The Essex Bhoys laboured to victory against mid-table Shenfield AFC and finally broke the run of 6 consecutive games where an opponent had scored first. Manager Simon Thomas still without the services of influential midfielder Thomas Kearney, named Tom Elliott and Dan Rogers to play alongside captain Mike Sammut, and it was a second start to new joiner Jake Chaplin up front, alongside James Warder and Frank Craik.

It was the newbie Jake Chaplin who opened his account at the club on his home debut within three minutes. Craik chased a loose ball down on the left and played the ball into the area for the in-rushing Chaplin to place the ball on the run past the keeper.

Shenfield woke and found their feet after the goal and grew into the game, but neither side really grabbed the game by the collar in the aftermath of the goal, so turned into a war of attrition. The midfields battled well but it was the final third where both sides broke down. The visitors shaded the possession stats and caused some problems with the dead ball. On the half hour, last weekends match winner Dan Rogers stood over a freekick, but his effort dropped over the bar.

Frankie Senior and Aaron Clark were getting forward when possible down the flanks but the majority of play was through the middle, and it was here the next effort would come. Mike Sammut winning the ball, played the ball through to Craik but he was adjudged to be offside despite putting the ball in the net. The visitors remained keen to play out from the back and did so very well on a number of occasions, again the final ball was lacking. As Shenfield attacked in the dying moments of the half, the ref blew for the break, much to the displeasure of the visiting players who thought they were in a good position to build a chance.

The second half started with a number of corners for Shenfield, but Catholic stuck fast to the task and dealt with the early pressure. However, the game was turned just before the hour. A ball down the left from the keeper was flicked on, and looped over Frankie Senior who struggled to get back, for the Shenfield attacker to fire a powerful shot past Woody Wells.

United re-took the lead with twenty minutes remaining. A throw in found Craik on the left, who somehow played a through ball to himself and his dinked cross found substitute, Ben Burrows, unmarked with only the keeper to beat, and his header back across goal was enough to leave the stopper with no chance. Defender Lewis Bartrip fired a left foot curled shot which was well saved by the keeper, but apart from the goal, this was to be United's best effort in the half.

As the visitors pushed forward, it was Wells who was the busier keeper, catching or punching the balls being aimed into the box. It was one of these balls which found its way into the area and as Tom Elliott cleared the ball with his head, a visiting player caught him with a boot. It was the spark which lit the cinder and the result scuffles resulted in a couple of yellow cards, Joe Burton for United being cautioned. As the match ended shortly after, Shenfield were still remonstrating but perhaps more in frustration than anger.