This was always going to be a tough one - Tamworth going well near the top while United were going through one of those troughs that every team goes through. A Monsieur Houlier will testify to that. But the U's set out on another one of these marathon like treks that are every day life in the (anything but) Southern League hoping for a change in fortune - after all, back in 98/99 with off pitch trauma overtaking Hastings Town, a scratch side had gone to The Lamb and won 5-1.

It was not to be. United were under siege in an opening 45 from the word go - it was all one way traffic with the defence being given a torrid time by a rampant Tamworth forward line with their 10, Scott Rickards, outstanding. All runs - good and bad - come to an end as will this one we are all going through - but it was never going to end on an ever colder afternoon as the U's found themselves second best to a very good side on a heavy, sloping pitch.

United's new signing - Dean Wordsworth - who hadn't played for four weeks was pitched straight into the fray with Ellis Remy making a welcome comeback. Neither can have been anything like 100% fit but given our striking "resources" (one goal in six games) - George had little choice when, ideally, Wordsworth would've started off with a reserve game or two, or a place on the bench - as would Ellis.

King Dave was busy as early as the 2nd minute - a cross from the right resulted in a header that saw him save at the foot of a post with the rebound being put into the side netting by Rickards. After a Paul Ruddy effort that went well wide play switched back to the other end and on 5 minutes United were behind as Tony Burt headed a cross past Dave for the opening goal - the fourth time in five games our usually reliable defence had conceded early.

What was to be a rare decent move saw Rudds release Nick Hegley who did well to put in a decent cross but Steve Yates couldn't do anything with it and a goal kick was all that resulted. United were to only have one corner in that opening half - indeed they only had two in the whole game with long suffering supporters having to wait till the 41st minute for the first one. By then, Dave had put in some sterling work in goal with two great point blank saves with the U's defence creaking under immense pressure. What a huge shame that given all his fine work it was to be Dave's mis-hit clearance from a Tommy O backpass that presented Tamworth with their second goal on 44 minutes.

Poor control was to let Ellis down when a rare accurate pass found him with one defender to beat on the edge of the area. Dean Wordsworth hadn't done a lot by half time - some nice little touches and he looked good at holding the ball up but what more could be expected given he hadn't played with his new colleagues before and hadn't played anyway for a month.

The U's went in 0-2 down at half time knowing both goals had been gifts - but also knowing that Tamworth could easily have been five or six up such was their dominance. The second half was to be a little better - but then it seemed to be similar to the Eastbourne Trophy debacle in that Tamworth knew our boys weren't going to get anything out of the game.

Two decent chances were created - Simmo did well to get to the bye line and laid the ball back for Wordsworth who completely scuffed his shot and a free kick found Ellis unmarked at the far post but he couldn't get any power behind his first time effort and Darren Acton saved comfortably. United did put together a glimpse of some of that passing football that had seen them doing so well not so many weeks ago - a nice interchange down the left involving Simmo and Nick Hegley but nothing was to come of it.

Tamworth continued to look well capable off adding to the score when they went forward. Dave pulled off another superb save when a cross was volleyed towards the far corner - how such a big guy as Dave got down and got a hand to the ball who can tell. That was late in the game with the points secure for the home side. Chris Honey came on for Ellis - Graham Webb also came on and as always looked lively but didn't really threaten a dominant pair of Tamworth centre halves.

With teeth chattering and the camera shaking it came as a relief when the referee blew for time and the 30 or so U's supporters were able to think about the expedition down the M42 back to Hastings. United had been most unfortunate to lose The Pilot Field encounter with Tamworth - on this occasion they were fortunate to only lose 0-2.

Well, you tell me how much longer this run's going on then? Six defeats on the bounce and one goal scored in our last eight games, two in nine if you add the Chelmsford FA Trophy win which is the last time we won. This sequence of woe is rapidly approaching that horrendous run back in 96/97 when we didn't win in 13 games - and in some respects we've already exceeded that cos of those six reversals which in itself is a run I don't think I can recall.

As for this latest one - well, actually the scoreline didn't do United justice as they put in a performance far better than what we saw up at Tamworth last week. It has to be said that taking on a side at home is always going to be a different proposotion than going somewhere like Tamworth who are in rampant form, and Tiverton who, while they dominated the opening spells, weren't anything like as good as Tamworth.

United were without five regulars for this one - and that with what is a small, relatively unstrengthened squad - is a huge setback. Zahana-0ni, Flanagan and Ruddy suspended - McArthur injured (we lose him for six games starting with next week's tough one at Hednesford) and Myall waiting for a scan on that knee that's been out of sorts for over two months. Supporters were a bit mystified at Chris Honey's inclusion with George giving every impression in the Observer he'd lost patience with him. So - into the side came James Penfold (just how big a step up is it from Kent League Div 2 to DM Premier?) at 2 while Yatesie slotted into midfield.

Tiverton were well on top for the opening 10 minutes or so and King Dave showed once again why he will be the Player of the Season come the end of April. He pulled off three fine saves as Tiverton dominated but once United had weathered that opening period they came back into the game themselves and Dean Wordsorth was unlucky to see a goal bound effort deflected just wide by the Tiverton 5 with the keeper stranded. Ellis Remy and Nick Hegley combined well to see Nick break into the box but his saved effort wouldn't have counted as an offside flag had gone up - but a good move all the same. Having seen Dean denied by plain bad luck, more of the same followed on 12 minutes when Dave did well to get down to keep out a looping shot only for the rebound to fall nicely for the Tiverton 2 to put his side 1-0 up and United had conceded early for the fifth time in six games.

The rest of the first half was a fairly even contest. The Tiverton 11, Jamie Mudge, looked dangerous throughout, while Ellis looked to be getting back into his stride after that long spell out injured. James Penfold was to make a pretty solid debut but while Chris Honey tackled back well on several occasions he never looked like getting a sniff out of the Tiverton defence.

Yatesie - another indifferent game by the high standards he'd been setting just a few weeks ago - had a good chance to level as half time approached. Picked out by a fine diagonal pass from Simmo (I think!) he was set clear but instead of taking the ball past the onrushing keeper elected to shoot from a difficult angle and was well wide. Half time came with United a goal down but looking very much in the game despite not having played particularly well.

The half time team talk saw United come out looking in determined form and Ellis made a great run into the area only for an unlucky deflection - again - see Ellis's lay back just out of reach of Yatesie. Tiverton were to soon get the killer second goal, 2-0 on 52 minutes when a cross was tucked away at the far post by the unmarked Nancekivell. Shouts for offside maybe - but not from the players as the U's trooped back with yet another mountain to climb.

United supporters are in desperate need of some light at the end of a long tunnel - and there might just a glimmer in the shape of Joel Bevis who replaced Chris Honey with half an hour or so left. Joel's international clearance (never thought I'd be writing about international clearance for players at our level of football!) had come through just in time for him to be included - he's been in the reserves for several weeks waiting for German and English football red tape to clear him to play - he'd previously been with a German Division 2 side (such clearance isn't necessary in Kent League Div 2) and had been rushing about all over the place trying to speed his clearance up, including flying out to Germany last week! So - he must be keen.

Half an hour was enough to see that we might have a very useful prospect. The highlight was an overhead kick that clipped off the top of the Tiverton crossbar with the keeper in no mans land - what a debut goal that would've been - and how it would've lifted everyone on and off the pitch. Joel linked well with Ellis and between them they nearly set up Yatesie but the layoff went frustratingly behind him. United's other new boy - Dean Wordsworth - didn't do a lot other than that effort in the first half and he was replaced by Graham Webb who huffed and puffed as always but didn't make much headway. Wordsworth is suspended, incidentally, for three games starting with next week at Hednesford.

United tried hard to get back into the game and a good effort from Simmo brought out a good stop by the keeper - but it was all done and dusted when Mudge went one of his runs, cut round Tommy O and fired in a fine effort just inside Dave's far post. Great goal - no denying it - but hard luck on United who kept pressing to the end with Joel's run past three defenders finishing with a shot just past the post just about summing up their afternoon as Tiverton comprehensively avenged United's win in Devon back in October. But they were never three goals better in terms of performance.

U's supporters must be tearing their hair out after this latest defeat - United's seventh on the bounce and a result that means this appalling sequence of non success stretches to nine games of which eight have seen them lose - and as for the goal famine - in those nine games we have scored just once - indeed we've only found the net twice in our last ten games. That horrendous run of 13 games without a win back in 96/97 is starting to look beatable - the seven consecutive defeats is already a record all of it's own.

Having said that - this was actually a much improved performance up in Staffordshire against a Hednesford side yet to lose at home this season. Things did look better against Tiverton the previous Saturday despite another dismal outcome - and looking at the video of this latest game it was clear United are playing better football but still, frustratingly, getting absolutely nothing to show for their efforts.

United are also at least beginning to see signs of their preferred line up. Adam Flanagan was back for this one after three games out suspended thanks to referee Kettle's ineptness at Stevenage and Paul Ruddy was back after his one game ban. As predicted, Joel Bevis lined up with Ellis Remy and an interesting selection saw James Sims into the side from the reserves with James Body on the bench.

It's difficult to go into the usual levels of detail of a game I can't see myself. Night shifts meant I had to miss this one which was a pain from the point of view of missing a game in itself as well as it being ground 99 following Town and United - or it would've been had I gone. It was also an ideal excuse to avoid Christmas shopping - but it had to be missed and it was Sky's teleprinter that told me the latest gloomy news after a promising half time update that showed the sides all square - and that was an achievement in itself given United's propensity for conceding early goals of late - like four games on the trot - 7th, 9th, 5th and 12th minute deficits which is all you need when those confidence levels are on the low side.

Very foggy (and cold) at Keys Park where Dave Moore did a very reasonable job of filming the game for me - certainly a far, far better effort than my first attempt last season when Town took on Wisbech for the first game of 01/02. Thanks Dave - who coped admirably with that additional hitch of the auto focus not liking thick fog as we saw at Stevenage and last season against Stamford at The Pilot Field. And looking through the tape when I got home Sunday morning, it was indeed clear that United did play much better after some pretty dismal performances (Worcester, Eastbourne and Tamworth). Hednesford are a decent side and the U's competed well and lost to a late goal out of nowhere - a good strike on 71 minutes from the edge of the box.

That frustrating lack of goal power wasn't helped by a linesman's flag seeing Nick Hegley's effort on 50 minutes ruled out for offside. Good run down the right by Steve Yates who looks to be getting some form back - difficult to actually pick out whether it was James Sims's touch that saw the ball onto Nick or the Hednesford 5 - if it was Sims then there could be little arguing with the raised flag - whatever, like it says, frustrating to get the ball in the bloody net only for it not to count. Yatesie was to create a good looking chance for James on 62 minutes but the resulting shot was wide.

The Hednesford goal came on 71 minutes when United would've been thinking they were looking good for a deserved point. Looping cross from the left flank laid by Kevin Francis to Dereck Rae who's curling effort was always too good for Dave. And that was to be the deciding moment of a game that showed U's are well able to compete at this level, are getting their collective game back together but desperately need the intervention of Lady Luck to get their season up and running again. Bad luck boys - you deserved something from this one.

Last season it was a case of don't mention the "P" word - just in case it all went tits up. This season - it is all going tits up and while U's supporters won't want to mention the "R" word - Saturday's results combined to see United drop down to 15th in the table - just a couple of points clear of the basement four.

The results in question were:-

• Cambridge 1 - 0 Stafford Rangers
• Crawley 1 - 2 Bath
• Havant 2 - 1 Hednesford
• Hinckley 1 - 1 Dover
• Moor Green 1 - 1 Chelmsford
• Weymouth 3 - 1 Grantham

Only Folkestone and Ilkeston - surely already looking at Eastern and Western Division football next season - lost, as a lot of clubs made up ground on United who have now lost eight games on the trot - a sequence I have certainly never encountered in my 26 odd years of ups and downs at The Pilot Field. It is utterly bizzare given that prior to our winless sequence of 10 games, we'd won seven out of eight and drawn the other. Talk about rags to riches.

Being nights for a second consecutive week I couldn't make this game and have missed successive Saturdays for the first time in ... whenever, I can't recall that particular sequence either. The video camera was handed over to Paul Rush on Friday night and I watched the game on Sunday morning and while the result is all that counts - it was very similar to the Hednesford game in that United played some pretty decent football, especially in the second half, and were unfortunate not to get a point from the game.

Should any "neutrals" come out with any old bollox about "Here we go again, they were robbed" or whatever - match reports on this site tell it as it was - if we were good, it says so - if we were crap, it says so - if we were outplayed by a decent side, it says so - and on this occasion as last weekend, United were plain unlucky to leave with nothing.

Absenteeism raised it's ugly head once again - Macca suspended (four games to go), Stuart Playford suspended for this one, Dean Wordsworth suspended with one more to go, Mylie now looking a long term injury prospect according to the Observer and Simmo down with flu. On the plus side - welcome back to Landry after his four game ban - and he looked in good nick as supporters saw him operate in tandem with Ellis and Joel for the first time. Jamie Penfold stepped up from the reserves for Simmo and had a decent game - well played, mate, that's a leap and a half up from Kent League Div 2.

United were under the cosh in the first half against a Yeltz outfit who needed the points as much as we did - a Yeltz who'd struggled at home all season drawing most of their games. As early as the second minute their 9 was unmarked as he headed a cross over King Dave's bar. Eight minutes gone - United scrambled the ball out for a corner after some mayhem on the byeline. Over came the corner - Dave couldn't get any power on his punch, the ball wasn't cleared and was hooked home from close in as the U's conceded early yet again.

That was to set the pattern for the opening 45 with Dave much the busier of the keepers as he pulled off a couple of decent saves from long range efforts with the Halesowen 11 causing problems regularly. The home 7 went on a good run as he left Tony Burt in his wake but Tommy O got a boot in to clear his goal bound shot. United had a big escape on 36 minutes when a corner flew across the goal mouth with nobody able to get a foot to it.

But Halesowen were to have a couple of big breaks of their own - Nick Hegley fired in a fine effort from the corner of the area which hit the inside of the post and cannoned out for a throw in. And just after that corner escape for the U's, the Halesowen 5 was unbelievably let off by the referee after a blatantly deliberate handball on the edge of his area - a free kick was awarded against him and that was it - not even yellow for what looked a red card offence.

1-1 on 44 minutes - Nick sent the ball back to Tony Burt who's long punt into the area was met by a looping header from Paul Ruddy which was perfectly placed into the far corner - United's first goal since November 23 when Landry scored against Worcester - a mere 443 minutes of football earlier. United came out looking good in the second half - boosted by that Rudds goal and that second 45 was to be a mirror image of the first with Haslesowen penned back in their half with Landry looking in good form. United's best opportunity fell to Burty (Phil's notes say Flanners - but it really does look like 5 on the video......) - a corner was flicked on and his first time effort brought out a fine save from the home keeper with the ball rebounding back to Tony who's second effort was wide. Landry had already had a long range effort saved and after Burty had gone close, Ellis's control let him down at the last minute and he scuffed his shot.

Having looked completely in control, it came as a big blow to United to go behind again on 64 minutes. In Halesowen's first sortie into the U's half of any consequence saw the 3 go on a good run into the box and whether it was a shot or a pass who knows - but the 12 ghosted in at the far post to hammer the ball home past Dave.

United tried hard to come back from that set back. Unfortunately their limited striking options were all to clear when Joel and Ellis, neither of who are probably match fit yet, were replaced by Messrs Webb and Honey. They both worked hard as always - and a determined tackle by Monster saw him lay the ball off nicely to Webbie who's run took him into the area but one defender too many saw it taken off him. Webbie did put in a good cross for Rudds who's header was wide while at the other end, another rare Halesowen attack saw Dave pull off a good save from their 10.

Halesowen held out for the points and will feel they deserved them after their rather unfortunate defeat at The Pilot Field on October 5th - indeed both games between last season's Eastern and Western Division champions could be said to have seen the results go against the better side. But this was a big setback for United as they desperately try to end this appalling sequence of results that has inevitably seen them dragged down into what could be a relegation battle - which seemed completely implausible as recently as November 9 when a 0-0 draw at Chippenham saw them 6th in the league.

This was the first of those big games for United - one of many - and next Saturday sees us at home to Weymouth with our old mates, Grantham, traipsing down from Lincolnshire the following Tuesday. There is, of course, the matter of a Sussex Derby at Crawley on New Years Day but I'm not holding my breath on that given the weather forecast. But whatever - all runs come to an end - and someone is sure to pay for all this !