A very entertaining friendly at Beaconsfield Road against a very good Dulwich Hamlet side saw United beaten by the odd goal in three with recent returnee Tom Collins netting for United.

The visitors who narrowly missed out on a National League South place last season started well with Charlie Crowley doing well in just the third minute, diving left to push away an Ashley Carew free-kick.

Five minutes later he was beaten though, Jacob Erskine collecting the ball and hitting a super low drive on the run that flew into the bottom corner giving Crowley no chance.

A couple of wayward efforts came from United before Nyron Clunis broke into the United box with Crowley quickly out to smother at his feet.

The midway point in the half saw United awarded a free-kick 20 yards from goal, Harry Grant took the kick that just missed the top corner courtesy of a flick off the defensive wall. The resultant Luke Williams corner again dropped to Grant but his volley was well held by Dulwich 'keeper Oshane Brown.

Williams was then inches wide after good approach play from Grant before a long goal-kick from the visitors bounced over the United defence to Damian Scannell, Crowley again quickly out to block at his feet.

Another drive from distance, this time from Scannell, brought a tip over from Crowley as the half closed with United a single goal in arrears.

Several half-time changes for United gave the home side momentum but despite having a lot of possession little was created in the way of open chances, in fact just before the hour mark a second stunning goal from the visitors doubled their lead as the experienced Carew blasted a free-kick from 20 yards into the top corner before Crowley could move.

Scannell again for Dulwich and Rhys Murrell-Williamson, twice, for United went close to troubling the respective 'keepers without success before Murrell-Williamson managed to draw a good save from Brown, the Hamlet 'keeper pushing his volley wide after excellent work on the right by former United under 18 man Joakim Ehui.

Murrell-Williamson turned provider with 12 minutes remaining, his centre from the left picking out the returning Tom Collins who controlled the pass with his back to goal and turned to slot the ball past Brown to reduce the arrears.

The final ten minutes saw a desperate goal-line block from the visitors that denied Collins a second after Jhai Dhillon had gained possession and fired the ball into the six yard box.

Defeat but a good display by both sides, we would like to wish Dulwich all the best for the coming season.

Report by Kevin Watts.