After a month without a Southern Premier fixture, Paul Hughes side returned to league football with a visit to the SKYex from high flying Salisbury and it was United who took the spoils in a tale of two penalties.
United lined up with two debutants in the form of Afolabi Coker and Jake Sheppard who was making his second debut having been loaned to United by Reading four years previously.
The visitors were to have much of the first half possession, an early I swinging corner being met by Nathaniel Oseni who headed straight into the grateful arms of United 'keeper Jack Smith.
For United, James Clark's curling effort was held by Whites stopper Gerard Benson and shortly after an Omar Rowe free-kick from the left was met by Elliott Buchanan, his header being held by the diving Benson.
In the twelfth minute a Nathaniel Oseni cross eventually dropped to Darren Mullings on the edge of the area, his shot being blocked wide by the United defence. A few minutes later another ball in from the left picked out Toby Holmes close in but he blazed over the bar.
Lewis Benson and Kevin Amankwaah then combined well pushing toward the United box, the former's cross being driven inches wide of the United goal with Smith scrambling to his right.
After a couple of scrambles inside the United area where the home defence stood up well, on 37 minutes a break into the area by Warren Bentley who went down under Keano Robinson's challenge with referee Danaher pointing straight to the spot. Holmes stepped up and struck his kick firmly only to be denied by a fine Smith save.
As the break approached, Hassan Jalloh was played through only to be denied shot by an excellent Mullings tackle. The visitors went close several more times before the interval, the best chance being a dipping Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick shot that Smith did well to tip over, the United stopper doing well on two other occasions also to keep the scoresheet blank.
The second half was to be a total reversal as it was United who were to dominate. Early efforts from Rowe and Clark were just off target and just before the hour mark United substitutes Ogo Obi and Joe Grant combined, the latter meeting a deep centre on the volley that Benson did well to push out.
The other side of the hour mark Obi got to a loose ball in the box first only to be tripped, referee Danaher once again pointing to the spot. Obi dusted himself down and calmly fired in his ninth goal of the season to give United the lead.
74 minutes had passed and it was once more Obi causing problems for the visitors defence, this time his surging run on the left saw him pick out Buchanan in the box, his shot was blocked to Rowe who similarly had his effort charged down by a Whites defender.
With just under ten minutes remaining Obi brought the ball out from his own half and fed Rowe who returned the ball to United's top scorer who advanced into the box only for Benson to push away his goalbound drive at full stretch.
United closed out the game with little incident to gain a valuable three points with three more cup games following before another chance to earn league points.
This clean sheet also saw Jack Smith break the clubs total clean sheet record held previously by coach Delroy Preddie, congratulations Jack.
Report by Kevin Watts.
Photos by Ray Peploe.
United Man of the Match: Jack Williams.
Print the Teamsheet: Here.
