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United are up against stiff competition this season, and look to be relishing the fact.

United, the most successful Australian football team since the leagues inception have won 8 of the prior 10 seasons; 6 of them in a row from season 5 through 10.

There has been increasing competition of the seasons that has seen other clubs close the gap on United, both in goal scoring and overall positioning.

With 12 games under their belts, United find themselves in a very unfamiliar position - 2nd on the table. After a 1-1 draw to 3rd place "Beta's F.C", United dropped from the top of the ladder to trail "Knights" by 2 points, tied with "Beta's F.C" on 34.

The "Knights" and United are both putting up a championship worthy fight and while the fight on paper leans United's way, the results on the gamesheet show just how close these 2 teams are.

United have the league leading 65 goals for, trailed very closely by the Knights 61. In the goals against department, United are tied between Beta's F.C and 4th place Prestige with 4 goals against. The Knights trail only slightly on 6. United have taken more fouls (115 to 104) and have more yellow and red cards (21-18 & 2-0 respectively).

In the goal scoring department United's captain, Kane Billington has found his scoring touch, putting away 30 goals in his first 12 games. The Knights have 2 20+ goal scorers already. The always lethal Jogaila Stasuikenas (22g), who still holds the league record for goals scored in a single season (93) and new signing, Uruguay international Sebastian Contreras (23g). The Knights also have the league leading setup guy, Pavol Piskanin who has 11 assists already, 1 ahead of United's Eric Burke and another Knights player, Tapani Rekolainen.

While many pundits may still pick United to be ahead at the end of the season, the Knights are proving they have what it takes to challenge arguably the best team in the Australian system. A testament to the Knights coaching and management team and a sign of good competition to come.

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