Neil Warnock's young upstarts nudged up into fourth spot as they dumped managerless Stoke with two goals in eight minutes.
And United's young starlets are already attracting big name attention as they reached the highest spot since Warnock took over his hometown club three years ago.
But as they stretched their unbeaten run to ten matches United had to rely on an own goal and a penalty for their fourth win in a row.
Carl Asaba - who hit an amazing ten minute hat-trick in Saturday's win at Brighton - and Wayne Allison blew a string of first-half chances as United failed to cash in on their stylish approach work.
Asaba, whose hat-trick heroics earned him a starting berth, spun cleverly in the 12th minute but dragged his shot wide and seconds later he failed to control an awkward ball and hoisted his effort over.
His high energy work created a chance for veteran front man Allison when he stabbed the ball through but his effort was off target.
Another shot from Asaba brought a last-ditch block from Stoke keeper Neil Cutler.
Allison let Stoke off the hook when Asaba swung in a dangerous cross from the left only for the former Tranmere man to head well wide from close in.
After 61 minutes Asaba came off for Peter Ndlovu and the high energy front man had an immediate impact.
His first touch a minute later was a low drive that smacked against the post and rebounded in off Peter Handyside to give United the lead.
And eight minutes later Wayne Thomas tripped teenage star Michael Tonge in the area and Michael Brown drilled in the resulting penalty.
Stoke pulled one back six minutes from the end to spoil the home side's hopes of reaching third place.
Chris Greenacre came on as a second-half substitute for his second appearance since his summer signing from Mansfield and hammered in an angled shot from 12 yards