This years’ Boxing Day “local derby” against Weston-super-Mare saw United Manager Garry Haylock make a single change from the starting XI that had taken all three points from high flying Maidstone United as Brentford defender Seth Owens took the place of our own Academy product Cole Brown, still leaving the starting side with just two players over the age of 21.
The game took a while to get going on the damp York Road turf although two chances did come in the opening 20 minutes, both falling to centre-back Emmanuel Monthe. The first, a stooping header from a Mason Spence free-kick went the wrong side of the post and then a few minutes later the same combination saw Monthe get his head to a corner but Seagulls ‘keeper Luke Purnell saved.
The visitors, playing with the wind and the slope, started to find some forward thrust of their own as the half continued. Dan Lincoln saved from Scott Wilson who had latched on to a loose ball on the left side of the box before Tristan Plummer hit a drive on the turn that was taken wide by Lincoln’s fingertips.
Jake Mawford then broke away down the left and fizzed the ball across the face of Lincoln’s goal with Lincoln soon having to be sharp again to save from Seagulls skipper Dayle Grubb. As the break arrived Lincoln was again called into action, this time grasping a low driven Plummer shot at the second attempt.
A half time change was forced on United as Omari Alexander-Salmon who picked up an injury was replaced by Elliott Simpson in the United midfield.
Three minutes later the visitors were ahead. A ball played from the centre circle found Wilson between two defenders and the striker let loose a volley from the edge of the box that flew past Lincoln into the top corner of the United net.
Having been hit with the blow of going behind, United started to push up field straightaway in search of a quick equaliser. Matt Jay broke in from the right, his low centre was fumbled by Purnell but cleared by his defence before Purnell saved from Simpson after good work down the left by Mason Spence.
Just after the hour though Purnell helped United to find that equaliser when a looping Spence cross was fumbled by the Seagulls ‘keeper and sharp as a tack, top scorer Elliot Benyon was on hand to tuck the ball home from close range.
Both Spence and Jay tried their luck with the wind and from distance only to clear the goal before a rare second half sortie forwards by the visitors saw Joe McClennan feed Grubb, his shot being drilled straight at Lincoln with the loose ball from the save being hacked clear by the United defence.
With just a minute remaining, Grubb turned neatly in the middle of the park and released Wilson on goal, the strikers’ low shot being kept out well by Lincoln’s outstretched boot with the ball just evading the sliding Bradley Ash at the far post although he was well marshalled by Monthe and it was points shared.
Report by Kevin Watts.
United Man of the Match: Dan Lincoln.
Print the Teamsheet: Here.
Print the next Fixture Poster: Here.
