With goalkeeper Craig Hill suffering from a back injury, Steven Caro – a recent signing from Oxford City – came in for his debut, with Jamie Essex, Andy Gledhill and David Lynn all returning to the defence following their absence last week at Dunstable Town.

After Harry Scott had seen an effort deflected wide for a corner on six minutes, the visitors quickly took control of the game winning the midfield battle and causing United problems with effective passes in to the final third of the pitch. And it was, perhaps, no surprise when they took the lead on 14 minutes when Dave Keenleyside beat Harry Mepham on the wide left and, from a narrow angle, pushed the ball beyond Caro and in to the far corner. Even before United had settled they found themselves two goals down when a deep cross in to the box was met by the head of Stuart Zanone, giving Caro no chance. Eventually United began to get themselves back in to the game although, up to the break, Dan Green in the visiting goal was rarely threatened.

The half-time break saw the visitors change from their claret shirts in to orange, but for the opening moments of the half that did not alter the pattern of the game, as Welwyn continued to threaten from wide positions. However, United started to exert some pressure on the visitors and they pulled a goal back on 57 minutes when Dan West stooped to force the ball over the line. Five minutes later and the game was all square as a long ball put West through on goal, and despite the attention of Jay Rolfe and Danny Payne, together with and an on-rushing Green, West somehow managed to squeeze his shot wide of Green and in to the corner. Two became three only a minute later when after good play down the left, Lynton Goss found himself in space just inside the box and he finished well, placing the ball wide of Green.

The visitors looked somewhat shell-shocked at the speed of the turnaround and were caught out again on 69 minutes with West securing his hat-trick. Picking-up the ball on the left, West cut inside before drilling an effort low and wide of Green and in to the far corner of the goal. At 4-2 United continued to press and West went close to scoring another on 74 minutes when he met a cross from the left, only for Green to make a smart save.

As the game wore on, the visitors started to enjoy more possession, with United getting men behind the ball and dropping deeper in to their half. However, the defence held firm with Caro in the Thame goal generally untroubled and, as the game came to a close, it was United who took the three points to maintain their play-off position.

Next week United have another tough game when they make the short trip to face fourth place Berkhamsted.

United:

Caro, Mepham, Lynn (Murray), Essex (Jewell), Gledhill, Ashworth, Tack, Goss, Sturgess, West (Martin), Scott.