United march on at the top after another fine home win. Goals from full backs Adam Chapman  and Steven Kinniburgh and a third from the returning Jack Midson eased United home despite Jefferson Louis' s first half free kick against his old club.

The two enforced changes saw Chapman come in for Damian Batt at right back and  Midson replace Jamie Cook up front; both proved inspired selections.

It was Chapman who made the breakthrough in the first of several moments of controversy. First Chapman struck a free kick from 25 yards which slapped a Crawley arm raised above the wall. Ref Madley awarded a free kick a yard outside the box. You do the maths, but it didn't matter in the long run as Chapman simply respotted, took aim and absolutely hammered his second effort through the flimsiest of walls and into the back of the net. If you remember the goal at Burton last year this was a carbon copy. And if you remember us recommending him for first goal scorer in the preview this morning then you can thank us later.

Seven minutes later however and the second contentious decision saw Crawley draw level. Jefferson Louis and Mark Creighton set off on a race for a long ball which Creighton was shading until Louis ensnared him. Arms clashed and locked, both players hit the deck and as the home fans waited for ref Madley to award a free kick to the U's he signalled instead for a free kick to the visitors. With an air of complete inevitability the former United striker picked himself up and struck the free kick in to the corner of the net via a deflection off of the wall. We will remember another goal he famously scored at that end more fondly.

United bounced back to create three presentable chances before the break, Midson missing with two and Constable fizzing the third across the face of goal and wide, and it was a very open game with no quarter asked as challenges flew in. United were sharper on the ball but Crawley looked lively on the break.

The second minute of the second half saw a sublime Chapman pass free Murray for a cross which Constable guided at goal but saw blocked by a defender, but then a breakaway for the visitors and Louis lashing the ball against the bar from the edge of the area with the flying Clarke beaten. Constable then tested Rayner to his right with a 54th minute shot from the edge of the box, and gradually United started to apply pressure.

Crawley keeper Rayner ws booked for time wasting twenty five minutes from the end (again, you do the maths) but it was to no avail because as soon as he eventually took the goal kick he had delayed United took the lead again. Kinniburgh has been outstanding since arriving on loan from Rangers and grows with every game. On Saturday he provided his first assist of the season, but now went one better with a stunning goal. Having jinked past a defender to get himself 25 yards from goal the Scottish left back looked up, sized up his options, and then very deliberately chipped the ball over Rayner. The ball was in the air for about three hours, during which time Rayner backpedalled for all he was worth, but in the end all he could do was fingertip the ball into the back of the goal, beaten by a top quality finish.

In fairness to Crawley they opened up after that goal and came at United, but now the roles were reversed and there was space for United to work. Murray  almost got Green in on goal on 78, then started a move which ended with Constable's rasping drive flying past the far post on 79, and then the increasingly influential Clist slipped Midson in for his shot to miss by inches.

A third goal was coming and with six minutes to go it was Midson who killed the game off. Green skipped clear and smashed in a low shot which Rayner could only parry. He was horrified to see the loose ball run to Midson who skipped round him and passed the ball into the empty net for his second goal in successive home games.

There was even time for a debut for sixteen year old Aaron Woodley, another one for an increasingly bright future.

A comprehensive win, United march on at the top and a good game to watch. You can't ask for much more than that.

Att: 5,675

Away: 54

Fifty: 50 winner 32349

Report by Chris Williams

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