IT may have been a grind in the first half, but Melbourne United managed to produce a strong win over the SEM Phoenix at John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon, largely thanks to a vintage Chris Goulding performance.

It was a high-scoring first half, with 60 combined points in the opening quarter proving to be the most in Throwdown history. However, the big difference in the final two quarters was United being able to lift on the defensive end while still maintaining their offensive execution.

At the forefront of that scoring attack was Goulding, who shows that age is no hinderance to his performances with a terrific 30-point performance. He was able to get it done in both halves, shooting the lights out as he pushed United to a fourth consecutive triumph against the Phoenix, bouncing back after a tough loss on Friday night.

Melbourne United (110) def. SEM Phoenix (85)

Chris Goulding – 30 points (7/12 3PT), two rebounds, four assists

Goulding started the match with a lay-up attempt that was a bit too hot, bouncing out and giving the Phoenix a chance on the transition. A foul and a turnover followed shortly after, as the veteran guard started the game in less than ideal fashion. It took him a few minutes, but Goulding finally got going with a couple of three-pointers, pushing hard off the ball to get free from a Xavier Rathan-Mayes pass for his second. He spent a small amount of time on the bench, before coming back on for the final few minutes of the term to drain another triple.

The second term saw Goulding lose a bit of accuracy in the opening stages, so he acted as a facilitator, drawing in the cautious defence before making the right pass to an open teammate. He got in on the scoring fun himself around the three-minute mark of the term, splashing his third three-pointer of the match, and while he spent some time on the pine again, the sharpshooter returned to nail yet another shot from behind the arc. He was also fouled on another three-point attempt in the last minute of the half, closing out a strong two-quarter performance.

He kicked off the second half with another assist, combining with big man Isaac Humphries in the paint to keep United’s run rolling. With the defence beginning to collapse around the arc, Goulding then drove by his direct opponent to create scoring opportunities, whether it was a crafty lay-up or a clever dish to a wide open teammate. Goulding also remained a presence on the defensive end, ripping the ball from the clutches of Reuben Te Rangi to ensure the Phoenix did not get on a roll.

Goulding continued to provide a constant scoring option in the final quarter, delivering a range of baskets from both inside the paint and behind the arc. As United began to put the finishing touches on a strong performance, he still tormented the opposition defence with his gut-running off the ball, getting free to nail even more shots from downtown. He exited the match with just under two minutes to play, rounding out his best showing of the 2022/23 season to date.

With United struggling a bit so far this season, Goulding stepped up to deliver a crucial victory in the context of his side’s season, and remains a vital cog in the Melbourne machine. If you want to take down United, it still starts with stopping this man.