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United produced a marvellous display of attacking football to overcome Cheltenham Town for the third time this season. One change was made from the team that started the match against Port Vale last week with Jake Thomson coming in for Elliot Benyon who dropped to the bench.

The match began in swirling wind and rain but it didn't seem to affect the Gulls who were being watched by outgoing Football League head Lord Mawhinney. Inside the first minute some neat play down United's right finished with Chris Zebroski having a shot blocked but Wayne Carlisle pounced on the rebound and forced Brown into a save with his feet.

In the 5th minute Labadie shot wide from close range after good work from Bird down Cheltenham's right side, the ball went narrowly wide from 8 yards and was a real let-off for the Gulls. Moments later and Jake Thomson produced a dazzling run down the left before slipping a reverse pass into the path of Zebroski who had his shot deflected wide when it looked to be going in. Considering the wet and windy conditions it was a bright start to the game.

Eight minutes in and United took the lead; Jake Thomson fed Scott Rendell who slipped the ball inside to Chris Zebroski. The United striker took the ball on and struck a low shot from 25 yards out that beat Brown and went in off the left hand post. A cracking way to open a new scoring account at Plainmoor.

Goal: United 1 (Zebroski 8 ) Cheltenham 0

There was an end-to-end feel about the match and from a Cheltenham attack down the right Diallo thought he had scored with a six yard header but Michael Poke made a superb save to turn the ball wide for a corner.

In the 21st minute United nearly doubled their lead after another fine run from Jake Thomson ended with the Gulls' winger squaring the ball for Chris Hargreaves and with Brown out of his goal it looked like a tap-in for the United skipper but Gallinagh slid in and cleared off the line despite United's appeal that the ball had crossed the line.

The match was clearly being affected by the conditions and although United were doing their best to zip the ball around, quality football was hard to come by simply due the ball skipping off the surface at a rate of knots and running away from the players with the wind.

Although things weren't easy, United were bright and looking confident in attack and in the 38th minute a second goal came. Jake Thomson made another pacey cross-field run and ran into a Cheltenham defender but the ball squeezed its way back across the penalty area and to the feet of Scott Rendell who finished calmly low down to Brown's left from 15 yards.

Goal: United 2 (Rendell 38) Cheltenham 0

A minute later and Thomson tried a cheeky lob from 30 yards but Brown saw it coming and retreated far enough to deal with the attempt. There has been a noticeable injection of pace in the United team since Bucks started to bring in the new faces and Cheltenham were struggling to cope at the back.

United were running the show now and Chris Robertson headed just wide from a deep Carlisle cross as the first half drew to a conclusion. Cheltenham had threatened on more than one occasion even with United dominating the attacking side of things and at the death they had a free-kick from twenty five yards with which to threaten Michael Poke's goal but Lee Mansell was quick to the block and the ball went out for a harmless throw-in. A great first half for United and could they go on and produce a big win in the second period.

Half-Time: United 2 Cheltenham 0


United started the second half in a positive vein and scored a marvellous third goal. United broke from a Cheltenham attack and quickly moved the ball down the right wing before Chris Zebroski switched the ball to Jake Thomson who controlled the ball instantly and dribbled past two Cheltenham defenders inside the penalty area before slipping the ball past a helpless Brown from 10 yards. A great goal that typified United's attacking excellence on the night.

Goal: United 3 (Thomson 48) Cheltenham 0

One piece of not so good news was the booking that Mark Ellis picked up in the 50th minute after an altercation with Labadie, who was also shown the yellow card, the booking for Ellis took him to five for the season and he will now serve a one game suspension.

United were looking dangerous with every attack and Cheltenham were gradually reduced to little in the way of attacking possession and were left scrapping for any kind of decent ball.

Attacking at will, United nearly grabbed a fourth when Zebroski slipped in down the channel and rounded Brown but Gallinagh did well to cover his 'keeper and clear the ball as it was heading toward goal.

With twenty minutes remaining the rain had finally abated and there was a lull in the play although Cheltenham had a rare attack which finished with Marshall having a shot blocked by Mark Ellis. Even with such a positive attacking display behind them United did look slightly open at the back on occasion.

Another shooting opportunity came United's way after a long free-kick from Smith was deftly flicked inside for the run of Thomson but for once his aim was off and the ball sailed high and wide but United were still showing that they could attack in any number of ways and still be affective.

Danny Stevens replaced the excellent Jake Thomson with seven minutes left as United freshened things up. The match was clearly won by this point and the action had slowed down but if that is the only criticism you could throw at the Gulls then we'll take it every week. Adam Smith picked up a slight knock at the death and was replaced by Kevin Nicholson and United continued to push their visitors back. In added time Diallo had to head away for a corner after Rendell broke down the right and crossed deep with the Gulls pressing for a fourth.

Final Score: United 3 Cheltenham 0


A first class attacking performance from United is reward for a number of recent displays that deserved more. More of the same over the next month could well leave United very handily placed in League 2.