UNITED START WITH A DRAW

Of United's summer imports, the young forward partnership of Shane Moses and Sunny Banks showed real promise, while Paul Brown showed all of the qualities that could make him a giant in United's midfield.

It was Moses who opened United's account for the season with an unstoppable 30-yard drive that arrowed into the top-left corner after nine minutes. It was a magical effort but in truth it should have been an equaliser.

With just two minutes gone, the criminally unmarked Ben Burns headed Aaron Zimmatore's neat cross against the post from six yards when scoring appeared easier. Such spasms of defensive indecision will not go unpunished in future.

The Wasps got close again after 11 minutes when Richard Houghton's dragged drive from eight yards was deflected goalwards by Rob Anderson. But Dean Fuller was alive to the action and did well to claw the ball away.

United grew into the half well but failed to create genuine chances. The closest they came to improving their lead was in the 26th minute, when Sunny Banks appeared to be chopped down in the box by Dave Gallatly as he attempted to meet Brown's cross, but nothing was given.

Five minutes later, East Grinstead equalised. Zimma-tore's neat pass put Ben Burns through on goal and he comfortably rolled it past Fuller.

The second half failed to provide any of the excitement of the first with both sides tightening defensively. A string of poor tackles from both sides '” shamefully ignored by Bognor ref Nigel Baker '” introduced an unnecessarily aggressive tone to the game and United's Mike McCaffrey was sent off with seven minutes remaining for a second yellow card.

UNITED: Fuller; Di Paolo, McCaffrey, Montgomery, Keech; Rapps, Webb, Brown, Sell; Moses, Banks. Subs: Schneider, (Banks, 63), Souter (Rapps, 76) P.Raynsford (Moses, 87). Att: 47.