.....conditions that were always going to influence this match. Despite this I thought both teams put in a commendable display at United’s new ground at Cressex school. The new ground meets with all of the step 7 criteria and we are indeed lucky to have such a home base as it not only meets the criteria but is actually an ideal location with excellent facilities where we have received a warm welcome and guess what? Its affordable! Heartfelt thanks to Cressex Community School.

Cookham entered this game on the back of a 5 match winning sequence, most notably knocking County Cup holders Reading YMCA out of the competition at the Cauldron by 3-1. Therefore they came to the match in confident fashion despite having 6 players unavailable from the previous week. However as I have mentioned on more than one occasion, all teams have to suffer unavailability over the season and it’s reasonable to say that the champions have suffered more than most and yet again management rang the changes yesterday with Adam Dickens returning for James Namyslak, Thomas Phillips and Simon Rogers debuting for Rob Marshall and Leigh Mason respectively and star striker Wes Sutherland injured. Player for player United can withstand these problems but there is an issue with momentum as week in week out changes upset fluency and for both Phillips and Rogers it was indeed a baptism of fire as they came up against fierce climatic conditions as well as an extremely competitive Cookham Dean team. Both players, particularly Phillips can be satisfied with their debuts. Squads win titles not teams.

United of course never recognise any deficiency Cookham may appear to have as whatever team they put out against United there is one certainty and that they will provide stern opposition and they didn’t disappoint in that respect yesterday.

I won’t go into the pros and cons of the game, our secretary offers that in abundance, other than to say this United team do impress me with their never say die attitude, an attribute that other great United team had under Ferguson in that they keep going for the whole 90 minutes and then some, that’s why United are unbeaten champions. United have now taken 4 points from a possible 6 points from our neighbours but as important these games are now behind us and there will be no nervy midweek trip to Cookham in the final stage of the season and that for me is worth another 2 points!

Cookham may well have cause to be disgruntled following a late penalty appeal and from my viewpoint they had a point, by the same token they will be extremely grateful to their keeper for a super save in the dying moments when it seemed an effort must go in, such are the nuances of football and actually in my view what makes the game so popular. There were other incidents that begged perception depending on which colour you followed. I know that the Dean were upset by a handball decision that led to United’s third goal, I thought it was bang on! Conversely I couldn't understand why Cookham were awarded a free kick which led to their second goal but they clearly could. That’s football and these are the things that provide much conversation and debate long after the final whistle has blown, it’s actually a part of the game and I really do hope that cameras never take that element of the game away which leads me nicely into yesterday’s match officials, something I said I wouldn't be pursuing but this, in the context of these comments, fits quite nicely. I actually thought all three officials were excellent. The fact that the referee’s perception of certain incidents differs from others is irrelevant as it’s his perception that counts and he really does have an impossible job, on occasions. While I personally condemn the actions of last week my sympathies remain the same and I thought yesterday’s match summed up just how tough it can be for the match officials and I thought they did very well indeed, that of course is my perception!

After United’s first ten league games last season the team had amassed 23 points, at the same stage this season and despite the transiency of players United have 26 points. For a team that are notorious slow starters usually coming good in the second half of the season a 3 point advantage on last season is priceless, there are yet many hills to climb, but so far so good in the defence of the title.

Looking around the league there are some alarming happenings and none more so than Reading YMCA’s crushing 13-1 annihilation of Woodcote yesterday. While I respect and appreciate fully that YMCA are a fine team I do not believe they are 13-1 good against such opposition likewise a recent 10-0 massacre of Newbury sends shock waves through me and for me there is a growing concern that the league may be weakening and nobody wants that to happen. Automatic relegation may help and if necessary must be instigated?

Other results were more ‘normal’ and Highmoor slumped 0-3 at home to Newbury while lowly Hurst beat Berks County 2-0. Mortimer recorded a fine 4-2 win over Aldermaston confirming their championship potential. It’s still too early to confirm the leading pack of four which is how the race for the title normally transpires. YMCA, and United are probably bankers while Mortimer are definitely looking the part but and perhaps bizarrely following my previous comments both Newbury and Woodcote sit in 4th and 5th place respectively and I’m struggling to read them! I note that one of my early season favourites have the same points as Woodcote in 6th place but Aldermaston haven’t really yet got their season started in the truest sense, as yet.

United’s reserves crashed out of the Berks & Bucks Junior cup yesterday losing 0-2 at Gossmore Lane to a youthful looking Aylesbury FC development team.

Next Saturday United entertain Unity in a Thames Valley Premier League encounter at Holmer Lane KO 2pm while its top v second when leaders Westwood United visit Gossmore Lane for a Thames Valley Premier League Second Division match against the reserves KO 2pm.