Game week 3 and it was our first venture away from Moss Park today - seeing us making the trip to the shadows of Wigan Athletic's stadium to take on AFC Wigan - and knowing nothing about today's hosts, we knew that we'd need to be on our game if we wanted to maintain that unbeaten run. Let us tell you - we made real hard work of it...

Knowing that these had taken a point from the visit of Lymm last weekend - and how tight our game had been against the green lads from Cheshire three weeks ago - we knew that we would have to play our football if we wanted to keep this fine run of form going. And this week had not been without it's turmoil either as with a squad as big and with the quality we've got this season, there will always be lads unhappy due to not being in the match of a Saturday. So as the 16 men were announced, it left some players not best pleased. As discussed at the start of the campaign, a successful season will need the full squad of players - not just those starting 11 - so it's a good problem for Wayne and Brian to have even though it doesn't feel it at the time. Winners stick together and that's what will be needed if we want any chance of our hands on silverware again come next May...

It's always about the game in front of you though and as the lads began their warm-up's, it was clear that this was not the type of pitch that would be conducive to our fast, free-flowing football. Some may say New House Farm is better than the surface at Scott Lane but it would be the same for both sides and we just needed to get the job done. The lads came out for their warm-up's as the rugby pitch - much better tended to we hasten to add - began to fill and at points we were concerned as to what would happen when there was a conversion as the ball would definitely hit the numbers of United fans that had once again made the journey to back their heroes. And as the boys were put through their paces, there was early concern as it looked as though Marko had taken a knock to his back - but he declared himself good to go and we were ready. The lads didn't seem to have their usual buzz though and they'd have to snap into it now...

The team was announced and the only changes to the team that started against Chaddertonians AFC Reserves last weekend saw Ky come in to make his full league debut and Logan was on the right of the front three for his first start of the campaign. The bench was solid as well - with the likes of Chris, Marcus, Spencer, Ste Palin and Yatesy to choose from - and when you look at the likes of Robbo, Charlie, Cam, Max and Rav not even in the match-day squad, you can see the dilemma that the coaches are left with every weekend. This was what they elected to go with this time out - and the hope was that these 16 would show that it was the right choice to make...

This was a 2pm kick-off and as the referee blew his whistle to begin proceeding, the United players were quickly out of the traps. When we pass the ball quickly and move it into the space, we can cause any team problems - and the opening 10 minutes or so saw us stringing together some good moves and working the ball into the channels well. But there was just 'something' that wasn't clicking and although the final ball was lacking, we were still getting into some good positions to find chances. A good move saw the ball land at Ky's feet just outside their box but he couldn't adjust his feet quick enough and his shot didn't trouble their huge 6ft 5 keeper. Next up saw Ben race past his marker and use his silly skills to get to the byeline - and as we'd done in training during the week, he fired it across the face of goal but there was nobody there to tuck it home. This was better though...

There were another couple of good opportunities that we just seemed to scuff at the last moment - but on 18 minutes, we did finally see our pressure play. A good move down our right saw the ball played into the space between their keeper and centre-halves - and as Ky shaped to shoot, it seemed he got his body tangled up - but the loose ball fell to Logan and he did the rest by slamming the ball low and hard past their keeper and into the back of their net. 1-0 and despite not starting yet, we had the lead. Hopefully that would settle us down now...

And three minutes later, it should have been 2-0 when Lewis took hold of the ball and fed it into the space in front of Ben. He took hold of it, jinxed this way and that and then slammed his shot low towards goal - only to see it slam against the base of the post and away from danger. So close - and that would have been some finish that...

Our midfield seemed to be winning the battle in there so far and with Marko's back seemingly holding up, he, Alex and Liam were somewhat bossing things in there. But we just didn't have that 'spark' so far and at times, we appeared to more focused on arguing and pointing fingers than rolling our sleeves up and working harder ourselves. And with 22 minutes gone, we really didn't want to see this - as Ky signalled that he needed to come off as he had felt a twinge on his hamstring - but no team in the league can call upon a replacement like our Yatesy and as he trotted onto the pitch, it was all-systems go again...

This was a battle out there and although we did seem to be on top of it, we were nowhere near our best. The hosts seemed to be most effective when they pumped it long into the corners so it was making Lewis and Nathan have to be on their toes and ready. We did seem to catch them offside a few times that were not given and up in their box, there was a blatant back-pass to their keeper that he duly picked up that had the United fans screaming but the referee play on. We were not going to get any favours here so it was even more important that we dug in and did our jobs well.

There were a few half-chances for both teams as the half wore on - with their No.1 and our Mitch having to be alert on a couple of occasions - but when the referee blew his whistle to signal the break, it was the team in white and black that were coming in with the lead...

Half-time: AFC Wigan 0-1 BREIGHTMET UNITED

As the lads came in, so the debates began - but these were quickly quelled as Wayne reminded them that winners are together. Not divided. Not quarrelling and pointing fingers. Take ownership over our mistakes and rally each other no matter what. These are trenches we're fighting in and to be successful, we need to ensure that we are one. Some of our football had been superb - but we needed to relax a little, keep possession of the ball a little better and make sure that we give it our all even if it is not going our well. Two changes were made - Marko coming off to be replaced by Marcus and then to inject more pace into things, Ste came on in place on Nathan Bancroft. The boss wanted to ensure that when one of the wingers had the ball, the other joined Yatesy in the middle a lot quicker and as they made their way out a lot sooner than the hosts, we had time to contemplate. We knew we were better than that first-half performance and now we had to show it...

Once again, Lewis was playing a blinder at left-back and his calmness on the ball back there is a joy to behold - getting in the way of things to stall them and feeding the ball into good areas throughout - and with Ben constantly a thorn in their side, we were looking the most likely. So you can imagine everybody's surprise - even the home fans - when they levelled the score on 52 minutes. The ball had gone back to Mitch and as he went to launch it long, he ended up passing it to their player just outside our box. He simply laid it off to his left and there was their striker to slot it home from about 14 yards out. From nowhere really, it was now 1-1 and surely that had to be the catalyst for us to start playing now...

At times it was frustrating to watch as we just couldn't seem to get started - but with Marcus now ably assisting Liam and Alex in the middle of the park, we were getting chances still. Ben rifled another one just wide of the post from the edge of the box and Liam had a couple of pot-shots that didn't trouble their keeper - but at least it was us seeing these chances come. We then made another change on 63 minutes as Logan came off so that Spencer could have a run at their full-back with fresh legs and things should have been made even easier when the hosts went down to 10 men - as their guy first show a yellow which was soon turned to red as he told the match official what he thought of him - but we continued to labour as we huffed and puffed but just couldn't get the ball into the back of their net.

Well. That was until the 70th minute. Because that's when we scored what proved to be the winner! The ball was given to Ste wide on our eight and he sprinted into their half evading three challenges before cutting across the width of the pitch and combing with Ben to receive it back inside the box - and as he fired it across goal, Marcus should have tucked it away - but he somehow got over the ball - and as it bobbled up. there was that hitman they call Yatesy and he made no mistake in slamming it into the roof of the net to give us the lead - again. 2-1 and now we had to manage this properly....

We thought we'd made it 3-1 on 75 minutes when another good move between Ben and Lewis saw the ball fed into the middle and with Marcus in acres of space, we all thought we'd see the net bulge - only to see their No.1 pull off yet another top-save - and with the travelling fans eager for that third goal, the minutes ticked away...

Nathan and Callum were working well together in the heart of our defence and with Alex and Liam an out-ball all the time, we did appear to have control of the game but with only a one-goal advantage, we couldn't do anything silly here now. It was about game management now and with the skipper urging his troops to play simple triangle passes and to keep possession of the ball, we were seeing this through, But with 88 minutes on the clock, things could have been so different if it were not for Mitch making amends for that mistake earlier when he pulled off a world-class save to win us all three points. They had pumped it long and as their striker took hold of it and slid it to his left, he unleashed a piledriver of a shot that looked destined for the top-right corner of our net - until our No.1 dived full-length and with a strong wrist, he managed to palm it away for a corner. A great save and one that proved to be the winner - as the corner came to nothing and as Mitch cleared it, the whistle went to end the game and the three points were ours...

The handshakes were done with respect and it had been a good battle from both teams out there. Sure - we hadn't been nowhere near our best - but sometimes you just have to win and that's what we did here today. The boys knew that their levels weren't at where they need to be but the pleasing thing is that we were bringing all three points back to Breightmet and with those, we remain top of the pile. Ben was awarded the ROMAC Logistics Man of the Match and we move onto the next one. Next weekend sess the small matter of the BL2 Classico as Bolton Wyresdale come to Moss Park and although it will not be season-defining for either side. it will surely send out a message to the rest of the division as to who is the team to be beaten. We know we'll need to be a lot better next weekend - but if the boys can't get up for that one, then who knows what it will take...

Nice one to AFC Wigan for their hospitality today and we wish you all the best for the rest of the season. A massive thanks to the numbers of United fans that were there to cheer us on again today and once again, we outnumbered the home supporters at least 3:1. Make sure you're there next weekend as well as that promises to be a cracker...

As we said at the top, you can only focus on the game in front of you - so with three wins out of three, concentration is well and truly on Bolton Wyresdale in seven days' time ..

#OnceUnitedNeverDivided