Gainsborough Trinity 0 Winsford Utd 0

UniBond Premier Division

By ANDY MAYLOR

LAST season's opening game in the UniBond Premier Division saw United lose at Accrington before embarking on a long unbeaten run.

This time they have gone one better and earned a point from the first contest.

And it should have been much better for Dalton Steele's men at Gainsborough. The first half was one-way traffic towards the home side's goal, but the one important strike failed to materialise.

Gainsborough had suffered a traumatic summer, losing their manager and 10 of last season's squad.

Winsford had a certain amount of empathy for their hosts after experiencing the same fate following Mike McKenzie's departure in 1994.

This time though United's team was settled and familiar, with Colin Lambert and Darren Heesom the only new faces among the old crowd which kicked off in the warm Lincolnshire sunshine.

The Blues were quickly into their stride and Winnie Steele broke down the left, only to be chopped down just outside the area.

Eddie Hussin, who looks fit and ready for the new season, floated in a free-kick and Gary Talbot rose well but couldn't direct his header goalwards.

On 15 minutes a similar situation saw the other central defender Mark Came meet a cross, but again the header failed to test Steve Cherry in the Gainsborough goal.

The home side lacked any threat in the first half and United continued to dominate.

On 21 minutes a fine one-two between Steele and Shaughnessy sent the latter homing in on goal. Shaughnessy was checked on his run and the defender was lucky to stay on the field.

The best chance of the whole game came on 24 minutes. Steve Aspinall showed great skills down the right to cut inside and beat two defenders before aiming a fierce shot which Cherry could only parry. The loose ball fell to Shaughnessy but he blasted his 12-yard shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

The second half appeared to be a struggle for both teams in the summer heat and neither goalkeeper was troubled.

Indeed, United keeper Andy Oakes was a virtual spectator throughout the 90 minutes.

It wasn't a spectacular start for the Blues but a point away from home is always satisfactory and of course it is an improvement from last season's start.

Winsford: Oakes, German, Heesom, Came, Talbot, Lambert, Wheeler, Hussin, Shaugnessy, Steele, Aspinal. Subs: Hibbert, Challender, Connor (for Wheeler 77 mins).

Man of the match: Mark Came.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.