Two close range finishes saw United to a 2-0 victory over Spartan League side St Margaretsbury on the Beaconsfield Road 3G on a hot sunny afternoon as Tristan Lewis's side continued their pre-season warm-up fixtures.

The lively Rhys Murrell-Williamson was the first to test the visitors 'keeper Matt Deamer who palmed and gathered the United man's 25 yard strike. Murrell-Williamson soon found Romanian trialist Andrei Daruiala overlapping on the right, his low centre picking out Michael Thalassitis who had the easy task of tapping home from close range.

Luke Williams and Murrell-Williamson were both denied in quick succession by Deamer while at the other the visitors striker went close after some neat wing play on the right side set up a shooting chance.

The first third of the game under the stewardship of substitute referee Eddy Clifford came to a close just after Murrell-Williamson had broken free but fired wide of the far post.

Travel delayed match referee Chris Fernandes took over the whistle for the second third of the game and it was not long before United had a second. Ben Gerring sprayed the ball wide to Williams who helped it on to Thalassitis who crossed low for Murrell-Williamson to net, again from close range.

Thalassitis lobbed the ball over the on-coming Deamer with Murrell-Williamson unable to direct his header goalwards at the far post. United continued to press, Murrell-Williamson was just too high with a drive before Williams danced his way through 4 tackle attempts in the box before firing into the side netting.

Into the final third we moved and the visitors best chance came with 11 minutes remaining when a corner dropped sweetly and was hit goalwards on the volley only to be turned away by virtually redundant 'keeper Alex Tokarczyk diving to his right.

The final two chance again fell to United. Deamer held a 20 yard drive from the lively Evander Lopes and then in the final minute Murrell-Williamson again broke free, this time being denied by the 'keepers outstretched boot.

All in all a good workout for a second pre-season game and we wish St Margaretsbury all the best for the coming season.

Report by Kevin Watts.

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