Wick hold out to keep on climbing the table

It was not the most entertaining of spectacles for a decent crowd at Crabtree Park as both sides struggled to play football on a heavy pitch, but United managed to grind out the three points to continue their surge up the table.

The hosts could have gone in front early on but Mark Pedrick shot just over the bar, before Joss Parsons had a rasping effort saved after he had beaten two defenders.

That was the only notable action in the first half until on the stroke of half-time, the home side went in front in fortuitous fashion.

Dan Cox played a superb diagonal pass into the path of Andy Chick. His initial effort was saved but the rebound struck him on the knee and the ball trickled into the net.

In the second half, Uckfield pinned Wick back for large periods and they would have drawn level but for an excellent double-save from Jordan Matthews.

He tipped a close-range strike on to the bar and was then quick to rush to the feet of the striker as the ball came down off the woodwork.Uckfield continued to pepper the home side as the match drew to a close, but they could not find an equaliser.

Wick boss Jon Tucker said: “You could see that we hadn’t played for a while but it’s good to get wins like that. It wasn’t the prettiest of games but we ground out another three points and, hopefully, we can keep rising up the table.”