Yeah - just like it says. At last - a win, at last - an end to the longest losing sequence many supporters can remember, Yatesie's goal the first time we'd been ahead in a game since November 2 (Chelmsford) and Hegger's goal the first time we'd scored two in a game since that night of FA Cup unreality up at Kettering (October 29) where, perhaps, things had gone so well that we were bound to come crashing down to Earth with a bang - AND - couldn't be a better lot to end that awful run against than our old mates from Grantham who'd won on their last three visits to The Pilot Field with that 0-5 disaster of 00/01 still a fresh memory.

A measly attendance - but given that long losing run, our appalling record against Grantham plus the weather factor - then maybe 262 wasn't so bad after all. Like Dean White - paying a welcome visit - said, "This is the hard core support". People were amazed the game was on - but a phone call at 10.30 am had produced the good news that the pitch was fine and it was very much game on.

United kicked off missing various regulars - Macca (3rd game of his 6 game ban), Mylie still waiting on his knee scan and Joel Bevis who'd bizzarely picked up a 2 game ban playing Sunday League football - this was the first game of his ban. It was bitterly cold at The Pilot Field as Grantham kicked off the more dominant side on a surface that was to get more difficult as the game progressed. King Dave - who I repeat will be Player of the Season - was in action early on, a good save when partially unsighted and then a long range shot to deal with comfortably.

United looked good going forward throughout the game in which the Grantham 6 was probably the best player on the pitch as little got past the central away defence - but it was a different story down the flanks. Having said that - the first real U's threat on goal came from determined work by Ellis Remy who was fouled on the edge of the box - but the resulting free kick was cleared. A big shout for a penalty came when Landry headed back a Yatesie cross and the Grantham 7 looked fortunate to get away with a blatant handball. Landry was to have a golden chance to put United ahead - a good break down the middle but with only the keeper to beat - his shot was weak and wide.

1-0, United actually ahead, on 16 minutes. Ellis's effort was half cleared to Rudds who fired in a long range shot that the keeper spilled and there was Yatesie to run the rebound home to the delight of all concerned. Grantham's Dave Gilbert was to be guilty of two big misses before half time. First a cross from the left he fired wide and when a penalty was awarded (no arguing from the U's defence - I think it was for a push - bloody auto focus on the camera had gone awol) only for Gilbert to shoot a foot wide of Kingy's left post. Has to be said - Dave had gone the right way and looked to have had it covered anyway - but we didn't care - and Gilbert just looked down on the deck.

The second half was very entertaining bearing in mind the ever more difficult conditions. Good work by Landry saw a cross to the near post which a subdued looking Remy headed wide. Grantham started to turn the screw after that - but didn't really create anything in the way of solid chances. The corner count was to end up vastly in their favour as the United defence worked it's nuts off.

But when they broke upfield they looked good with Yatesie and Nick Hegley causing problems down both flanks. Heggers had trouble staying on his feet - none more than when he was paused to finish off a fine sweeping move with a cross only to go A over T. Grantham had another penalty appeal when the ball appeared to bounce up and hit Tommy O's hand but the appeal was waved away by referee Haines who I thought had a decent game as he took the conditions into account with not a yellow card to be seen.

Landry had a big chance to double United's lead when he managed to get away from the Grantham 6 - but in his one on one, the keeper came out tops with a good blocking save. No problem - 66 minutes - United went 2-0 up with a great move. Kingy's punt upfield was well controlled by Landry who set Webby free (he'd replaced Ellis Remy) down the right - Webby's cross found Simmo (I think - or was it Rudds?) who in turn set Heggers away into the box and he fired home United's second into the far corner. Great move - great goal.

United's confidence grew visibly after that. Heggers curling lob was comfortably held by the keeper who had to work a lot harder to deny Yatesie at the end of one of those darting runs into the area. Grantham kept pressing and Kingy did well to block a low hard struck effort. But the U's always looked capable of adding to their tally as only an offside flag stopped Landry capitalizing on a good pass from Heggers - and Landry very nearly set up Webby with a cross from the right.

United just had to finish with that old heart in the mouth routine. Into injury time - the ball wasn't cleared out of defence and Gary Bull hammered home to the delight of the hardy Grantham seven or eight supporters. A corner soon followed with their keeper coming up for it - indeed he got desperately close to it but as Kingy gathered, the ref blew a very welcome final whistle as three massive points took us up five places to 11th on a night when this was the only Premier Division game. Nothing quite winning one of those games in hand.

On a slightly worrying note - Steve Yates hobbled off. Fingers crossed he's ok for Bath on Saturday.

Talk about ups and downs. United must've turned up at Middlefield Lane in a decent frame of mind after that win over Grantham, the welcome three points and the end of that horrendous sequence of eight defeats. And for the opening half hour, 35 minutes, they were much the better side and looked likely to score every time they went forward but by the time the final whistle went the U's had found themselves on the receiving end of pressure every bit as intense as they'd applied themselves so early in the game. The 180 odd mile trek back to Hastings from Leicestershire (remember this is the Southern League) must've been a grim silence job as United's latest setback saw them drop back down to 16th with the only consolation of a truly shite afternoon being the news that Weymouth and Halesowen had both lost.

On the team front - Flanners was out with a one game ban, Macca was serving his fourth game out (with two to go) and if what George said at the Fans Forum on Thursday night is anything to go by, you can forget seeing Mylie again this season. Jimmy Penfold came into the side - and that once again begs the question about that huge gap in standard between Kent League 2 and DM Premier - not that Jimmy let anybody down - but the question is still a valid one. The size of our squad is a major concern - on the bench we had James Body, Joel Bevis, Chris Honey and Graham Webb and while James has looked a useful player, you could only point at Joel as having the necessary experience for this standard.

Middlefield Lane - well this is Hinckley's last season there as they prepare to move to a new stadium next season - and the old un won't be missed by many. The pitch manages to slope downwards towards both goals and there's a fair sideways cant as well. The infrastructure is battered to say the least and those steps leading up to the club shop should have a health warning displayed top and bottom. Those of you who've been to Atherstone and Stamford will see similarities I think. As Phil Glazier remarked - I think it was Phil - "Good to find as place worse than ours!". Laughable really - Eastbourne are having their place scoped over by the DM grading people to see what they need to get a Premier Division rating - laughable that given places like Middlefield Lane get a grading yet Eastbourne with it's comprehensive facilities is deemed to need a visit at all. Well - at least it was another new ground for me - that's 99 so far.

What of the game? United were so on top in the opening 20 minutes it was almost embarrassing. Nick Hegley should have put the U's 1-0 up in the first minute but he wanted far too long to control Yatesie's pass and Hinckley cleared the ball. Simmo fired over the bar on 8 minutes from outside the area as United dominated - and they got their reward a minute or so later when Landry ran onto a long punt from King Dave and volleyed past the keeper from just outside the box. Good old fashioned Route One - and 1-0. There was the odd warning note already though in that Hinckley looked like they could be a nuisance in the U's area and from a corner their 4 fired a good effort just over. United doubled their lead on 19 minutes when Paul Ruddy finished off from close in after good work by Chris Honey who'd replaced Ellis Remy on 15 minutes - hamstring gone again?

A fine save by the home keeper on 24 minutes at the foot of his post denied Rudds a second after he powered a header goalwards from a good Penfold cross. If that had been 3-0 then surely United would've gone on to win the game...... And it might've been made easier if the referee had done his job and sent off the home 4 for a horrendous challenge on Simmo - but weak officiating resulted in a yellow card on 40 minutes.

Hinckley started to work their way back into the game after that and they dominated the last 10 minutes of the half and - somewhat prophetically - standing in for Roger Sinden I did the radio update for Arrow FM and finished off with "United still have a lot to do".

And so it turned out as Hinckley came out good and fired up and before they pulled one back on 54 minutes they'd already had three attempts on goal as the U's found themselves getting what they'd been giving in that opening spell. The Hinckley 7 - David Sadler - what a game that guy had and the longer it went on the more influence he had and Heggers had a torrid time against him. As for that first goal - looking at the video it appears that the 9 who claimed it knew nothing about it - if anything he was looking away, hands up to protect his face when a corner deflected off him and over the line.

For all that - United should have gone 3-1 up within a minute but with Heggers looking certain to score at the far post, that man Sadler's outstretched boot put Yatesie's cross out for a corner - another defining moment in the game. And a minute later it was 2-2 when the Hinckley 16 burst into the box and fired over Dave and into the net to the delight of the home support who had become good'n noisy by this stage. And they got even noisier on 61 minutes when their 10 headed home a Sadler cross.

The flabberghasted U's contingent behind the home goal still thought we could get something out of the game and it was a surprise that there were no more goals as both ends saw goalmouth action. Hinckley might well have scored a couple more and had a big penalty shout when Stuart Playford looked as if he'd shoved that bloody 7 over - if Webbie had been six inches taller he might have gotten an outstretched boot on the ball as it bounced frustratingly out of reach - and Landry missed a golden opportunity late on when away on his own, instead of placing the ball over the stranded keeper he opted to deposit it over, wide and out of the ground.

You could say we chucked it away, you could give the home side credit for not giving up - you could definitely say that the 7 had a major influence at both ends - and he was probably the deciding factor on a thoroughly depressing end to a game that had started off so well. We are in a sequence of games against sides adjacent to or below us in the table - and we've not done well in the first three games of that sequence with a win and two defeats. Hopefully we won't see mayhem like that second half spell again and let's hope the boys get things right on Tuesday night in a hugely important game when Weymouth visit The Pilot Field. With Cambridge here on Saturday - that's a couple of big BIG games that we have to get results from.

Yeah - turgid's just about the best way to describe this game which saw United concede an 87th minute equaliser to a Weymouth side that thoroughly deserved something to show for their 330 odd mile round trip.

It was a miracle the game was played at all after yet more heavy rain the previous day had resulted in a pitch inspection at 7.00 pm Monday evening. The referee who checked out the pitch then came back Tuesday morning and said it'd be ok provided there was no more extended rain - and there wasn't - so it was game on. And a game that United really needed to get maximum returns from against a Weymouth outfit beset with off pitch troubles once again - and also down in the basement four albeit with games in hand on the whole division.

United welcomed Flanners back after the one game ban that had kept him out of the Hinckley debacle with Chris Honey taking the injured Remy's place up front. Much of what little United were to create in attacking terms was to come from Landry Zahana-Oni who showed frustration on more than one occasion at the lack of support from his team mates. Landry did well to free Steve Yates into the area early in the game with the resulting cross/shot flying across the Weymouth goal mouth with nobody on hand to knock it in.

Weymouth knocked the ball about pretty well on a sodden surface - indeed their passing game was to be superior throughout the 90 minutes which has to be a concern to George. The first threat on the U's goal came from a rare King Dave error when he dropped a cross but the ball was hurriedly cleared upfield. Chris Honey then had a shot from the edge of the Weymouth box that took a big deflection that could've gone anywhere - luckily for the stranded keeper the ball flew wide for a corner. Chris then passed infield to Simmo after more good work by Landry - Simmo broke into the box but his shot was wide of the post to the frustration of the U's contingent behind the goal.

United had a big escape on 24 minutes when a diagonal shot hit a post with the rebound falling just beyond the reach of the Weymouth 10 who would surely have scored had the ball fallen kinder for him. The Weymouth 2 who went on several penetrating runs had a good effort on 39 minutes which wasn't far off target.

Somewhat ironically, United then went ahead with as well taken a goal as you'll see all season. Chris Honey down the right launched a cross into the box where an unmarked Nick Hegley (who'd missed two straightforward chances at Hinckley) met the ball first time with a neat lobbed volley over the onrushing keeper for 1-0.

The second half was a horrendous affair which saw United create next to nothing in attacking terms. The biggest threat to the Weymouth goal was self inflicted when the keeper sliced a clearance against Landry's shoulder but the ball was cleared as the keeper enjoyed a piece of good fortune that Dave didn't get at Tamworth in December. United just couldn't get going and the longer it went on the worse it got with their passing game a shambles and the ball given away on numerous occasions.

Weymouth applied plenty of pressure - bit like the Grantham game - but again like Grantham - didn't seem able to make it count. Joel Bevis replaced Chris Honey after 72 minutes but to the disappointment of everyone just never got going. He did come close to setting Nick Hegley up in the area but the keeper was quick off his line to deny Heggers. The one decent move United put together saw that Zahana Oni - Yates combo once again - those two do have a good understanding - but Landry's pass to Chris Honey saw Chris lose control in the area - which is where his game has suffered so badly this season - and the move died a death - that was just before Joel replaced Chris.

United had a big escape on 83 minutes when a skyed cross/hopeful punt into their area landed on the crossbar with Burty on hand to clear. Any thoughts that U's had weathered the storm with that big break were put in their place on 87 minutes when having done so well to beat out a cross shot, Dave could only watch as the rebound fell nicely for the Weymouth 14 to bury the equaliser that few could deny they deserved. What bad luck on Dave, though. He's been outstanding this season but hasn't had much in the way of breaks lately when you think of the scuffed clearance at Tamworth, that first Hinckley goal on Saturday and now this when a bloody good save produced a goal conceded. Dave deserves better.

This was a mirror image of United's success at Milton Road back in October when a game that would've most fairly ended a draw saw the away side pinch the points with a late winner somewhat against the run of play. United were on 21 points after that game and riding high on their return to Premier Division football - but there can be no doubt now that the honeymoon has ended as a "haul" of 8 lousy points from 11 games since that win shows - only too depressingly. No two things about it - we are in a relegation struggle.

So, so frustrating to lose this after a thoroughly decent second half in which United had the bulk of possession on a heavy looking pitch. The first 45 was a pretty indifferent affair with neither keeper having a great deal to do. City possibly just the better side as United tended to give the ball away rather more - how they miss the midfield pairing of McArthur and Myall from who so much can flow. United - in addition to missing those two - were also without Nick Hegley who according to Tony Cosens on the Clubcall line was in Paris for a few days "on a break".

United's best attempts on goal came from Ellis Remy who was surprisingly in the side after what we all thought was the start of another hamstring problem enforced absence when he'd gone off at Hinckley. A looping cross from Landry found Ellis at the far post and he might well have done better with the resulting header. Ellis was fairly awry with an attempted lob and a Tony Burt effort from the edge of the box wasn't far wide of a post.

At the other end - City didn't threaten much. Two decent attempts on goal - their 10 broke into the area and fired an inch wide of King Dave's far post with Dave struggling. 0-1 on 39 minutes when a cross from the right was buried in the corner by City's Adie Hayes to the delight of the small travelling contingent of supporters.

Referee Paul Harrison had started off reasonably well with some good advantage decisions but - ominously - started to make some gaffs as the interval approached by which time he'd booked Paul Ruddy for a foul which was no worse than others that had resulted in no action. That was nothing compared to what Harrison was to display in the second half.

United were quickly level on 49 minutes. Steve Yates found Ellis who - having done so little up till then - did really well to turn and lose his marker and fire in off the keeper and into the rood of the net. Typical Ellis - naff all - then something top drawer like that. City should've restored their lead but a shot flew over the bar when it looked easier to score. United then started to play some decent football and were to dominate much of the game from that point.

Landry nearly caught the keeper out with a lob - Yatesie fired over the bar and then on 74 minutes - a breathtaking sequence that saw a King boot upfield headed on by Chris Honey (who had a bloody good game - he worked his bollocks off) to Ellis who flicked the ball onto Landry who volleyed from the edge of the area against the top of the City crossbar and out for a goalkick. The ball never touched the deck from the moment it left Dave King's boot - what a goal that would've been. Outstanding football.

The proverbial pin could be heard hitting the deck on 79 minutes as City celebrated a late winner they didn't really deserve. United failed to clear their lines and the ball fell nicely for Bloomfield to fire home the deciding goal from 10 yards.

Referee Harrison came into the picture in a way United's small squad just didn't need soon afterwards. He'd already enraged United by letting a crude foul on Chris Honey go without the yellow it deserved early in the second half - a foul far worse than the one he'd booked Rudds for. Graham Webb had replaced Ellis late in proceedings and off on one of his runs was blatantly sandwiched to the deck only for Harrison to wave play on. While players get criticised on this site and in the fanzine for chops - you had to understand the frustration boiling over at what was a bloody awful decision - and the words that resulted saw Stuart Playford booked - as was Rudds who's second yellow it was. So - inept refereeing cost United a free kick and means Rudds will be suspended to boot.

As to what was left of the game - City might have made it 3-1 but for a good block by Dave - and a two goal margin would've been harsh in the extreme on United who put on a good performance and deserved something from this game. As for Referee Harrison - I imagine he got plenty of abuse at the end - he deserved it. His decisions didn't cost United the game - but his performance still needs to be highlighted - so woeful was it. He joins Messrs Valentino and Merchant in the pointed hat brigade.

Special mention for Shane Wardley the City 3. Down on the deck - fatally injured - invited by the referee to leave the pitch after treatment and what a miraculous recovery as he immediately sprinted up the touchline ready to get back on. Saves us having to send him a get well card.