Manager Mark West went with the same side that had come within a minute of securing three points against then league leaders Bromsgrove Sporting on Tuesday evening. With United playing up the slope in the first half and against a deceptively strong breeze, it was the home side who settled quickest and, on four minutes, Griggs did well down the left and his cross was eventually met by Tappin whose effort cleared the bar. Whilst United pressed and forced a couple of corners, the lively Deacon was causing some problem for the United defence.

However, the first goal arrived on 23 minutes when Harry Scott, playing against his former club, did well down the Thame left, eventually getting to the bye-line before drilling a cross low in to the box where Goss was on hand to finish confidently from close range. The goal settled the visitors and, before the half was out, Goss skewed a shot wide when through on goal, before Essex was just unable to get the ball out of his feet when well placed in the area.

Going in to the break ahead, United came out in determined fashion and were immediately on the front foot. Indeed, inside the first sixty seconds good play down the Thame right saw the ball played back to an unmarked West whose first time effort forced former Thame keeper, Nick Bennion, in to a fine save low to his left. The resultant deep corner was headed back in to the danger area where West was unable to direct his header on target. Next to try his luck was Scott on 50 minutes whose shot from distance just cleared the bar.

Five minutes later and it was 2-0. United stole the ball on the half-way line before feeding through to Liam Tack who, as he entered the box, pushed the ball wide of the retreating defender, only to by body-checked in his pursuit of the ball. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Goss made no mistake, drilling the ball high in to the roof of the net. Only a minute later and the third goal arrived as Goss found himself with space in the area and side-stepped Bennion before slotting the ball home from an acute angle.

The high pressing game that had pinned the home side in their own half for the opening third of the second half continued, with opportunities coming and going for United as West struck over the bar on 59 minutes before, on 71 minutes, Tack saw an effort go just wide.

Still United dominated and the fourth goal nearly arrived on 79 minutes when substitute, and debutant, Tom Carter – with his very first touch – crashed a far post header from a free kick against the post, with the home side scrambling the ball clear. Going in to the final ten minutes the home team made a couple of forays in to the United half without threatening Hill in the Thame goal, and United saw out the remaining minutes for another away victory, delivering a dominant and professional second half performance.

The win takes United up to sixth, with another tough test next week when Bedford Town are the visitors to the ASM Stadium.

United:

Hill, Murray, Lynn, Essex (Carter), Gledhill, Ashworth, Tack, L Goss, Sturgess, West (Evans), Scott (A Goss)