United started the new year as they had finished the old with another home win to warm their fans in every way. A clinical strike from top scorer James Constable and a debut goal from on-loan Ricky Sappleton did the trick as they avenged their Boxing Day defeat against the same opponents.

With Yemi Odubade ruled out with a knee injury and new signing Sappleton initially  on the bench United brought in Jamie Guy to partner Constable up front, switching Lewis Haldane to a different role out on the right wing in a conventional 4-4-2 line up.

The first half was tentative on both sides, with neither keeper really tested in the opening period. There were certainly grounds for optimism though with Salisbury playing a high back line so  there was always the chance that United would get in behind them, as on 28 minutes as Guy bulldozed through and was heading for open space when cynically chopped down by defender Tim Bond.

A Haldane cross was deflected dangerously under the Salisbury cross bar on half an hour and gradually The U's were starting to grind their opponents down. An offside goal on 38 minutes from Guy emphasised the growing threat before the game sparked into life in the fortieth minute. Ian Herring committed a foul from behind, scissoring Adam Murray twenty yards from United's goal. It was a poor challenge and incensed United's players, especially Luke Foster who barged Herring to the floor and was shown a yellow card for his troubles.

Indeed, the niggle in the game was simmering just beneath the surface for much of the game, a legacy of playing the same side twice in quick succession, with nine bookings stacking up as tackles started to fly in.

Ten minutes into the second half saw the best move so far end with Constable chesting down and Guy driving his shot just wide from the edge of the box, and with Eddie Hutchinson knocking a difficult volley over the bar on 58 there were more signs that a goal was on the horizon. Sappleton's first appearance on the hour further raised those hopes, with the big striker looking strong and athletic and adding a muscular presence to the front line. He should have scored on 67 minutes but powered his header over from a Murray cross, but then played a huge part in the opener.

Matt Day sent a low ball forward to Sappleton who flicked a delightful pass behind him and perfectly into the run of the running Constable. United's top scorer is so full of confidence that he was never going to miss and he ran clear, dummied keeper Bittner out of the way and then planted the ball into the gaping net for his twelfth goal of the season. Constable has scored in each of the last four home games, six of the last eight,  and looks like scoring each time he pulls on the yellow shirt which he so clearly wears with pride.

It should have been 2-0 two minutes later as Sappleton once again teed up a new team-mate, but this time the flying Haldane couldn't quite adjust his feet and could only guide a difficult chance wide of the empty goal, but United were comfortably on top by now and Salisbury had barely had a chance at the other end.

Haldane blazed another glorious chance wide of the mark on 79 minutes, but on 83 they were clear as Sappleton used his frame superbly to turn his man and clear a path at goal. Bittner came out but Sappleton simply waited for him to commit then slid the ball neatly past him to score a deserved goal and leave Salisbury with no way back.

A good win. Once again those dreaded 'high expectations' had been triggered by a 5-1 win over Ebbsfleet earlier in the week but even if this performance didn't quite reach those dizzy heights it was still an important three points, a good win, and United continue to rise...

Att: 5,312

Away: 235

Report by Chris Williams

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