United’s reserve side lost a close fought encounter with Staines Town by the odd goal to give Harrow Borough the smallest of advantages in the title race.

The game took a while to get going as both sides sized each other up, the first chance falling to United on 15 minutes when Sean Roberts sent Daniel Wishart into the area on the left, his cross-shot flying across the face of Danny Fisher's goal.

From this scare the Swans took the initiative and within a minute they were ahead. Hyun-Jin Lee found space on the right of the United area, his fierce shot was palmed out by Chris Baker but only as far as a waiting Ashley Lodge who pounced to net from close range.

The lead was to last just six minutes though as Toby Little found Wishart once again on the left of the area, this time he rifled the ball past Fisher giving the Swans keeper no chance.

Play now began to swing from end to end. Scott Taylor worked space for a shot only to be denied by Baker before an Andrejs Štolcers free-kick caused a moment of panic in the Swans defence as Frank Franchetto sliced the ball just over his own crossbar.

Minutes later Štolcers was required at the other end where he cleared a Taylor volley off the line after the Swans skipper had latched onto a corner from the edge of the area.

Much like the first, the second half took a little time to get going. First blood nearly came United's way as Nathan Webb found Wishart who held off two defenders before firing wide of the target.

Just after the hour mark Baker came to United's rescue when a sweet strike by Adam Cole required the fingertips of the United stopper to take the ball over off the top of the crossbar. The Swans were not to be denied though and on 66 minutes they took what proved to be a decisive lead. Cole played a free-kick to the far post which was headed back across goal by Ashley Fashanu and touched home from close range by Elliot Blake.

Fashanu then had a shot well held by Baker before a Štolcers corner found impressive debutant Joe Gritt at the far post but his goalbound effort was headed off the line.

The final couple of minutes saw a chance apiece. Taylor picked up a long clearance and rounded Baker only to play the ball across the face of goal and then in stoppage time quick thinking from Štolcers saw him chip a quickly taken free-kick to Wishart who connected well only to see his effort palmed out by Fisher before being hacked to safety.

Report by Kevin Watts.

United Man of the Match: Joe Gritt.