UNITED SHOW CHARACTER

Firstly, Sonny Banks missed a great opportunity to add to his first-half goal and to put United 2-0 up. Within seconds, United had got caught out at the back and YMCA's right-winger broke free to level the scores on 55 minutes.

Indecision by keeper Dean Fuller then cost United a second goal. He started to go out to claim a cross but stopped halfway, which gave YMCA's forward the easy chance of lifting the ball over him.

United still had chances to equalise, though. Paul Brown twice went close and substitute Steve Webb had an opportunity with a header.

Brown had almost doubled United's lead in the first half but his effort came back off the post. Banks had put United ahead on 30 minutes after Simon Hancock had played him through.

United's preparations for the match had not got off to the best of starts as forward Dave Schneider pulled a hamstring in the warm-up, and midfielder Bif Shelley's registration had not come through in time for him to play. Schneider was due to start and Shelley was to be on the bench.

United manager Ian Browne said: "We showed a lot of character, desire and ability and didn't deserve to be the losing side.

"If we had won, they couldn't have had any complaints. Their coach (Jon Suter) said we are the best team they have played this season, and they were the best side we have played.

"If we had gone 2-0 up, the game would have been dead and buried because we weren't going to concede three goals. It was just individual errors which cost us."

United are at home to Eastbourne United in the RUR Cup on Saturday.

UNITED: Fuller; Hughes, Pickles, Bone, Keech; Brown, Johnson, N.Shelley, Sell; Hancock, Banks. Subs: Webb (Hancock 70), Lewis, Grim, Oakley, Browne.

See The Herald for a report of United's game at East Grinstead on Saturday.