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Reserves 4-1 Bottesford Town

Lincolnshire League

Report by Colin Woodcock

United's line-up against Bottesford Town saw Lennie Curtis make a comeback after being out for more than two months and a debut for Nicky Reeson, a new signing from Boston Town. United dominated all the early exchanges, but it was Bottesford who took the early lead on 13 minutes with their first attack, an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area finding the back of the net. Despite this setback, United continued to carry the game to Bottesford, but a succession of missed chances saw them go in a goal down at the break. The second half started as the first had finished - with Boston totally dominant but again creating and missing good opportunities... including a penalty miss from Mark Melson after a goalbound Paul Watts header was handled on the line. With the offending player subsequently sent off, Bottesford's ten men looked to be heading for a memorable victory as time ran out.

But it was not to be as substitute Danny Dack, on for Leigh Taylor, turned the match around when he played a one-two with MELSON who equalised on 79 minutes. Dane Thornton curled in a great cross for WATTS to put United ahead just a minute later, and on 82 minutes Dack played a superb ball into the path of WATTS for his second goal. DACK earned his just reward on 85 minutes, converting a simple chance after Anthony Elding's cross had been palmed out. Manager John Luffman was upbeat about gaining the points at the death, but felt that the game should have been finished well before half time, such was United's superiority. He also felt Reeson had added a new dimension to United's play, and that he would prove a good acquisition with first team potential.

United team: 1. Lee Crew, 2. Gary Pawson, 3. Len Curtis, 4. Ross Nicholls, 5. Paul Casey, 6. Nicky Reeson, 7. Leigh Taylor, 8. Mark Melson, 9. Paul Watts, 10. Anthony Elding, 11. Gary Walters, 12. Glen Kill, 14. Dane Thornton, 15. Danny Dack.