Manager Tristan Lewis’s build up to the trip to Melbourne Park was thrown somewhat when he lost first choice ‘keeper Magnus Norman to injury earlier in the week, Charlie Crowley coming in to make his second United “debut” between the sticks having re-signed during the summer from Kings Langley.

Early possession was fairly even until the seventh minute whereby United were hit with a double blow. Aiden Palmer fired over a free-kick from the right that Jake Nicholson got his head to but could only divert the ball past Charlie Crowley into his own net. At the same time United were forced into an early change when Elliot Benyon had to leave the field through injury, his replacement being former Claret Evans Kouassi.

Indeed it was Kouassi who had United’s first effort on goal, having raced down the right wing from half-way, Marvin Ekpiteta took possession only for Kouassi to wrestle it back on the edge of the box but his shot cleared the crossbar of Ashley Timms’ goal.

Possession was pretty much even as we reached the midway point in the half. A deep corner was headed back into the mix with Devante McKain heading away from under his own crossbar and at the other end a deep Nicholson free-kick was headed back into the middle by skipper Ben Gerring to Ismael Ehui but the strikers shot on the turn was somewhat wayward.

On the half hour mark the Clarets doubled their advantage in spectacular style. Luke Daley collected the ball in the middle of the park and with space to move into, he unleashed a stinging shot from 30 yards that flew past Crowley’s outstretched hand.

Two minutes later it could have been all over for United. A corner from the left was met by Moses Makasi in the middle, his goalbound header being clawed away from the top corner by Crowley before being cleared away by the United defence.

As the last ten minutes of the half played out it was United who were in the ascendancy. McKain rose highest to a Nicholson free-kick but his header was just too high and then a minute later another Nicholson free-kick was won in the air by Gerring, his looping header forcing Timms to tip over. The resultant Nicholson corner was met by Ehui but his header was wide of the post.

The last action of the half saw Kouassi and Harry Grant combine in the left corner, the latter picking out the arriving Luke Williams in the box but again the effort failed to work Timms in the Clarets goal.

A positive change at the start of the second half saw defensive midfielder Lewis Ferrell replaced by striker Tom Collins as United tried to find a way back into the game but the initial 15 minutes did only yield a couple of efforts towards goal, neither really worthy of note.

The 69th minute introduction of Rhys Murrell-Williamson in place of the injured Gerring saw a formation re-shuffle that almost paid immediate dividends. Murrell-Williamson collected the ball just inside the Clarets half and advanced past a couple of challenges before hitting a 20+ yard shot that Timms did well to turn around the post.

Sadly just two minutes later the home side wrapped up the game when United were caught out by a quick launch from Timms, Daley helped the ball on the right-back Marvel Ekpiteta who advance into the United box, turned past Grant and slid the ball between Max Worsfold’s challenge and Crowley’s dive.

Murrell-Williamson was again denied by Timms in the 76th minute, the ‘keeper diving to his right to push away the United man’s curled effort. Within minutes however the home side had scored again, Timms’ goal-kick was helped on by Makasi to Bricknell who turned the last defender before firing low past Crowley to bag his sides’ fourth goal which put a somewhat unbalanced tilt on what was to become the final score.

One further chance apiece came in the final ten minutes, for United Collins broke away on the left, cut inside and shot low only to be denied by Timms outstretched boot, the loose ball ran to Grant who was denied by a flying catch from Timms. At the other end Hugo Skepelhorn and Bagasan Graham combined, the latter’s shot going just wide of the target.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Luke Williams.