After bouncing back from their 0-1 league defeat away to Tonbridge two days before Christmas with 1-1 draws at home to Bognor Regis Town and Andover in their next two games, the Ducks recorded their first win in all competitions as they inflicted Hounslow?s 4th straight defeat with this win at Denbigh Road.
It was the proverbial game of two halves with United dominating the first half and the Londoners coming back into it strongly in the second half.
The hosts started brightly and went close in the 1st minute when Tony Burge?s header was well held at the second attempt by Ducks keeper Vince Mazurek.
United took control after that and they took the lead in the 30th minute when Gary Harthill?s corner left the home defence flat-footed and the ball ran to player/manager Leo Markham who sent a low drive past Hounslow keeper John Morton from the edge of the box for his first goal of the season.
The hosts looked a different side in the second half and they equalised in controversial fashion in the 58th minute when Joe Auguste found his way into the box alongside Markham and appeared to dive, the referee decided Markham was responsible and gave a penalty. Martin Francis? spot kick was easily saved by Mazurek but the referee ordered a retake after the Ducks keeper was adjudged to have moved by the linesman and Francis made no mistake with his second attempt.
United looked a disheartened side after that and the hosts took control with Maxted, Burge and Danny Pipe all going close as the Middlesex side tried to press home their advantage.
Then, in the 89th minute, with the visitors looking like they?d dropped a point, a flighted free kick from the left by Chris Austin eluded Burge and fell to Markham on the edge of the box who turned neatly and fired past a rooted Martin to ensure his side returned home with both points.
David Figg
