Workmanlike United grind out crucial home victory (27.03.04)

THE season has reached the stage where managers tell you ‘it’s all about results’.
Taken in this context, the Magpies’ 1-0 win over Billericay on Saturday was a job well done.
However, as a spectacle for the paying punter this was 90 minutes of average fayre, punctuated with three or four moments of individual excellence.
By the half way stage it was an improving Billericay who had enjoyed most of the momentum and looked much better than their 21st place in the table would suggest.
Yet it was a period of few chances on a pitch which was part bog, part heathland and part sand dune.
The visitors enjoyed the first clear opening when, on 21 minutes, Steve Jones was put through via a ricochet, but his slightly scuffed effort was well blocked by keeper Phil Wilson.
Fifteen minutes later chances were created at either end within seconds. Wilson had to be at his best again as Graeme Tomlinson struck a decent left-foot shot, and then on the break a Danny Bolt long pass found the impressive Ben Hammond who brought a fine save from Billericay’s Luke Weaver.
This chance heralded United getting on the front foot in this contest, and this shift was underscored when they took the lead on 55 minutes.
Mark Boyce beat his man on the right flank and drilled the ball to the penalty spot where the hard-working Rob Haworth arrived to volley home what was to prove the winner.
United then dominated the midfield scrap which was to follow and could have easily extended their advantage but for two excellent saves from Weaver – one from a fantastic volley from Hammond and the other from a Haworth header.
The home side even had a decent penalty shout for a shove on Haworth turned down, but it did not matter as Billericay were subdued and never looked capable of getting on the scoresheet.
The Magpies will be content with a rare clean sheet and the efforts of Andrew Dugdale, Ryan Ashe, plus the little and large combination of Hammond and Haworth up-front.
But they will be more content with the three points.