United won 2-1 at Rochdale this afternoon, for the first time ever, to consolidate their position at the top of Division Three, and with no league games next week the Us will stay in pole position until mid-December at least. Steve Basham opened the scoring with his eleventh goal of the season after half an hour, and Julian Alsop doubled the lead six minutes into the second half. Gary Jones pulled a goal back for Dale just three minutes later, and United had to weather some heavy pressure, but they held firm to claim their third away win of the season.

Ian Atkins was forced to make a number of changes, especially in defence. Scott McNiven was still injured from last Saturday and so Jon Ashton moved over to right wingback, with his place covered by Dave Waterman. Matt Bound had to drop out of the side for “personal reasons” and so Paul McCarthy came back into central defence. With James Hunt suspended Danny Brown returned to the left side of midfield. No substitutes were used.

Referee M. Cooper showed yellow cards to Alsop and Dean Whitehead. The attendance was a pitiful 2,282. A match report might appear online tomorrow – anyone fancy writing one for us?

United remain one point clear at the top, as Doncaster won 1-0 at Oxford’s next opponents, bottom club Carlisle. Rochdale stay sixth from bottom. Mansfield go third after winning 3-0 at Northampton and Hull dropped out of the top three after losing 2-1 at Bristol Rovers. Of the other promotion challengers Yeovil beat Lincoln 3-1 to stay fifth, with the Imps now eighth, and Swansea were held 0-0 at York and had Lee Trundle sent off for violent conduct, although sadly he will have served his suspension by the time United visit the Vetch in January. Torquay beat Atkinsless Southend 3-0.

Derek Lilley put Livingston ahead from the penalty spot in their 1-1 draw with Dundee. In the FA Trophy second round Nicky Banger scored for Eastleigh but they went down 4-1 at home to Histon. Steve Anthrobus scored (!) Hednesford’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Lancaster and Phil Gray scored for Maidenhead in their 3-3 draw at swindon Supermarine.