U's:1 Blues:0

This unbeaten lark is good fun isn’t it. Jimmy Quinn’s invincibles made it seven games without defeat last night thanks to new goal machine Scott Rendell’s 48th minute header.

Like ourselves, Grays Athletic seem a much improved side compared to the rabble that visited the Abbey last year, and United can be pleased to have beaten them fairly comfortably, despite the narrow scoreline.

Two changes to our lineup saw the injured Lee Boylan replaced by Rendell, while JQ continued his policy of rotating the centre halves by replacing Peters with Michael Morrison.

The match almost started in spectacular fashion when Albrighton met Reeds corner on the edge of the area with a Paul Scholes-esque volley which flew narrowly wide. Reed then saw a low shot tipped round the post, while a couple of dangerous crosses from Pitt and Gleeson fizzed across the goal ahead of the inrushing strikers. The missing Boylan would surely have put one away.

Danny Potter’s only save of the half (and indeed of the match) was a comfortable one from a Craig McAllister header, while at the other end the best chance of the half fell to Quinton, who took advantage of a deflected pass and bore down on goal. With options in the middle he elected to shoot, and saw his shot fizz inches wide of the far post with the keeper beaten.

The second half saw United step up a gear, and they hit the front three minutes into the half thanks to our best goal of the season so far. It started with the eventual scorer Rendell, who intelligently flicked a long clearance from Potter into the path of Pitt. He couldn’t get the cross in himself, but held the ball up before laying it off to Reed. His cross was inch perfect for Rendell, who got there ahead of LFW to ram the header past Ross Flitney.

United could’ve added to their tally shortly afterwards, with Gleeson pulling a shot wide, Grays defender Adam Gross almost putting through his own goal, and LFW heading a teasing Pitt cross just over the bar.

As the game moved into the last ten minutes, Grays flung men forward looking for an equaliser, but couldn’t break down United’s resolute backline. They put a couple of shots wide, while Jamie Stuart headed onto the roof of the net, but in general Potter wasn’t troubled, punching clear dangerous crosses on a few occasions.

In patches I felt United played their best football of the season. The usual problem of the midfield being too deep was apparent in the first half, but in the second the trio of Wolleaston, Reed, and Quinton, particularly the latter, supported the front men well.

The defence looked solid as ever, the wing backs were afforded more space than the Ebbsfleet game and upped their games according, and both strikers harried the Grays defence. Particular praise should go to Rendell, who ran himself into the ground during his first 90 minutes of the season.

It’ll be a different proposition on Saturday against Exeter, but we should be able to hold our own, as long we don’t have anymore strikers injured that is.

Man of the Match: Mark Albrighton – I need to find some alternative words for solid. A real captains performance.







Semi-interesting fact of the Match: As an apprentice at Chelsea, Danny Potter lived mainly on a diet of crispy pancakes. I suspect the army of dieticians that look after Premiership players these days wouldn’t be overly impressed.