United stay top of the table thanks to a late late thunderbolt from Matt Day. The defender scored his second of the season as time ran out to snatch all three points and continue United's brilliant start to the season.

With Phil Gilchrist missing through injury Day came into the starting eleven, with Chris Hargreaves also returning after suspension, and after a scrappy opening five minutes it was The U's who created the first chance when Burgess slipped free on the left and crossed towards Robinson, only for keeper Hamer to grab the ball in the nick of time.

Robinson almost got in after fifteen minutes due to the persistence of Hargreaves, but the home side were giving as good as they got, playing balls in behind the United defence and trying to get the ball forward quickly. Sappleton forced Billy Turley into his first save on 17 minutes, sending in a dipping effort which Turley tipped over, and The U's were on the back foot as we reached the quarter way mark.

Day then smacked a header over the bar from Pettefer's cross, and having weathered a squall rather than a storm, United were starting to get Andy Burgess on the ball more and look more dangerous as a result.

Eastender's ratings were maybe not under threat, but Blackburn flashed a shot wide on 40 minutes and then United almost took the lead when Matt Day's flick from a Burgess corner was smothered by Hamer before Robinson got the ball caught between his feet in the last minute after a good run from Basham.

The second half continued in much the same fashion, with both sides putting in plenty of perspiration but not much inspiration. Basham made way for Duffy, with The U's switching to a more inventive 3-4-3 formation, and might have had a penalty on 62 minutes as Anaclet raced onto a Burgess through ball, but ref Gavin Ward was having none of it.

With Burgess now further forward  there were more attacking options, but that was at the risk of being more exposed at the back, and the game was starting to open up more. Yemi Odubade was given the final 20 minutes in place of Robinson, but it was Crawley firing in shots from distance and causing problems. The more important change came soon afterwards though as Brevett went off and Dempster came on, allowing Day to press forward as a left wing back...

The best chance came on 79 minutes as Burgess freed Anaclet once again. Anaclet's cross was perfect but Burgess's header was tippped onto the bar by Hamer. The ball bounced back to Odubade, and his effort hit the bar, and then Duffy blazed the loose ball over the bar to complete a hat trick of let offs for Crawley.

United were on top, but where could they find a goal from? Well, of course, in the last minute give it to Day! Given space and time twenty five yards out the defender strolled forward and then picked his spot to smash the ball venemously past the diving Hamer to win the match.

Late in the day indeed.

Report Chris 'no car' Williams. Pictures Darrell 'no lights' Fisher