Ossett Town 3

Winsford United 2

UniBond Division One

Saturday, January 6

TONIGHT'S crucial meeting at Barton Stadium may well shape the future of the Blues, if they have one, but the present is not at all rosy as Steve Shaughnessy's's men continue their alarming slide down the UniBond First Division table.

On this occasion though, Blues should be praised for nearly gaining a point, if not all three, in the face of tremendous mitigating circumstances. United travelled to Yorkshire with nine players missing through injury and suspension.

The malaise was such, two players had to be signed only hours before kick-off to fill substitutes places and Shaughnessy, along with midfielder David Lowe, played at centre half in a defensive five, goalkeeper included, who had not played together in their lives.

Against such a backdrop it was always going to be a testing afternoon but strangely Utd turned in their best performance for some time and even the home side admitted they were fortunate winners.

Blues started strongly but Ossett were gifted a goal on 12 minutes. One of the stand-in defenders Lowe made a total hash of a clearance and Chris Annan duly beat Karl Walton from 10 yards.

But Winsford hit back on 23 minutes when David Mayes, returning to United from Bamber Bridge, flung over a corner which was headed against the bar by Danny Worthington. Troy Hayder picked up the rebound and was brought down by home defender Chris Stabb for a penalty, Worthington converted the spot kick to deservedly level.

With the wind and slope in Winsford's favour, much was expected in the second half and that's how it should have been. Leon Mills missed a golden opportunity on 66 minutes after being presented with a one-on-one with home keeper Mick Clarke and from the resultant Ossett attack disaster struck for Winsford and manager Shaughnessy.

Mark Wilson's cross looked to have been dealt with by the temporary centre half but the ball somehow ended up in the back of the net to give Ossett the lead on 67 minutes.

Amazingly, United found themselves two goals adrift on 72 minutes when Ryan Gray converted from close range after Walton could only block a fierce Simon Fuller shot.

Danny Worthington showed his good and bad sides in the space of five minutes. Firstly he fluffed the best chance the striker had been given all afternoon before running on to a 78th minute long ball and expertly rounding Clarke to bring Winsford back into the contest.

The comeback looked to have been complete in the dying minutes. The Ossett defence were all at sea as United cued up to score but when Leon Mills finally headed the ball in at the far post, the linesman's flag ruled out the equaliser for offside.

No points again for the Blues, but all the same some encouragement, which is something everybody is looking for at tonight's meeting.