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United go clear at the Top

United go clear at the Top

Simon Roberts5 Feb 2018 - 12:42
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"Ten-sational" display puts United three Points clear.

Netherton United stayed top of Division One after thumping title chasers Whittlesey Blue 10-2 in Top of the table clash at The Grange.

Despite some poor form of late, Whittlesey were level on points with United (although they had played 2 games more than the hosts) and the two sides would be meeting again later in the season; so a win for the visitors would certainly help their title challenge.
And it started well for them when a shot from Whittlesey Forward Luca DiCanio after 6 minutes, deflected off Drew Budd and the ball beat Bartosz Berezowski at his near post to take the visitors into an early lead. (0-1)

However, United didn't panic and just 50 seconds later Defender Loui Catt drove forward from the back, striding through the left midfield position, cutting inside and smashing a right foot shot from almost 30 yards, past the keeper and into the net. (1-1)
United then quickly won the ball back from the re-start and piled forward, this time Hashim Hussain got lucky with a deflection as his shot went in to take united in front. (2-1)
United were now starting to dominate posession and the keeper made a good couple of saves from Jakub Nowicki and Lukas Vaickelionis in the 15th and 17th minutes.
Rotation of the squad has certainly helped us with fitness and on 18 minutes, united Manager Roberts made 4 changes, bringing on Cort, Crane, Oakley and Horne for Gomba, Hussain, Vaickelionis and Nowicki.
It took just 3 minutes for Wayne Cort to show his great strengths, Back from his recent spell at POSH he took the ball past 2 defenders and cut back a beautiful pass into the path of Habib Saifullah, who tucked it away neatly for his fifth goal in 2 games. (3-1)

Cort's new strike partner Trafford Crane soon got himself onto the score sheet, when a neat through ball from midfield split the defence and Crane went one on one with the keeper and he calmly slotted it past him and into the net.(4-1)
Another deflected shot from Saifullah put United further in front on 28 minutes (5-1) and Saifullah was involved again on the stroke of Half Time, setting up Crane to grab his second of the game. (6-1)

HT: 6-1

It was an easy team talk at Half Time, and United knew the game was won, and could actually of scored more in the first half but for the Whittlesey Keeper. so patience and possession were the instructions as the entered the second half.

Just two minutes in, and a beautiful in-swinging corner from Bob Horne was met by the head of Drew Budd; and he powered it home to get his second goal of the season. (7-1)
Wayne Cort has been very cool in front of goal this season, and he added his 30th goal of the season in the 50th minute again with a neat side foot finish. (8-1)
More substitutions were made and United were continuing to break forward and create chances, a few were thwarted by the decent visiting Keeper, even more though by the opposition Linesman, who's shoulders must still be aching now !!!.
However neither of the two aforementioned could do anything about the sublime Free Kick that Hashim Hussain beautifully put away in the 61st Minute.
Following a foul for United on former Whittlesey player Lewis Leesons, Hussain took the ball, placed it on the edge of the 18 yard box and delightfully clipped the ball over the wall and into the top left corner of the goal, the keeper never even moved. (9-1)
United's final goal was a deserved one for Bob Horne who has been off the pace recently, but in fairness had played well in this game and had put some tasty crosses and corners in with his left foot.
with two minutes to go he was put in by Dan Younus and from a wide angle on the edge of the 18 yard box he shot and tucked it into the bottom corner of the net. (10-1)
However, the scoring wasn't finished and despite having barely nothing to do all game, United Keeper Bartosz Berezowski will feel disappointed that he didn't do better when dealing with a Joe Scott 35 yard free kick. He decided he didn't want a wall and had a good view of the shot, but he misjudged the flight and it went in over his outstretched hands to give the visiting supporters a brief moment to celebrate on the sidelines. (10-2)

Full Time; 10-2

MOTM: Habb Saifullah

No game next weekend for United, but they face Stamford on the 18th Feb, who to date have been the toughest opponents.

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