United made it back to back away wins with a 3-0 victory at Halifax. Adam Murray and Justin Richards both opened their accounts for the club and a Santos Gaia own goal merely confirmed an important win as United build.
With snow drifting across the still half finished Shay and a pudding of a pitch making it tough for both sides United almost had a miraculous start as straight from the kick off Jamie Hand chipped the ball to the wing, Phil Trainer controlled well and crossed and Justin Richards rose well but nodded wide from eight yards with just eleven seconds on the clock.
The Shaymen, docked ten point and fighting for their lives after entering administration, hit back with a Doughty free kick which rippled the side netting on three minutes and a Lewis Killeen effort on nine which rolled across the face of goal and clipped the base of the far post with Billy Turley scrambling.
It was an open game with the scrap for midfield perhaps the key area. Could teams get it down and use the better conditions out wide or was the long ball over the top going to bring success? The biggest battle was between Jamie Hand and former United loanee Anthony Griffith, who certainly had a point to prove after an unfortunate time at Oxford which saw him join under Darren Patterson (in a caretaker role) and then sent back to Doncaster when Jim Smith took over.
Often games turn on one moment, and in the 36th minute came the big moment. First Halifax's top scorer Jon Shaw rattled Turley's left had post with a twenty yarder but immediately the ball broke to the other end and United made the breakthough. Matt Green closed down Santos Gaia and blocked his clearance to set up a chase in no man's land between Richards, keeper Legzdins and defender Doughty. Richards had the power and just got there first and as he touched the ball Legzdins brought him crashing down. Ref Matadar took the bull by the horns and pointed to the spot, and Murray stepped forward to confidently convert from the spot for his first for the club. Opening your account against Halifax: see such a good joke we've used it twice!
Matt Green had a half chance right on half time as he twisted past a defender but just couldn't get the ball past Legzdins at the near post but a 1-0 lead at half time was fine by the U's who started the second half in sprightly fashion and might have doubled their lead on 49 as Luke Foster bulleted a header inches wide from a Murray corner.
Halifax lost top scorer Shaw early in the second half but had another good chance on 53 as Danny Forrest got the better of Barry Quinn but found Turley off his line quickly to save well and just as for the first goal it proved costly as United hit back and scored straight after.
The resurgent Anaclet was the creator with a great sixty yard run from the edge of his own area to level with Halifax's box and then nicked the ball forward for the sprinting Green. Green surged on and got to the line and cut a low ball back. Richards, at the near post, let the ball run across him from his right then flicked his right heel to deflect the ball expertly across the keeper and into the far corner of the net. An exquisite finish deserving a bigger stage, and a deserved first goal for the club for the big striker who never stops running.
United had ridden their luck at times but taken their chances well, and would have scored the best goal of the season if Green had converted a fantastic flowing move on 64 minutes which saw Trainer, Richards and Howard carve Halifax open down their right only for Green to spoon the ball over from ten yards.
Now winning the midfield battle, with Hand and Murray bossing things, United were also running at their men out wide with the excellent Trainer and Anaclet both looking full of confidence. The fact that Hand elected to shoot from the centre circle on 71 after another block from Green had won the ball further illustrated the confidence that was coursing through the U's, even if the ball drifted well of the stranded Legzdins' goal.
United were now a yard quicker to the ball all over the park. Green had a shot blocked on 68, Legzdins nearly dropped a high ball into his own net on 75 and the result was just about done and dusted with the United defence now in total control. Another goal was coming and as we entered the closing stages it came when the marvellous Murray beat a man on the edge of the area and fed Richards who drove the ball at goal from a tight angle. Gaia threw himself at the ball and only succeeded in knocking the ball into his own net to spark a mass exit from the home fans who have had a very very difficult week.
United, of course, have also had a difficult season but two wins in a week have seen confidence return and the home game against Stevenage on Monday will be a chance to test themselves against a promotion chasing side again. Click HERE before 9am on Bank Holiday Monday to save time and money by booking in advance
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Report: Chris Williams. Pictures Darrell Fisher
