United continued their good start to pre-season with a 2-0 win at Dumbarton this afternoon. A goal in each half from Alfie Potter and Sam Deering made it two wins from two as The U's prepare for life in the Football League again.
The U's took another look at the impressive Leigh Franks in defence with another centre half, Harry Worley, playing in the second half. Worley, who began his career at Chelsea and recently left Leicester City, looked looked an imposing figure and will be pleased with his own performance.
Playing in to a very strong wind in the second half United had a chance on nine minutes as Potter slipped a ball through for James Constable who was tackled brilliantly by keeper Stephen Grindley as he tried to go round him.
Dumbarton tried to use that wind assistance by sending in a couple of long range efforts which didn't trouble the assured looking Simon Eastwood, while the excellent Simon Heslop drove a free kick from the edge of the area wide of the mark on 14 minutes. That free kick came at the end of a superb flowing move down the right and two minutes later another such move down the opposite flank saw Deering and Constable set up Potter for another chance well saved by Grindley. The move even brought applause from the home fans, as well as the magnificent 150 to 200 away supporters who had made the journey.
Those supporters got their reward on 19 minutes as The U's took the lead through Potter. A neat turn and cross from Deering again paved the way and when that wasn't cleared Asa Hall was able to smash in a shot from 20 yards which Grindley couldn't hold. Potter was on to it in a flash but was once more denied by the keeper at point blank range, who perhaps deserved better reward for the two saves than for the ball to break to Potter to bundle past him for the opener.
With Baker using the ball well in midfield and holding his position to allow Hall and Heslop to get forward United had a great base to build on and on 28 minutes a Baker ball set Constable free once more. Two defenders had hacks at his ankles but Constable drove through like a man on a mission , only to smack his shot wide. It was a goal kick but the ref awarded a sympathy corner instead and from that Constable smashed a shot against the underside of the bar from fifteen yards.
Beano's luck was most definitely out and on 37 it was confirmed as a sublime backheel flick came back off the post with Grindley fiendishly heading for Loch Lomond rather than the direction of the shot.
Rather than the eleven half time changes at Didcot on Tuesday United kept the same eleven for the start of the second hald, with the first substitution seeing Dannie Bulman replace Hall on 57 minutes.
The second goal came on 68 and came from the effervescent Deering. Right back Ben Purkiss burst clear into the box and found the advancing Grindley too much to cope with. The ball was retained by Purkiss and rolled back to Deering who backheeled his way round a defender then curled a neat chip over the stranded defence and into the net to make it 2-0.
Cue seven subs, who will all presumably start at Livingston on Tuesday night.
The game lost its impetus after those changes, coupled with a plethora of Dumbarton subs shortly after, although Aaron Woodley went close with a shot and a header from his first two touches.
A win is always welcome but just as importantly United will have been pleased with the work out and the way they passed and moved the ball throughout.
United
Eastwood, Purkiss (Batt 71), Franks (Worley 71), Creighton (Wright 71), Kinniburgh (Tonkin 71), Heslop, Baker, Hall (Bulman 57), Potter (Green 71), Constable (Midson 71), Deering (Cole 71, Woodley 84)
