After a long journey to South London to find a very much substandard 3G pitch, the omens could not have been worse for United. Despite it being a Bank Holiday and an 8pm kickoff, United’s players rallied to the call, with the same starting eleven as the previous week at home to Little Common. Any fears of tiredness were swept away in seconds as OllieHull had the first chance of what was to be a very one sided match. United’s travelling fans (and yes, what a great effort from them!) had barely looked up again before Ollie Hyland rose majestically to meet Arthur Grout’s cross from the Left to head home for 1-0. Hyland has brought to the club a rare thing; the ability to time a header, once again he seemed to hang in the air, a rare quality nowadays, and one which has served United well at both ends of the pitch. United’s travelling fans made it one way traffic, and James Hull shot inches wide a few minutes later, after which was a rare fright as James Broadbent reacted well to tip over and spare United’s blushes. This stung United, who made sure they dominated the rest of the half. From that counterattack, Arthur Grout befuddled the Lingfield defence and put through to OllieHull, who made no mistake, 2-0. Koby Farrell al ostensibly made it 3, other than a great stop from the home keeper, but it was only a matter of time before James Hull broke through to feed Charlie Ball for his 20th of the season, and United’s third on the night. Just as it was looking like a third consecutive 3-half time lead, another of Grout’s excellent corners found Koby Farrell, who headed home for a 4-0 half time lead.
Once again it was the same story; United came out looking to add to a great first half, only to have chance after chance either saved or to sail over the woodwork. Happily that first half was more than enough, and credit to a resilient who did not want to be humiliated and kept the game alive until the very end. An 84th minute consolation goal might have ruined Broadbent’s weekend, but it was deserved, and credit too to the Lingfield keeper; a string of saves kept it respectable. United ended the evening third in the SCFL table, and the playoffs look that wee bit closer. Onwards then to BankHoliday Monday for an 11am kickoff against Saltdean United at the Oval Arena - The final home game of a dazzling campaign.