In the only change to the side that drew at Chichester City the previous Saturday, Peter Featherstone returned in place of Ashley Jarvis at the heart of the defence, while Mike Ginno and Charlie Flood were rewarded for their consistent performances for the Under 18’s with their first call up to the first team squad.
The early exchanges saw the ball mainly in the Shoreham half, with Wes Tate and Jason Taylor both shooting from distance, but failing to trouble ‘keeper Fraser Trigwell.
Kai Bichard was Shoreham’s main outlet, with the striker pulling two efforts wide with Russ Tanner not troubled on either occasion.
A marauding run from Brad Lewis ended with the left back hit an effort that grazed to top of the net on its way out for a goal kick before United took the lead from an unlikely source.
Joe Summerbell’s perseverance and cross from the left wing were rewarded as Dean Stevens took up an unfamiliar place at the far post to place the ball back across goal and in for his first goal in a United shirt.
Peter Cooper saw a glorious chance to extend the scoreline go awry five minutes later as a long ball by Dan Pollard was misjudged by Jason Edwards, but after flicking the ball over Trigwell, a falling Cooper got the ball stuck under his feet as the Shoreham defence recovered to clear the ball to safety.
Alex Laing, a former one-time United player last season, saw a 25yd effort crash off the crossbar with Tanner rooted to the spot before being denied twice by Tanner two minutes later when through one-on-one with United’s no. 1.
United captain Dan Pollard was replaced at half-time by Nathan Cole and Cole came inches away from opening his goalscoring account with a glancing header from a Matt Geard free-kick that went the wrong side of the post.
The returning Aaron Capon, who replaced Summerbell early in the second half, forced Trigwell into an acrobatic stop with quarter of the game remaining moments before victory was sealed as Wes Tate hit his 18th league goal of the season with a 30yd drive that evaded Trigwell’s dive.
17 year old Ginno was handed his debut in the final ten minutes as United moved up to 9th place with victory