United's great start to the season continued this afternoon as they  made it seven unbeaten with a 3-0 win at Morecambe to stay top of the Conference

With Chris Hargreaves suspended and Rob Duffy and Gavin Johnson injured United brought in Steve Basham up front, Rufus Brevett at left back and Eddie Hutchinson in the midfield

.It was the U's who created the first chance in the first minute, with Willmott heading a Burgess cross just wide after a returned corner, and seconds later Brevett was showing his worth with a fine sliding tackle to stop Thompson as he charged into the box. Turley then needed to claw away a 20 yarder from Thompson thirty seconds later as The Shrimps took pot shots in the Autumn sunshine..

The home side are going to be there or thereabouts this season and were playing some good football in the middle of the pitch without really getting beyond the formidable barrier of Willmott, Quinn and Gilchrist, meaning only shots from distance to work Billy Turley.

At the other end The U's were starting to put things together, and on 22 minutes they took the lead with a route one goal. Turley launched, Morecambe, unwisely, ducked under it, and Basham nodded the ball neatly over Ryan Robinson to give his side the lead and notch his second of the season.

That's 48 goals for Basham now, and the next best behind that among the current players was Phil Gilchrist on ten. United's skipper had yet to notch since returning, but on 33 minutes made up for that with United's second goal. It came after some great trickery from Burgess who nutmegged the left back and forced a corner, which Pettefer floated to the far post. Willmott rose superbly to head across goal and there was Gilchrist, four yards out to muscle his way in and head home.

As Morecambe's most famous son often asked, 'what do you think of it so far?' The confidence was oozing as United turned up the pressure. Robinson poked an effort wide after some comedic defending from the home defence, the imposing Hutchinson flashed a header just the wrong side of the post and the away fans were lapping it all up.

Morecambe had rarely got into the United box but when Twiss did that on 41 minutes Willmott was there with a vital block to stop his goalbound effort, and moments later Anacet did the same from Carlton's header. Robinson might have made it three right on the break but was tapped on the ankle by the keeper as he rounded him, or dived over his hand if you are ref Oliver, who promptly booked the striker for simulation.

Despite that two goal lead Jim Smith will have blistered the paint in the dressing room at the break as United had eased up after the second goal, and only a fine save from Turley kept Twiss out right on the whistle.

Matt Day was brought on at half time for the injured Anaclet, but it was Turley to the rescue a minute into the second half as he plunged low to his left to smother Meadowcroft's shot.United then had the ideal chance to wrap the game up as they raced to the other end. Burgess's shot was going out for a throw but Basham chased the lost cause and crossed to where Robinson was blatantly held down by home captain Chris Blackburn. A clear penalty, but sadly for The U's Basham's kick was saved well by keeper Robinson, diving to his left.

Yet another incident packed match, with Carlton rattling the post with a header at one end and Burgess lobbing wide of an empty net on 57 minutes, and you can't argue about the entertainment value following The U's this season.

 In a far from dirty game United picked up their fourth yellow card just after the hour as Quinn delayed a free kick too long for ref Oliver, before supersub Yemi Odubade came on for scorer Basham.Yemi nearly worked his magic on 70 minutes as he outpaced the home defence but saw his shot hit the keeper's legs, but perhaps that would have taken the attention away from the overlooked factor in United's success this season, the defence. BIlly Turley and his men have conceded a mean two goals on the road this season and provide a great foundation for the team to build on.

Brevett looked solid on the left, Willmott was outstanding, while Pettefer does a great job for his team in the middle of the pitch and when you need something special there's always Andy Burgess. Deep into injury time and Burgess picked the ball up on the right edge of the box, twisted insideand curled a beauty into the far corner to make it 3-0 and seal another great win for The U's. Btilliant.

 This was another fine team effort  though and United now go into two home games, against Exeter City on Tuesday and then Grays Athletic on Saturday. See you there.

Report Chris Williams. Pictures Darrell Fisher