United took on Unite New Herrington Club at a blustery Downhill hoping to avenge last seaon's results and get a first win over the opposition. Herrington beat United 4-3 & 2-1 last season as well as a 4-4 draw
Herrington could have been 2-0 up inside 15 minutes despite United playing the better football. On 8 minutes the ball was cleared off the line and against the post and somehow stayed out and then on 15 mins Steve Barnes tip a shot wide with a great save
United should have took the lead a minute later when a great run by Dan Musther resulted in him being brought down in the box but the normally reliable Steve Walls saw his spot kick saved
On 17 mins Herrington had another chance but another tip wide by Steve Barnes kept it at 0-0
United then had another 2 chances with George Dennis putting over from 4 yards with the help of a deflection and then Stephen Sheriff had a header cleared off the line and Steve Walls put the follow up over
United eventually broke the deadlock on 26 mins. Some great football by United saw Dan Musther play it into Graham Smith and he released Gary Simmons in the box and he put it in from the right side of the box from a narrow angle
George Dennis had another chance to extend the lead on 29 mins but he headed wide from a Gary Simmons cross
It was 2-0 on 38 mins after a throw in from Andy Meikle was flicked on by Steve Walls and Dan Musther ran from nowhere to head home from 8 yards
United went into the break 3-0 up after another run by Dan Musther ended with another penalty and this time Stephen Sheriff stepped up and made no mistake
Half Time - Wear United FC 3-0 Unite New Herrington Club FC
United's second half curse looked to have reared its ugly head again when Herrington got a goal back on 55 mins after some good play and a great cross from the left wing was tucked in at the back post
Dan Musther nearly restored the 3 goal cushion on 57 mins when he flicked the ball up and volleyed it but it went just wide but the 3 goal cushion was back a minute later when Stephen Sheriff played a great ball through to Gary Simmons who cut inside and hammered it into the top corner for his 2nd of the game
Herrington weren't giving up though and got another goal back on 61 mins when a throw in ended up being headed into the net from 8 yards (possibly an own goal from Graham Smith!!)
Another superb reflex save from Steve Barnes on 63 mins meant United stayed 2 goals ahead and United then stepped up their game and ended up with another 2 goals
On 81 mins Gary Simmons found George Dennis and he attempted a pull back across the goal but it went across the keeper and in off the post for George's first competitive goal for United
2 minutes later Gary Simmons completed his hattrick when the Herrington keeper kicked the ball out straight onto Steve Walls head and he released Gary to finish and complete the win.
Full Time - Wear United FC 6-2 Unite New Herrington Club
