They say that a club's league position around Christmas usually dictates whereabouts it will finish come April. Last night's stop start performance saw United slump to a second consecutive defeat - (something I don't think they ever did in their previous guise when it came to starting off a new season) which sees them above Cambridge City and, er, that's about it at this early, early stage, folks.

How that wheel turns full circle. Last season we were getting the breaks, the late goals and while it's patently daft to compare 42 games with 2 - eyes were rolling in frustration throughout this game as a poor Folkestone outfit left with all three points from a game which saw United play what little decent football was on show. No it's not sour grapes - if we're shite, we say so. And last night - we WERE that for a spell after going 0-2 adrift - but to lose a game to such mediocre opposition is frustrating in the extreme.

Yet - it all started off well with United putting the Invicta goal under pressure with Dave having nothing to do till the 35th minute when he saved a header from a corner. Burtie had a straightforward header saved as early as the opening minute, a Nick Hegley cross was put wide by Monster who has not got going at all yet, Yatesie picked up a good pass from Simmo in the box and saw a decent shot well saved by Dave Wietecha who's dropped cross on 40 minutes was booted clear off the line by an Invicta defender - that being the first piece of good fortune Wietecha was to enjoy.

What a blow to go behind on 43 minutes. A long range free kick was fired into the wall - the ball rebounded straight back to the Folkestone 2 who had another pop and the ball seemed to catch Dave unsighted as it went just inside the post. "One shot, one goal" the Invicta supporters chanted - and that just about summed up that first half.

Nick Hegley had been producing some good runs down the left and he combined nicely with Landry who fired in an effort that Wietecha saved but couldn't hold - the ball rebounded to a defender who's clearance attempt rebounded off one of his colleagues and wide of the gaping goal. Those who were at Fisher last season will recall a virtually identical sequence of events which resulted in an own goal that decided that game in Town's favour.

Apart from the goal and a cross that flew in front of Dave's goal - Folkestone had done hardly anything in the "U's" half - to be a goal down at the interval resulted in a lot of shaking heads.

United struggled to get going as the second half started. On 61 minutes things got worse - Dave came out for a cross - didn't gather the ball which was lobbed into the 6 yard box where Nick Hegley headed it out but only as far as the 11 who's not particularly hard hit shot flew off Nick's shin into the roof of the net. It might've got even bleaker a couple of minutes later when a ping pong sequence of events saw Dave unable to hold onto the ball, it was fired against a post and the rebound struck straight back in where Stuart Playford headed off the line. Wietecha was to enjoy more big breaks at the other end - two fluffed clearances along the deck - straight to one of his players each time - and a dropped cross which was booted clear as United tried to get back into the game on a wet skiddy surface soaked by a first half downpour.

Dave brought off a routine stop on 78 minutes as United pressed forward leaving space for the Folkestone 10 to run into. A lifeline on 82 minutes when Mylie was brought down into the box and Simmo duly put the penalty away. Tommy O - who'd replaced Nick Hegley - put in a good curling effort just wide of the post with 5 minutes left but that was to be United's last real threat as they continued to look lightweight up front and unable to take advantage of some good approach work - especially from Steve Yates.

After those two defeats at the hands of Worcester and Folkestone, The "U's" needed this result badly - it didn't matter how they played - that first confidence boosting three pointer always has a lot going for it - especially with United finding their way at Premier level after that absence of three seasons.

Referee Colin Rolfe was to dominate proceedings and Hinckley will have gone back to Leicestershire with little intention of adding him to their Christmas card list. This was the same Rolfe who allowed that infamous mudbath of a game at home to the Stains to go ahead back in February. While the yellows and reds were waved exclusively at Hinckley players - United would've had grounds to query some of his decision making.

As to the game - well, nothing special. Neither side was to play well. United continued to look lightweight in attack - Monster still hasn't gotten going yet, Ellis Remy has a long way to go to make an impression at this level and Landry is carrying a big weight on his shoulders as his partners continue to fire blanks. Landry's fine through ball nearly set up Yatesie as early as the 4th minute - but the alert keeper - Farhad Afandiyev, an Azerbaijan U21 no less - was quick off his line. United were to look ok throughout the first half in attack - till they got into the box where little happened of note. Initially - the biggest threat on the Hinckley goal was the odd wayward back pass.

Defensively - the "U's" coped well with what Hinckley threw at them. King Dave was to dominate his area throughout proceedings and didn't have a proper save to make till the 78th minute. At the other end - the vital breakthrough came on 24 minutes after some fine work by Nick Hegley. Having robbed a defender of the ball, he turned and was immediately upended just outside the 6 yard box thus presenting Simmo with his third successive spot kick in as many games - Simmo duly converted to give United the lead.

Hinckley offered little up front and apart from one wayward shot by their 10 and a fine saving tackle by Simmo, there was little action in the home area. United were just about worth their slender interval lead.

Hinckley came out more determined for the second half but again created little in the way of chances as United grimly defended that lead. It appeared to get easier 20 minutes into the second half when the Hinckley 5 got a second yellow for a foul on Ellis who was breaking clear down the right flank. While the resultant free kick was being lined up, their 11 who'd already been booked didn't retreat 10 yards and Rolfe promptly produced a second yellow and they were down to nine men.

Yeah - I said it appeared to get easier - I've seen Hastings Town lose 1-2 to nine man Corby many moons ago - and those who were there will recall how unlucky nine man Town were against Wimborne on that infamous night that Paul Vosper visited Hastings back in 91/92. Sure enough - Hinckley were to look more of a threat when down in numbers and it was then that Kingy brought off that good save from a well struck effort from the Hinckley 10.

The "U's" really should've added to their lead as Hinckley tired late on. Nick was denied by a good blocking save, Webbie might've done better when clear on goal and he was to be denied by the post with a fierce effort (that would've wrecked my camera if he'd been a little to the left) in the last couple of minutes. Huge relief when Rolfe blew for time at around 4.55. And a warm welcome for Rolfe from the enraged Hinckley contingent when he came off.

431 through the gates. OK I suppose after the disappointment of Tuesday night. Hinckley average around 350 at home and brought 20 or so supporters who were pretty noisy - especially at the end. The biggest entertainment of the afternoon apparently was watching their coach driver trying to get in the main entrance.

Yeah - like it says - hard labour. United worked bloody hard for this point against a Havant side that must have been disappointed not have won a game they largely dominated with Dave King's goal under a lot of pressure. But - having said that - the best opportunities were to fall to the U's who have now failed to score in open play in 360 minutes of Premier Division football.

No Steve Yates who's problem that saw him go off after half an hour against Hinckley on Saturday is apparently a groin strain that's expected to keep him out for about three weeks. So Tommy O stepped in at right back and did fine. Stuart Playford who'd been saying on Saturday that his knee wasn't right started and finished - and had a great game in the centre of a hard working defence which also saw Burtie and Flanners put in big performances against a lively Havant side.

Westleigh Park has certainly changed since we were last there for an FA Trophy replay several seasons ago. If it isn't up to Conference standards, then it can't be far away - a very tidy stadium with the obligatory jobsworth steward who told us we couldn't view proceeding from in front of the main stand. Nobody appeared to be obstructing the view of those in the stand - there was plenty of room - so just what the reasoning behind this obscure rule was, was beyond us.

£8.00 to get in and £1.60 for a programme - this Premier Division is certainly a tad more expensive than what we've become used to this last three years - but paying more to see games in decent stadiums is probably a price worth paying when you think of some of those dismal Eastern Division grounds. And if what we've seen so far at Worcester and Havant is anything to go by - the standard of play is a lot higher too.

And this was a stern test of the United defence as Havant dominated for long periods and knocked the ball about nicely to all corners. As early as 3 minutes a shot curled just wide of Dave's post after a good interchange of quick passes outside the area. But a minute later - a good break down the right saw Ellis Remy get in a good cross for Landry who could get no power behind his header. Paul Wood who so nearly signed for Town in 98/99 went close with a long range effort and on the half hour a combination of Stuart Playford and Dave King cleared the U's line. But United showed they were capable of causing the home defence problems and a nice combo between Nick Hegley and Simmo set up Stuart Myall who's shot was straight at the keeper.

Best chance of the first half fell to Landry who was nicely set up by Burtie as he headed back a Simmo free kick - but Landry's shot went wide right on half time.

More of the same in the second half - lots of home pressure but apart from catching crosses, Dave had very little to do apart from a scrambled save at the foot of a post and a well held effort that flew in from outside the area - well held because Dave can only have seen it at the last minute what with all the bodies in front of him. United - again - were to create the better openings when they got out of their half - early in the second half saw fine work down the right by Ellis who's cross was headed over by Landry who might've done better to leave it to the unmarked Simmo.

Simmo and Tommy combined to send in a cross that saw Ellis's well struck effort deflected wide for a corner. And in the last 10 minutes two good opportunities presented themselves - but Simmo was denied by a last gasp block and just after Dave's save from that long range effort described earlier - Ellis might've stunned Havant with a late, late winner - a corner was headed out to him (unmarked) and his half volley was just over the bar.

A couple of minutes later - it was all over and United had got what they'd have happily settled for against a side tipped to be amongst the front runners for a Conference place. Well battled, lads.

If Havant was tough on Bank Holiday Monday this one had to be a bigger test - in all senses of the word. Hednesford arrived unbeaten, equal top of the division with Grantham and equipped with plenty of Nationwide experience - particularly in the shape of the massive Kevin Francis. Only our own King Dave came anywhere near to looking Francis in the eye.

Hastings Town had a poor record against The Pitmen and in four Pilot Field attempts starting back in 92/93, had lost three and drawn one with just one goal scored. Hednesford went close as early as the first minute when their 11 who was involved in just about everything they did fired into the side netting when the U's defence didn't clear it's lines. But a minute later Landry set up Macca with a nice flick but Duncan's effort was hit straight at the keeper.

Yes - Duncan. After his four match suspension, Macca was back and straight into the side with Yatesie also back in his No 2 shirt. Chris Honey and Tommy O were on the bench with Graham Webb as George kicked off with Landry and Ellis up front. It was like Macca had never been away and a reshaped U's soon got into the game and started to show they were able to compete with Hednesford on equal terms.

Actually - it's bollox to say it was like Macca had never been away - because we'd missed him badly in those opening four games - but he was back into the routine like he'd never been away. You know what I mean!

End to end in terms of goal scoring opportunities. Duncan robbed a Hednesford defender of the ball and saw his shot beaten out for a corner. Nick Hegley's cross found Simmo who's header was well over while Ellis - getting better all the time - combined nicely with Yatesie - if only someone had been there for the cross that looped over the 6 yard box. Dave did well to save a back headed effort from Francis, the Hednesford 7 got past Burtie but his shot flashed wide. The Hednesford 11 saw a shot defelcted over the bar by Steve Yates - but Dave was right in line and would surely have saved it - but brave defending by Steve all the same. Hednesford's best chance fell to their centre half who headed a corner wide just on half time. But the one goal on 27 minutes - what a well taken one it was. A perfectly flighted free kick from Macca found Mylie who's superbly directed header hit the post and dropped over the line behind the flailing keeper.

The second half started like the first with chances at each end in no time - Landry's shot was deflected for a corner from which Flanners saw a goal bound header cleared off the line by the Hednesford 3. A minute later - Dave had to go full stretch to get to a well hit shot from the Hednesford 8.

What a move on 60 minutes as United doubled their lead. Quick break out of defence - Yatesie forward to Landry down the Hednesford right flank - Landry passed back inside for Yatesie who's run took him into the box where his well struck shot was too much for the keeper and the ball rebounded nicely for the following up Ellis to notch a well deserved first DM goal for United. What a great move - and a move that confirmed U's are well capable of playing decent flowing football at this level. We'd seen hints in the previous four games as they started getting to grips with Premier Division football - this move and goal confirmed it.

Hednesford continued to apply pressure to Dave's goal but no more clear cut chances were to materialise as the defence coped with the arial threat of Francis. Landry was set up well by Ellis but the keeper did a good job to block Landry's quick shot. Ellis might've done better on 71 minutes when he broke away - but his shot lacked direction and power. United held out for a well deserved three points and the majority of a reasonable 506 attendance went home having been well entertained. That included 40 or so amiable, noisy Pitmen supporters who were last seen putting a few quid behind our bar before the long trek back to Staffordshire.

CONCLUSION

Macca had a great game in midfield. His return gave George a few extra options and Duncan was very influential throughout an absorbing and entertaining game. No illusions - still lots to do to maintain that hard won Premier status - but against one of the better and more physical DM Premier sides this afternoon, United showed they could deal with the threat of someone like Kevin Francis and play a bit themselves. Believe me - that second goal came out a treat on the video (plug plug plug).

I rate Havant as a better side actually - they just seemed a better footballing side than Hednesford. United's defence has done well against the three heavyweights they've encountered so far and now that Macca's back with all that he's capable of - er, yes - that included a yellow card - things will hopefully start to look up as the side continues to adjust to the greater demands of this division.

Ellis had another promising game and thoroughly deserved his goal which will hopefully do his confidence the world of good. The big cheer he got when George subbed him near the end won't have done any harm. Good to get Yatesie back from injury two weeks earlier than expected. Humble pie time - I had my reservations about Steve - but he has done really well in every game.

Talking about goals - at last - after 387 minutes - a goal from open play! And both of 'em today were a bit special too.

Well played boys!