GOAL OF THE SEASON

Sam Jones

@Samuellejones

Sam looks at the best goals that United scored this season.

I think its fair to say that this wasn’t been United’s season. In fact, statistically speaking, it’s been the worst one in the history of the club. Despite that, we managed to score some absolutely cracking goals.

Below I’ve chosen six of the best. Which is your favourite? Vote here to decide!

A: BRAD ASH VS SLOUGH (A)

Brad Ash may have not hit the heights that we all hoped of him, but he still finished as our top scorer. Not that there was much competition… To be fair, he did score a cracking goal to open his Torquay account. With United struggling to break down the part-time outfit (sounds familiar), Ash took it upon himself to get the United back into it. After picking the ball up on the right he drove into the box and, from a seemingly impossible angle, curled it past the keeper into the far corner. He also got the winner in this game, a lovely header at the back post, but the first was the best. I’m convinced there’s a player in there who, with the right support and system, could be a cracking player for us next season.

B: MCGAVIN vs CHELSMFORD (H)

The best player named after a character in a 90s Adam Sandler movie (I suspect, I don’t know many 90s Adam Sandler movies) could’ve had a Goal of the Season competition just to himself. But I managed to narrow it down to just two. The first on this list is a perfect demonstration of the technical ability he has. In the second half of a tense 0-0 game against Chelmsford, United won a corner. We didn’t do anything with it but the ball popped out to Brett “Shooter” McGavin about 25 yards out. He caught it first time on the volley and smashed an absolute thunderbastard into the far corner past a despairing keeper.

C: CALLUM DOLAN VS EASTBOURNE (A)

Callum Dolan’s time with the Gulls may have been short, but it was definitely sweet. The Fleetwood loanee looked a cut above the NLS when he joined us so it was no surprise that he was recalled and went on to play for the Cod Army’s first team. The highlight of his time on the English Riviera was his screamer at Eastbourne in a rare away win for United. After some good build up play to get us up the park, Dolan received the ball just outside the box. His first touch wasn’t great, but his second was as he absolutely rifled the ball into the top left corner. A strike of unbelievable quality.

D: JUDE-BOYD VS TRURO (A)

Who would ever have thought that the QPR loanee was a full back with the way he could finish? Especially one being played on the wrong side? But hey, Jude-Boyd is indeed full back, and was one of the best players this season. He didn’t come into the team and make it bad, in fact took a sad team and made it better. In the away game against Truro in Gloucestershire, it was his screamer that got United on their way to an invaluable 3 points. He received the ball on the halfway line and drove towards the Truro box. Before the game he must have been told don’t be afraid to shoot and duly obliged by curling a beauty into the far corner. Unfortunately, like the best loan players, I let him into heart and fell in love.

E: MCGAVIN VS TAUNTON (A)

Shooters second entry on this list could arguably be the most important scored all season. In the tense relegation six pointer, he opened the scoring with an absolute beauty. As United ramped up the pressure, Lapslie showed some good composure to lay it off to Brett who was about 20 yards out. Without hesitation, he hit it first time and it sailed into the top corner giving the keeper no chance. It was an absolute belter that set us on our way to safety.

F: AUSTEN BOOTH VS HAVANT (H)

In a season to forget, this was a memorable way to finish it. With safety secured, United thrashed an already relegated Havant to end the season on a high. All five goals were class, but the pick of the bunch was definitely the second. Austen Booth, the local lad who was signed as a defender, found himself in midfield after an injury to Lapslie. After a long kick by Halstead fell to him about 40 yards out, he picked up the loose ball, took a touch and leathered it into the top corner. The keeper did his best to touch it over the bar but to no avail.