Fords fiesta

United fans probably thought that they would never see Mike and Bobby Ford playing together again, but that's exactly what happened in the second half at Didcot tonight, Mike F. coming on at half time for an injured Leo Roget. United had taken a 25th minute lead in this rather scrappy game when Simon King dived to head home after a poor clearance from a Bobby F. corner. The lead lasted for ten minutes before Dwaine Strong, looking suspiciously offside, levelled the scores.

United started with Roget and Sam Okikiolu as the centre-back pairing in front of Ian McCaldon, King and Sam Ricketts as the fullbacks and Paul Powell, Paul Emblen, Jonathan Coates and Bobby Ford in midfield and a frontline combo of Andy Scott and Jefferson Louis. The other halftime substitution saw Norman Sylla replace Louis, so still no sign of Lee Steele. It was Sylla who scored United's winner following some good work by Scott, although again the goal looked offside but allowed to stand by the same dodgy linesman.

Further substitutions saw Dwight Campioli on for Coates, who sustained a nasty injury to his wrist and Taurean O'Sullivan for Scott. O'Sullivan came very close to extending United's lead, forcing a fine save from Didcot 'keeper Alex Deadman before blasting the rebound narrowly over. None of the triallists, with the possible exception of Roget, particularly impressed, with Emblen in particular looking out of sorts. Louis again failed to make an impression, although Sylla troubled the Didcot back line with his pace. Powell still looks a little way off full fitness, although Scott looked sharp on occasion.