United show their grit to sink Holmer Green

Having escaped relegation last term, Green are now looking to make a top-10 place their own and on Tuesday’s performance it seems that they will be a force to be reckoned with next season.

United were forced to dig deep in a second half that saw them fight tooth and nail for the three points after two disappointing defeats at lower table opposition in London Tigers and Oxhey Jets.

It was Holmer who made the breakthrough on Tuesday when Curtis Stone stole the ball from Martin Russell, and fed it wide to striker Dean Allen who drilled past Tom Wyant with eight minutes gone.

Two glorious chances then fell to the hosts to make it 2-0 when Elliot Derby was denied by a superb save from United’s man of the match Wyant, before Kane Farrell cleared off the line to prevent Greg Deer extending the lead.

United struck back in very fortuitous circumstances through Charlie Evans-Critchley. Holmer keeper Sam Butcher dallied on the ball and in his attempt to clear, struck the ball against Evans-Critchley who gratefully took the ball around the unfortunate Butcher and tapped the ball in to an empty net for 1-1.

As the half came to a close, United hit a sucker punch with the move of the game that involved a quartet of players all under the age of 21. Farrell, Evans-Critchley, Charlie Black and Tom Bryant worked the ball down the left flank and Bryant finished with a blast to give United the half-time lead.

With both sides’ sights set on a top-six finish this term it was the hosts that needed to put in the spurt to get themselves level.

But Wyant was putting on a one-man show, blocking strikes from Allen and Joe Dulieu and then fingertipping a long range strike from Deer around the upright.

With time running out Holmer were forced to push every man forward in a bid to get that elusive equaliser, and United took full advantage in the dying minutes.

A good run from sub Charlie Joy down the flank gave debutant Antonio Mitri the simple task of sliding the ball past Butcher for 3-1 and enabling United to breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate the win.

This Saturday United return home from their run of four consecutive away games when they entertain relegation threatened Harefield United. Kick-off 3pm.

Then on Monday night they travel to Hadley.