WITH this expected win over struggling Bridport the Robins flew up to second place in the league, writes Mark Hollidge.

With all clubs immediately below them having games in hand, they will be hard pressed to keep that position.

Nevertheless, this was a warming way to open their 2022 account but perhaps the biggest victory on the day was the fact that this game took place at all.

A postponement, for a waterlogged pitch, was a very real possibility right up to half an hour before the scheduled start.

Although playable, this was not a surface upon which one could expect to display the finer skills of the game.

The first half was a story of United missing chances or being denied by the excellent reflexes of goalkeeper Greg Taylor.

The opening goal, after 27 minutes, brought some relief; another Jake Llewellyn corner kick dropped to Brereton on the left side of the area and from 10 yards he struck the ball low past Taylor for his first goal of the season.

The first half ended with Dave Thorne digging out a brilliant cross from a tight position and Gauci should have done better than to head wide.

United had taken charge of the game from the outset but two goals in three minutes gave them some overdue reward.

After 53 minutes Crumb cut inside a defender and curled a left footed shot into the far corner.

Three minutes later Tom Llewellyn skipped past a couple of desperate tackles before passing to Williams, near the penalty spot and shot low past Taylor this time.

The only time that Bridport looked like scoring a goal was after 72 minutes when Kriss Radivousa’s shot was cleared from near the goal line.

Tom Llewellyn, in particular, was now really enjoying himself as he pestered the life out of the tiring Bridport defence.

After 76 minutes his floated cross was perfectly aimed for Crumb’s head and the tall striker neatly glanced the ball into the left corner of the net.

The same man had a great chance to bag a hat trick, he started and finished the best move of the match, involving five players playing one touch football, and he was left with a clear sight of goal.

However, the ball was on his less favoured right foot, and he sent it over.

United wrapped up the scoring when Mark Armstrong headed home from yet another Tom Llewellyn corner kick after 83 minutes.

This report doesn’t detail all of the goal attempts, there were many more. Bridport never lost heart but, sadly, the only Dorset club in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division look doomed.