United had their shining light to guide them to another away win as they beat Forest Green tonight. Top scorer James Constable's superb first half goal gave United all three points in a game delayed  for fifteen minutes by floodlight failure just before half time.

With two new faces in the squad in Onome Sodje and Franny Green boss Chris Wilder took the chance to freshen things up, resting captain Adam Murray and moving Ross Perry into midfield to allow Mark Creighton to return in defence. Green started up front alongside Constable and Jack Midson, the front three spearheading a side playing into a very strong wind.

That wind meant that Ryan Clarke's goal kicks barely reach half way and conditions also played a part as passes went astray. Rovers, pushed on by the wind, found their through balls running too far, United found it hard to get out of their own half.

It was going to take a mistake or a great strike to find a goal, and on 23 it was United who found the way through with their first shot of the night. Green played a magnificently weighted ball from the centre circle to the left wing where Constable raced on behind right back Jared Hodgkiss. He then cut back on to his right and in a flash curled a superb shot from the corner of the box up and over the stranded Burton and into the far corner of the net. Fourteen for the season for Constable and this was the best of the lot.

Credit to Green for the pass and the former Kettering man can be pleased with a bustling first appearance just hours after meeting his new team mates for the first time just four hours before the game.

Rovers had their best moment on 31 as a downwards header from a corner forced Clarke into a superb save down to his left, but generally didn't make full use of the best of the conditions.

United might have doubled their lead five minutes from the break as Green stole another loose ball and crossed for Midson, ghosting in at the far post. Unfortunately his header was blocked by the back of centre half Mark Preece and away for a corner.

Then the lights went out!

A power cut meant fourteen minutes delay, and credit to the fans for their sense and patience as everyone waited in pitch dark for the resumption. Four minutes of football followed, and then half time.

Now wind powered, United began the second half brightly (sic) and Green gave Bulman the chance to poke the ball into the side netting on 52 as they started to dominate territorially.

Sodje replaced Constable just after the hour and immediately flicked a header on for Green to gallop away but hit his shot against the legs of the advancing Burton.

With rain pouring down it was a raw night and one where every United player rolled up their sleeves and worked their socks off. From Green and Constable up front closing down defenders to Perry, Bulman and Clist harrying and chasing in midfield everyone did their job and played a full part.

Midson's deft lob from twenty five yards on 80 produced a flying save from Burton and might have sealed the game but in reality the home side had hardly extended Ryan Clarke in the United goal until the 87th minute as Clarke had to make his second excellent save of the night to deny Conal Platt as he took aim from six yards. 1-0 is not a scoreline to make you relax but The U's saw it through with another very professional performance and yet another clean sheet.

Three more points safely gathered in. See you on Saturday as United welcome Barrow in the FA Cup.

 Att:  1,610

Away: 891

Report by Chris Williams

See it all in Gallery soon with Highlights and video reaction in Yellow Player in the morning.