The U's went out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in the earliest round as the Shots proved too hot, scoring a goal in each half to progress.

United gave a first start to Josh Payne after he signed on loan from Doncaster in the morning, and the midfielder sat in front of a back four with Mark Creighton at centre half for the first time this season. Up front Alfie Potter and Mitchell Cole returned to the line up and it was Potter who had the first opening with a delicate lob which bounced to safety off of the bar with home keeper Jamie Young beaten. Young made up for that on 11 minutes with a flying save to keep a Richie Baker free kick out of the corner of the net and with Ryan Clarke also making a good stop to deny Luke Gutteridge it was a very open game of football.

It was a bit too open on seventeen minutes though as The Shots went ahead through Danny Hylton. There was too much space on the left, then too much in the middle as the ball was worked across the pitch, allowing Hylton to slip in behind the covering Tonkin and race clear into the area. His finish was hard and accurate and gave Clarke no chance: 1-0 to The Shots.

United had one move on 23 which was well into double figures for passes completed and ended with a good challenge as Cole stole into the box, although they were glad that Wade Small was marginally off target with a low effort a minute later and grateful to Creighton for a brave block on 26 as Hylton stole into the box again.

At the other end a shocking back pass on the half hour set Green free to run at goal but Young was smartly out to smother his shot as the ball got stuck at a vital moment, while Clarke's reflexes meant yet another stunning save for his collection as he kept his side in the tie with a save from Gutteridge's fierce volley after 39 minutes.

The second half saw Green and Potter bracket the goal with a shot and header inside the first two minutes and with Payne and Baker settling on the ball and keeping the game simple the U's were dominating possession. The Shots were also creating chances though and Clarke made two more good saves, but with so many chances a goal had to come somewhere and on 57 it was the home side who grabbed it. United had opportunities to clear inside their area but Jake Wright's uncharacteristic slip let Damian Spencer in on goal and this time Clarke was powerless to keep his close range effort out.

That was just about it for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for the men in sky blue, although they continued to spray the ball around nicely and get crosses in without really looking like they were going to power past a defender to smash it home.  At the other end Clarke denied the aptly named Small with another save on 74 but the fact it was not to be United's night was rammed home with seven minutes left as Creighton strained every sinew but spooned Baker's free kick off of the bar from six yards.

A defeat is never a good thing but United will now be even more ready when Morecambe come to town on Saturday in npower league 2..

Att:1,607

Away: 243

Report by Chris Williams

See it all in Gallery with reaction in Yellow Player