Gary Brabin was delighted with another win and a fourth successive clean sheet, and repeated his belief that his side will soon start delivering more goals.

Jon Challinor scored his second goal of the week to decide the game against Weymouth, who brought back former U's assistant manager Alan Lewer and three former U's players, and Brabin declared himself pleased with the progress of his third-placed side.

"Obviously we want to score more goals, but we're doing one half of our game and we work hard every day on the complete performance," he stressed. "We're only three months into the season and I'm seeing large signs of what we're working towards.

"I've gone for four attacking players on the bench, I started with three attackers, and the lack of goals is not through lack of effort. I genuinely believe we've got goals in us and it's pleasing that we know we have more to come but we're still keeping clean sheets and winning games.

"When I brought Jon Challinor in he hadn't played much football and I probably reined him in a little bit, but in the last few games I've told him to get forward a bit more and he's had his just rewards in the last two games."

Brabin was annoyed to have to refer to the officiating yet again, but he was frustrated with several aspects of referee Simon Long's performance.

"I feel like I'm saying the same things again, and we've won so I've got nothing to complain about, but again I thought some of the decisions hurt us again.

"I've got no grievance with the sending-off (of Lee McEvilly)," he added. "That was a red card and I hold my hand up when decisions go against us, but it's when they're not going for us. How was that not a foul on Danny Potter in the last minute when two of their lads pushed him in the back of the goal when we were under a bit of pressure with ten men?

"They had a couple of two-footed lunges too, but I hold myself responsible because I'm trying to conform to this 'Respect' campaign and I don't want my lads rolling around and moaning, and I won't go in complaining to referees at half-time. But so far it is affecting us."

With Anthony Tonkin and Danny Brown both ruled out by illness, young left-back Jordan Collins made his first appearance of the season and Brabin praised the 19-year-old for the way he has forced his way back into his plans.

"We work with all the lads equally every day and I've said things to Jordan personally," he revealed. "In pre-season he wasn't in my plans at all and I've had lengthy chats with him, and he's responded fantastically. I've praised him in the group a couple of weeks ago for having the best attitude; he's got his head down and worked hard and I've seen a massive improvement in him.

"A couple of weeks ago we had a crisis at right-back and I told him if it was on the other side I'd have no qualms putting him into the side, and it's happened today and I was fully confident. At no stage did I have any worries about Jordan playing today."

The manager also praised Robbie Willmott, who played up front for the first time this season rather than wide, and the 18-year-old was a constant menace to the Weymouth defence whilst also providing Mark Beesley with a number of good chances.

"Robbie makes a big impact - I've used him a lot and that's still our game plan," confirmed Brabin. "We're working with him and he's still learning things and he's come on so much. I genuinely thought he was going to get us a couple of goals," added the U's manager.

"He was excellent today and I just brought him off to freshen things up a bit and give us some more fresh legs. Overall I'm made up with the young lads."

With ten-man United leading one-nil and being pressed back by Weymouth in the four minutes of stoppage time, it was hearts in mouths for all connected with United as the visitors hit the bar, had a shot cleared off the line, and saw two shots tipped over by Danny Potter.

With the three points safely secured, Brabin was able to joke: "I just thought I'd freshen things up a bit and score early in the game and just have us hanging on, because I don't think people were happy with us scoring late so I changed the tactics today for this one!"

The win lifted United to third place, two points behind leaders Crawley. Our next match is at Forest Green Rovers on Thursday 16th October at 7.45pm.

[Match report] [Fixture list] [League table]

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