United lost to a late penalty in a pre-season friendly against fellow Isthmian League champions Cray Wanderers at the SKYex on a warm Saturday afternoon, the visitors scoring the only goal from a 74th minute penalty.

United started quickly creating two openings in the first five minutes of the game. Three minutes in Dylan Switters played a neat throughball to Ogo Obi who was tripped on the edge of the box. Lyle Della-Verde fired the free-kick past the wall but his effort drifted just wide of the target.

Two minutes later Elliot Benyon intercepted a loose Mitchell Nelson pass at the back and played the ball right to Obi who fired across the box low, the ball just evading the on-coming Della-Verde.

The visitors carved out their first chance in the 12th minute as Karl Dent collected the ball 25 yards out and rode a tackle before hitting an angled shot that struck the side netting of the United goal.

More chances came soon after for the visitors. Aaron Rhule exchanged passes with a teammate en route into the United box, his shot being blocked away by Mitchal Gough. A minute later Gough was robbed on the edge of his own box by Rhule who lofted the ball over Ravan Constable, the United 'keeper, only for it to come back off the crossbar into play with the same player heading home however referee Ohene adjudged the challenge a foul and awarded United a free-kick.

Halfway through the first period Gough got his head to a Dan Spence corner but his effort went the wrong side of the upright and then minutes later a long range drive by Tom Phipp missed by a similar margin for the visitors.

A minute later Rhule found Joe Taylor unmarked on the right side of the box, the Cray striker seeing his shot turned aside by Constable. Dent's corner kick picked out Nelson at the far post, his shot being blocked to safety by Taofiq Olomowewe.

As the break approached Taylor received a long hit free-kick and played the ball quickly to Andre Coker who from the edge of the box was just too high.

Three minutes from half-time Switters neat ball through to Obi saw the striker outmuscle Nelson but after making his way into the box his shot went wide of the far post.

A last ditch chance again fell to the visitors when Taylor collected a quick throw, turned and hit a shot that Constable again did well to push away one handed with the defence eventually scrambling the ball to safety.

The second half saw a more even game with United re-shaping and having more possession but sadly neither side really showed any potency up front.

Former United favourite Bradley Pritchard created an opening for Coker in the 53rd minute, the wide man cutting inside from the left only to pull his shot wide of the target.

What turned out to be the only goal of the game came in the 74th minute with Olomowewe was adjudged to have held Nelson down as a corner kick came in and referee Ohene pointed straight to the spot. Taylor stepped up and calmly sent Constable the wrong way.

Despite having a good amount of possession, changes disrupted play somewhat, United's best effort coming when James Clark sprayed the ball across the field to Max Chabane who controlled the pass well only for his well struck volley to go inches over the visitors goal.

Report by Kevin Watts.