United took on bottom of the league Sunderland Ryhope CW hoping that the performances from recent weeks would continue and get United the 3 points. The 3 points came but the performance wasn't up to the standards of the previous weeks and at times it looked like United weren't going to get the victory but they ground out the result and over the course of the game it was fully deserved
The first chance of the game came on 7 minutes for United when Stephen Sheriff lifted the ball to the back post but Dan Musther's header went wide
Ryhope then had their first chance on 15 minutes when a free kick bounced over the static United defence and was met with a miskick half volley which went wide when he was clean through
On 26 minutes Michael Parkin released striker Gary Simmons and his shot from the left hand side was saved well
Ryhope were riding their luck a bit on 30 minutes with United hitting the woodwork twice in very quick succession. A United corner fell to Stephen Sheriff and his shot came back off the bar before Gary Simmons hit the post with the rebound. It was cleared to the edge of the box where Graham Smith smashed a well hit volley goalwards but the keeper saved
United had another corner on 33 minutes and Dan Musther swung it in but Stephen Sheriff headed wide and then 2 minutes later Scott Stevenson crossed into the box and this time it was Michael Parkin who put his header wide
Centre back Stephen Sheriff was in the action again on 36 minutes with a half volley from distance but it lacked power to cause the keeper any trouble
On 39 minutes United keeper Steve Barnes was called into action for the first proper time when Ryhope broke away and shot from the left but Steve Barnes was equal to it and tipped it wide
Gary Simmons missed a guilt edged chance on 40 minutes when he was clean through but his first touch was poor and gave the keeper enough of a chance to come out to block the shot and the last chance of the half fell to United when Michael Parkin and Dan Musther played a lovely one-two but Michael Parkin shot wide
Half Time - Wear United FC 0-0 Sunderland Ryhope CW FC
Despite being second best for the majority of the game Ryhope nearly took the lead on 47 minutes and would have if it wasn't for some brilliant defending. A corner came in and Stu Bowman blocked the shot on the line before Scott Stevenson cleared the rebound from the post
Scott Stevenson then had United's next chance on 49 minutes when Gary Simmons flicked the ball to Scott and he ran from just inside the Ryhope half towards goal shooting wide from the left hand side
On 58 minutes Sam Wade tried to play the ball infield but it deflected off a Ryhope player into Scott Stevensons path but his early shot went over the bar
Ryhope had a long shot on 61 minutes which flew over the bar before United eventually took the lead on 63 minutes. Stephen Sheriff lined up a free kick from 25 yards out. He hit it low and hard and it might have took a slight deflection on its way through but it nestled into the net giving the keeper no chance. 1-0 to United
Stephen Sheriff nearly got his second on 76 minutes when Scott Stevenson's corner was met with his head but he put it narrowly wide and then manager Michael Smith was very relieved on 81 minutes when a Ryhope free kick was headed onto his own bar by Stu Bowman and United kept a hold of their lead but couldn't put the game to bed and memories of the Woodlands match came flooding back!
United were still trying to get a second though and on 85 minutes Michael Parkin had a shot blocked before it came out to Kyle Hepple who hit a thunderbolt of a shot just over the bar
At last United got their second and the three points when a corner came to the back post was put back into the box by Dan Musther and met with a header by Sam Wade which came back off the bar, he tried to flick the ball backwards into the net but it rolled out to left back Stu Bowman who kept a cool head and with the instep of his left foot put it past the keeper from 8 yards
Full Time - Wear United FC 2-0 Sunderland Ryhope CW FC
