A penalty in each half from Lynton Goss and a strike from Tom Ashworth, was enough to give United victory against Highmoor Ibis.
The first half belonged to United as, playing up the slight slope, they pressed their hosts and created a number of goal scoring opportunities. The first, after 7 minutes, fell to Luke Ricketts, who collected a neat lay-off from Lynton Goss only to see his effort clear the bar. Shortly afterwards, a Dan West effort from an acute angle beat Watkins in the home goal, before rolling agonisingly wide as Ricketts failed to connect at the far post.
The opening goal arrived on 21 minutes, as a Goss corner from the right caused uncertainty in the home defence, with Tom Ashworth on hand to hook the ball home. The lead was nearly doubled on 25 minutes as Goss worked space on the right before driving an effort goalwards that came back off the cross bar.
The home side then had their best chance of the match, when a low strike from the edge of the box was met by a fine one-handed save from Jamie Perkins, pushing the ball wide of the post. Almost immediately United went back down the other end and another Goss corner was met by Ellis Hercules, whose header also came back off the bar.
The second goal eventually arrived just before the break, when Luke Ricketts cut in from the left and was fouled just inside the box. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, with Goss giving Watkins no chance.
Whilst the second half lacked the goalmouth action of the first, United extended their lead on 57 minutes. Goss was tackled just inside the penalty area and as both players fell to the floor, the home defender was then adjudged to have handled the ball. Goss again gave Watkins no chance from the spot.
Highmoor were then reduced to ten men as Nathan Bovell was given his marching orders for a rash challenge on Ashworth. Opportunities then came and went for United, with Hercules heading a Goss corner wide and Dan West just clearing the bar with a volley from the edge of the box. The final meaningful action of the half saw Ricketts fouled in the box, but a third penalty was not awarded.
United: Perkins, Evans, Lynn, Hercules, Johnston, Ashworth, Connelly, Goss (Harrison), Morris, West (Gray), Ricketts
