United crash out of Trophy after poor display

United boss Tony Dolby was forced into making two changes to the team which drew 2v2 in the original tie and Tim Olorunda was employed as a make-shift centre half.

Dolby himself was even named among the substitutes, alongside youth prospect Glenn Whitaker.

The visitors had the best of the early exchanges, with Clark Masters in the home goal forced into a string of impressive saves.

United’s best chance of a poor first 45 minutes fell to Sam Adams, but the striker headed tamely wide with the goal at his mercy.

Two minutes into the second half Dulwich went ahead. The Ryman League South side were gifted a penalty after Jimmy Elford’s last-ditch tackle was penalised, and Gerry Gonnella sent Masters the wrong way to give his side a deserved lead.

Home sprits were briefly lifted in the 71st minute when Kenny Pogue’s jinking run ended in a snap-shot equaliser, but with just eight minutes left Kevin James met Nyren Clunis’ inviting cross to head the visitors into the next round.

A crowd of just 243 left disappointed with a performance a long way from the promotion push promised in pre-season.

Elsewhere in the Susses RUR Cup 2nd Round, Sidley beat Littlehampton 3v0 (Taylor 2, Harding) and Westfield lost 3v1 away to AFC Uckfied (Pugh).