Bristol Manor Farm made the trip to the ASM Stadium, and the first ever match between the sides, on the back of an impressive run in the FA Cup that had only seen them defeated after a replay against National League South side, Slough Town. United knew, therefore, that they were in for a tough afternoon, and Manager Mark West changed the side with Liam Tack coming in for the recently released Marcus Mealing and Ben Cullen replacing Aston Goss on the wide right. Golden Boot winner from last season, Dan West, was on the bench following recovery from a pelvic injury sustained towards the end of last season.

With United benefitting from the strong breeze in the first half, it was the home side who started the brighter as they forced a number of corners in the opening five minutes. These, generally, were well defended by the visitors before, on 7 minutes, United were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Liam Tack stepped up and saw his low curling effort come back off the post before being cleared. However, United did not have to wait long to take the lead when, on 9 minutes, a corner from the left was head back in to the danger area by Aaron Jewell and Jamie Essex was on hand to drive home from 10 yards.

Bristol Manor Farm were then forced in to a change with the injured Stuart Tovey replaced by Troy Simpson and, within minutes, the visitors started to look more threatening. Indeed, on 20 minutes a well struck effort from 20 yards came back off the post, before the equaliser arrived on 23 minutes. A long ball from the back held-up in the breeze and caused Harry Mepham difficulties that were capitalised on by Simpson who, through on goal, confidently beat Craig Hill.

With the visitors growing in confidence United had to dig deep, and they did so by taking the lead on 37 minutes. Tom Ashworth raced on to a through ball from Ben Sturgess and, with only the keeper to beat, unselfishly slipped the ball in to the path of Lynton Goss who finished in to a near empty net for his first goal since returning from Harrow Borough. Hardly had the home supporters sat down when the equaliser arrived, a long ball deceiving man-of-the-match Craig Hill who had raced beyond his penalty area, and Owen Howe slotted in to an empty goal.

With the game in the balance at half-time, United came out for the second half with renewed vigour and almost re-took the lead on 47 minutes when Essex saw a header flash wide. That was the call for Dan West to make his long-awaited return and, within the space of 30 seconds of his arrival, United had taken the lead. West flicked on a clearance from Hill in to the path of Goss on the wide left. Goss then checked inside and delivered a low cross in to the box that was met by Harry Scott who side footed home from 10 yards.

Again Bristol Manor Farm looked to get straight back in to the game but, when they did find their way through the home defence, they were met by the outstanding Hill, who produced a number of fine saves. This time, however, it was United who extended their lead when, on 69 minutes, good play by West fed the ball through to Goss who placed the ball wide of John in the visiting goal from the edge of the box.

With a two goal lead, United were happy to sit on their lead and, whilst Hill made another couple of saves, the only other incident of note was the sending off of Howe on 83 minutes – an act that all but ended the visitors chances of getting back in the game.

United:

Hill, Mepham, Lynn, Essex, Jewell, Ashworth, Cullen (West), Goss, Sturgess, Tack (James), Scott