4-4-2 3-0

Aah, that's better! United cruised to their biggest victory of the season against an on-form Cheltenham side thanks partly to a long overdue change of formation and partly to the desire to impress Ian Atkins. The scoring was opened as early as the 7th minute when Paul Moody was on hand to toe-poke the ball home from four yards following a corner. The best goal of the game saw Paul Powell release Jamie Brooks who drew the goalkeeper before slotting the ball home from the edge of the area after 38 minutes. The scoring was completed by Powell, who was on the end of a Sam Stockley cross to tap the ball in from three yards out after 56 minutes. Chris Hackett should have added a fourth five minutes from time when set clear by a sublime pass from Stockley, but Steve Book did well to block Hackett's shot.

United, playing 4-4-2 for the first time this season, started with Jon Richardson at right back and Stockley pushed up to the right wing position. Originally it was intended for Brooks to play on the right wing and Manny Omoyinmi to partner Moody up front, but a training injury to Manny meant a last minute reshuffle by Atkins. In the second half Powell was replaced by Sam Ricketts and then Brooks made way for Hackett. Simon King was also due to take to the pitch but the final whistle went before he could make his first league appearance of the season.

Referee Steve Tomlin had an excellent game, although his failure to show the yellow card for the whole 90 minutes will doubtless have been noted by the assessor. The attendance for United's nearest thing to a derby was a disappointing 6,740. A match report can be found here.

This result lifts United to 18th in the division, ten points off the play-offs, whilst Cheltenham drop one place to 11th. Plymouth are six points clear at the top, their 3-0 win over Carlisle extending their unbeaten run to 18 games. Carlisle drop to the bottom, six points below United. The result of the day in the Third division has to be Macclesfield's hilarious 4-1 win over Luton, the Hatters dropping to fifth after losing to the team now third from bottom. Scunthorpe's 7-1 win over Darlington also deserves a mention, although they were assisted by the Quakers having two players sent off in the first half hour. Nigel Jemson scored Shrewsbury's first goal in their 2-0 win over Southend and Paul Simpson scored an 84th minute equalising penalty for Blackpool at Bristol City, but the Tangerines still contrived to lose 2-1. In the Conference Mark McGregor put Nuneaton Borough ahead at home to Telford, but they also lost 2-1.