gary Simmons in behind the defence and he took a touch around the keeper before powering it into the net from the right hand side of the box. 0-2
Oddies first chance of the game came on 13 minutes when a shot from the edge of the box took a touch of Stu Bowman and went out for a corner. From the resultant corner the ball was headed back across goal from the back post and met with a great overhead kick to reduce the deficit. 1-2
United had the next chance of the game when Matty Colborn crossed the ball and Craig Averre met it with a header which went wide
On 20 minutes Oddies had a throw in which was flicked on and the midfielder shot from distance but it went well over
United's next chance came on 29 minutes. Chris Brown with some superb football down the right and he pulled it back to the onrushing Craig Averre but his shot from 15 yards went wide
On 33 Oddies nearly equalised when a shot took a deflection off Stephen Sheriff and Steve Barnes saved with his feet and the follow up shot was well blocked by Matty Colborn
United regained their 2 goal advantage on 35 minutes. Stephen Keogh & Chris Brown involved in the build up play and as United got into the box the Oddies defender ended up on the ground and handled the ball deliberatly. The referee pointed to the spot and Stephen Sheriff continued his superb penalty conversion rate from last season sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-3
On 43 minutes Sam Wade met an Andy Meikle cross but it was easy for the keeper to gather and Oddies went straight up the other end and a shot from distance went wide
Oddies were trying hard to get another goal and nearly did with a minute of the half left when a ball over the top was met by the striker who tried to put it past the onrushing Steve Barnes in goal. Steve hot a touch but it was heading towards goal but a combination of Stu Bowman and Stephen Sheriff cleared it before it went into the net
Oddies did score with the last kick of the half though when a ball was played into the box and a kick by Andy Meikle hit Stu Bowman and ended up in the net for an own goal
Half Time - Millfield Oddies FC 2-3 Wear United FC
Oddies had the first chance of the second half on 49 minutes but it was another long range effort which again went wide.
On 54 minutes Oddies thought they had equalised when a cross into the box was headed into the net but the referee had already blown his whistle for a foul in the box and United escaped with a free kick
On 60 minutes Sam Wade went on a mazy run and deserved a goal to finish it off but his shot went over the bar
United were trying to get a fourth goal and when a cross from Luke Tate was met with a sublime volley by Chris Brown it looked like they would get it but the keeper saved well. The ball came out to the edge of the box where Graham Smith unleasahed a piledriver of a shot which the keeper again saved well
Oddies got a free kick on 66 minutes, 26 yards from goal and the shot went through the wall but was met with a diving save from Steve Barnes who tipped it wide
The next couple of chances both fell to United. Firstly on 68 minutes Sam Wade fed the ball through to Andrew Hodgson but his shot from 6 yards was saved by the Oddies keeper and then on 73 minutes Scott Stevenson took on 3 Oddies defenders before crossing to the back post where Luke Tate met the cross with a great shot but again the keeper thwarted United
United were restricting Oddies to long range efforts with them all going wide and then on 81 minutes Sam Wade had another superb shot which again the keeper saved
United were again on the front foot and both Dan Musther & Graham Smith had shots with Dan's going wide and Graham's going over the bar but United managed to get the fourth goal which killed off Oddies with only 2 minutes remaining. Scott Stevenson picking the ball up on the left and curling a beautiful shot which was heading into the top corner but the keeper again made the save but this time he made a mistake and dropped the ball right at Chris Brown's feet and he bundled the ball into the box for his second goal of the game. 2-4
United weren't finished there and got a 3 goal cushion which they deserved when Gary Simmons played a lovely through ball splitting the Oddies defence right open and Dan Musther ran onto it and had all the time in the world to pick his spot and with great composure Dan nestled it into the back of the net in the final minute of the game
Full Time - Millfield Oddies FC 2-5 Wear United FC
Good Start and 3 vital points - next up is the League Cup against division 3 Lakeside SSC
