United 2 Accrington 1

Match Sponsor: MANOR FARM

Matchball Sponsor: THE PIKE FAMILY

Man of the Match: Wayne Carlisle

It has been coming and it was very welcome when it arrived, even if the winning margin was slender and the winning goal slightly fortuitous, but United's first win of 2010 couldn't have come at a more opportune moment on an afternoon when other results also went their way. It wasn't a classic that will live long in the memory but it was a good advert for hard work, dogged determination and a great example of sticking at it right to the end which is something this United side cannot be accused of shirking.

There was just the one change for United from the line-up that started the game at Cheltenham with Lee Mansell returning to central midfield which meant Tyrone Thompson dropped to the bench.

The first action came in the second minute when Guy Branston conceded a free-kick 25 yards out and Grant tested Scott Bevan who palmed the ball to safety and open play.

Moments later and United were carved a apart by an Accrington break when Grant slipped Symes clear down the right but the Stanley striker should have done better with his finish which beat Bevan but also went yards wide of the left hand post.

The action was coming thick and fast now and Chris Zebroski released Ashley Barnes but although he held off his marker he couldn't find the target with a left foot shot. Elliot Benyon also had a sight of goal soon after but he also missed to the right of Dunbavin's goal when he would have at least expected to test the visitor's 'keeper.

After a bright start the chances started to dry up as both teams seemed to have the measure of the other although Ryan nearly broke the deadlock with an excellent right foot volley that had Scott Bevan beaten but also the left hand post.

In defence both Mark Ellis & Guy Branston were giving another solid pair of performances and with Chris Robertson and Kieran Charnock also members of that particular department it certainly isn't a problem area for the management.

As the first half progressed United had gone a while without testing Dunbavin but they should have taken the lead when Elliot Benyon's persistency down the right ended with a low cross that was met four yards out by Chris Zebroski but his right effort went high and wide. The next attack also went United's way and Dunbavin produced a fine save to deny Ashley Barnes from 18 yards as the Gulls pressed for the opening goal.

All square at the break but United had created more opportunities than their visitors and should have troubled the scorers.

Half-Time: United 0 Accrington 0

There was a change for United at the break with Wayne Carlisle returning to action as he replaced Lloyd Macklin. It was a change that was to influence the match in a positive way for United with Wayne involved in much of the Gulls' better moments in the remainder of the game.

United had made a purposeful start to the second half and five minutes in they took the lead. Elliot Benyon collected the ball and exchanged passes with Wayne Carlisle with the winger slipping a neat pass back inside to the striker. Benyon was tackled on the edge of the Accrington area but Lee Mansell had continued a forward run of his own and passed the ball into the bottom right hand corner of Dunbavin's goal for his second goal of the season.

Goal: United 1 (Mansell 50) Accrington 0

The Gulls were rampant now and Mark Ellis powered a header just over the crossbar from a corner with Accrington clinging on. Chris Zebroski flashed a shot wide just before the hour mark and if there was to be a second goal in the match it was surely going to go to United.

As the minutes ticked by though Accrington saw off United's sustained period of pressure and very nearly pulled level when Ryan shot inches wide from a right sided corner. It was a warning for United and they barely had time to register a response before Accrington did indeed level the scores. Substitute Turner found a yard of space out on the right and bent in a near post cross that was finished well by Symes with a side-foot volley.

United 1 Accrington 1 (Symes 69)

United hadn't learned their lesson and shortly after the equaliser the Turner/Symes combination was at work again but this time Mark Ellis got a timely challenge in to concede a corner.

Bucks made a change with twenty minutes remaining when Mustapha Carayol replaced Elliot Benyon and went out to the left wing with Chris Zebroski switching to a centre forward role. The effect was immediate with Carayol using his pace down the left and producing a super left foot cross that was met three yards out at the far post by Wayne Carlisle but his header crashed against the crossbar and was eventually cleared.

With the scores level things started to get a little nervy and Accrington had a few minutes of domination which did nothing for the nerves of the United support although the team itself were coping well enough. Lathaniel Rowe-Turner collected a deserved booking for a late challenge on Turner although the tackle wasn't as bad as it looked and Turner was okay to continue after treatment.

There was still time for some late drama and the result of it went United's way; a free-kick from deep by Rowe-Turner was part cleared and returned to the Accrington area by Chris Robertson. Ashley Barnes was the furthest man forward and looked to be in a possible offside position but the officials weren't interested and the unfortunate Darren Kempson stuck a foot out and guided the ball into his own net. It was no Ricky Villa for Spurs in the '81 Cup Final type of winning goal but frankly who cares!

Goal: United 2 (Kempson o.g. 90) Accrington 1

A win is a win no matter how it comes and over the ninety minutes United had created enough chances to win the match without the help of an Accrington player come the end. With Dagenham arriving at Plainmoor on Tuesday night the opportunity for a fourth unbeaten match and maybe another three points beckons. A week is a long time in football.

Final Score: United 2 Accrington 1