Uniteds Winning Run Ends With Defeat

The Reds travelled to Caribbean Sports and despite taking the lead they eventually went down 2-1

After 4 successive victories hopes were high as the Reds travelled to promotion rivals Caribbean Sports however with a few players unavailable it was not the strongest team available for selection. In addition though the Sports deserved the victory largely because of their territorial superiority and their creation of more scoring opportunities their attempts at intimidation towards the Referee left a sour taste in the mouth as they were verbally aggressive to the match official as well the United players for every situation that did not go their way. Unfortunately the man in black seemed to buckle to this intimidation on numerous occasions as many decisions including the winning goal went for the hosts and against a United side who at least didn't rise to the provocation meted out by the home side.

The Reds actually started off well with a Ben Redfern shot in the opening minute but his weak effort failed to trouble the home keeper, Ainslie Finney then had a free kick saved by the keeper before United took the lead on 11 minutes. A pass out to the right from Tommy Harrison to Steve Ellor put the hosts on the back foot, Ellor's quick turn inside got him clear of 2 defenders and from a slight angle shot the ball home inside the far post. The hosts then started to take control somewhat, firstly they had a shot across goal which no one got on the end of and Finney then conceded a corner as he cleared the ball rather unconventionally with his knee for a corner. From this corner United broke quickly and with Jack Whittaker looking like he might get free he was cynically tripped with the home side showing their hostile intent with the fierce berating of the referee claiming the United man had dived. With the Sports still having territorial advantage and looking to level the scores they had further shots at goal with Reds keeper called upon to make a couple of good saves however they showed an undercurrent of hostility to both the Referee and the Reds as they committed a number of fouls but were verbally aggressive to the Referee and the United players whenever they were penalised. Unfortunately this intimidation of the match official seemed to grind him down as it became apparent that decisions seemed to be going in favour of the home side. Despite their hostile approach the home side still took the game to United and equalised just before half time, a free kick out on the left was floated into the Reds penalty area and in a crowded area it was a Sports player who rose highest and he headed the ball into goal to level the scores. United's response saw Ellor tee up Redfern but the United striker saw yet another poor effort fail to trouble the keeper Half Time Caribbean Sports 1-1 United

Five minutes into the second period United almost retook the lead when Redfern fired a free kick against the bar, the ball rebounded back into play with the ball finding it's way back to Redfern and another shot from him at goal looped harmlessly into the arms of the home keeper. The second period soon reverted to the pattern of the first with the home side having most of the play, Priestley was called upon to make a couple of good saves from headed efforts as the home side were making good use of their tall strikers, Priestley also made a good save low down as Caribbean Sports continued to threaten. Their robust approach continued as the Reds felt hard done by with a number of decisions and it was on such an occasion that United fell behind, the ball was played into the Reds penalty area, with the ball at shoulder height Ashley Cantrill went to head the ball away however he almost took a kick in the head and as the ball broke loose it fell to a home striker who fired it home to give his side a 2-1 lead despite United feeling that a free kick should have been given for dangerous play . It would be nice to report that United looked purposeful in trying to get level but further chances fell to the hosts as they forced United on the back foot and though decent performances were shown by Mark Gedney and Tommy Harrison an equaliser never looked on the cards and the match finished with victory for the home side. Final score Caribbean Sports 2-1 United

Comment Caribbean Sports deserved the 3 points due to the territorial advantage they displayed and the creation of more scoring chances however their aggressive and intimidation tactics towards Reds players and the Referee does leave a sour taste.