Jamie Guy stole the headlines again today with two goals in United's 2-1 win over Cheltenham. Guy, who turned 21 yesterday, celebrated in style with two goals to cap another fine display and a United performance which once again promises plenty.

With trialist Levi Reid on the right wing as the only change to United's usual pre-season line up it was the home side who forced the throughout, with Guy putting in another all action display and almost a fantastic goal inside thirty seconds as he bulldozed between about five defenders but saw his final effort smothered.

Guy and strike partner James Constable have been the focus of so much  this summer but Lewis Haldane has been just as eye catching on the wing and saw a twenty yard snap effort saved by Shane Higgs on nine minutes and then chipped just over on seventeen as the U's pressed their league one opponents back.

The Robins looked solid at the back and compact in midfield, but further forward they were well marshalled by Luke Foster and Barry Quinn with just a glancing header from Ben Gill on 21 minutes to threaten Ben Hinchliffe's goal.

Haldane was determined to remain centre stage though and on 25 minutes was freed by the excellent Murray only to see his left footed shot saved by Higgs and then his right footed follow up fly wide of the mark.

Over the last few seasons Adam Murray and Alex Russell have been two of the most creative and influential central midfielders around, and their duel was a pleasure to watch as they teased and probed from the middle of the park. On 39 minutes it was 1-0 to Murray and 1-0 to the U's as their new captain set them on their way. Receiving the ball in the centre circle he chipped a perfect pass over the Cheltenham defence for Guy, who ran clear and then thumped his shot past Higgs for his sixth goal of pre-season. Any BSP defenders left one on one with Guy are in for a shock…

The one note of caution from pre-season is that goals have been scored against United from set pieces, and no sooner were they in the lead than they were drawing again. Russell swung in a corner, Michael Townsend headed across goal and Paul Connor was there to get the decisive touch and make it 1-1.

That was harsh on the excellent Yellows, and those eleven players knew they only had three minutes to win their game, since they were all going off at the break! Cue Haldane with a ball in to the feet of Guy, eight yards out, a neat control, a side step a swivel and the ball was is Higgs's net once more and it was 2-1 to the U's. What a Guy.

The second half saw ten changes, with only Reid staying on, but even he switched roles to play right back!

Those changes didn't have much immediate effect on the flow of the game, still towards the Cheltenham goal, and inside five minutes trialist Michael Husbands had tricked his way through and fed Yemi Odubade, whose shot was blocked from fifteen yards.

Odubade then did very well to nick the ball over the last man and volley at goal from twenty yards on 58 minutes, with the shot only just clearing the bar, and United were still very much the dominant force.

Trialist Diogo Andrade's appearance was brief, bringing to mind the wing wizardry of Emiliano Diaz, but with Rob Davies showing his versatility by moving out wide and Sam Deering doing some very good things on the left United were still using the wings well. Odubade flashed a shot wide on 77 after more good work from Husbands before young right back Ian Sampson cracked a fine shot against the post from 25 yards to end the afternoon's entertainment.

Another great work out. United finish their pre-season at home to a full stregth Portsmouth side on Monday evening. What a great way to raise the curtain on what promises to be a thrilling season.

Att: 1,174

Away: 139

United (first half)

Hinchliffe, Clarke, Quinn, Foster, Carruthers, Reid, Burnell, Murray, Haldane, Constable, Guy

Second Half

Cole, Reid (Sampson 76), Day, Willmott, Jeannin, Andrade (Groves 64), Davies, Hutchinson, Deering, Odubade, Husbands