United eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Northampton Town at the KasStad this afternoon to maintain their 100% home record against the Cobblers. Steve Basham, returned after a two-game lay-off, opened the scoring in the first minute after former Northampton midfielder James Hunt set him free to finish clinically past Lee Harper. The Us doubled their lead after 32 minutes following an indirect free-kick, awarded for a foot-up on Julian Alsop. The ball was touched wide for Dean Whitehead to smash the ball home from 25 yards. Basham then scored his second four minutes before half-time after being released by Alsop, and he could have completed his hat-trick a couple of minutes later when his angled header from a left-wing cross was cleared off the line. Andy Woodman didn’t have a real save to make all game as United continued in a similar vein in the second half, Basham putting the ball narrowly wide from a Whitehead corner and Paul Wanless slicing wide, also from a Whitehead corner, when he should have done much better.

There were three changes from the side that lost to Reading in midweek. As well as Basham coming back into the starting line-up in place of Mark Rawle, Wanless returned to the centre of midfield, with Derek Townsley dropping to the bench. In defence Andy Crosby was a surprise omission, suffering from a back problem and also an achilles heel injury. Paul McCarthy made his first appearance of the season in his stead, and also took over the captain’s armband. United’s first substitution, in the 69th minute, saw Jefferson Louis replace a revitalised Alsop. With eight minutes remaining Andy Scott came on for Basham, who received a standing ovation as he left the field. Then, with three minutes left, Townsley replaced Hunt, who also received a standing ovation, this time the Northampton fans joining in too.

Referee Nigel Miller had an average game, making too many picky decisions, although with a degree of annoying consistency. He showed a yellow card to McCarthy for a foul, and another yellow to Hunt for a good tackle. The attendance of 6,518 included 1,500 away fans, leaving the home average at a steady 5,000 for the last three games. A more comprehensive match report will be posted tomorrow.

United have climbed back to third as a result of this victory, three points behind leaders Swansea who came from a goal down to win 2-1 at bottom club Carlisle. Hull remain second after comprehensively beating Kidderminster 6-1, the Harriers dropping to fourth from bottom. United’s next opponents, Torquay, who visit the Kas on Wednesday, have climbed to fourth after winning 2-0 at Yeovil, who slip to fifth. Mansfield are now sixth after winning 2-1 at Cambridge, and Bristol Rovers fill the final play-off place thanks to their 2-0 home win over Cheltenham Town.

Leyton Orient remain second from bottom after going down 3-0 at Huddersfield, and Southend are just one place above them, despite drawing 1-1 at Scunthorpe. Boston’s 3-0 defeat at Darlington leaves them fifth from bottom, level on points with Macclesfield who were held to a goalless draw by York City at Moss Rose. In other games Doncaster won 3-1 at Bury and Lincoln were held 1-1 by Rochdale.

Dean Windass gave Bradford City the lead in their game against Sheffield United, beating Paul Gerrard with a low drive, but the Bantams ended up losing 2-1, and Windass was shown a red card in the last minute. Also in the First Division Jim Magilton scored the winner as Ipswich won 2-1 at Watford. In the Conference Manny Omoyinmi was again on the scoresheet in Margate’s 3-1 win over Steve Davis’s Northwich Victoria.