A crowd of just under 300 were treated to a nine goal thriller at the SKYex as United edged out Hendon despite twice surrendering a three goal advantage, the decider coming two minutes from time courtesy of a penalty from the returning Hassan Jalloh.

With the United midfield devoid of the creativity of injured duo Scott Donnelly and Lyle Della-Verde, manager Paul Hughes took the chance to bring in teenager Gabriel Piorkowski to the starting XI.

Both sides contributed to a lively opening without troubling the opposition 'keeper although on seven minutes a long throw-in from the Greens former United defender Harvie Gardiner was allowed to bounce in the six yard box with Luca Valentine poking the ball weakly straight to Jack Smith in the home goal.

The visitors also had the next chance as Valentine ran at the United box, retaining possession after a deflection only for Smith to dive at his feet to grab the ball. Play immediately swung to the other end as Hassan Jalloh collected the ball 25 yards out, his shot not really testing Chris Grace who handled the effort comfortably.

The midway point of the half saw Smith make a fine stop to keep the scoresheet blank. Charlie Smith played in a corner from the right side, Francis Amartey struck the ball goalwards only for Smith to pull off a fine block with Jacob Cook hooking the ball clear.

United were to go ahead just past the half hour mark. Callum Buckley did well to keep the ball in play on the left and in doing so found Ogo Obi who moved into the box only to be felled by sliding Hendon skipper Tom Hamblin with referee Begley pointing to the spot. Obi himself took charge and crashed the spot kick home off the crossbar to give United the lead.

Obi was sharply onto the ball immediately upon the restart, dispossessing Sergio Manesio before trying his luck from 30 yards but Grace held comfortably.

Buoyed by the goal, United started to really take control of the game. Buckley again found Obi, this time the striker's 20 yard effort went wide of the target and a few moments later Obi almost turned provider, setting up a shooting chance for Jalloh but his long range shot was held by Grace.

The final three minutes of the half saw United move into a three goal lead. On 43 minutes Omar Rowe fed Jalloh in the box, his initial low shot was fumbled by Grace to Obi who saw his shot blocked with Joe Grant rolling the ball home for his first United goal.

A touch of fortune saw United get a third on the stroke of half-time, Rowe played a superb ball forwards to Jalloh, his curling effort striking the Greens upright before hitting Grace on the back and rolling apologetically into the net for an own goal.

The visitors made a brace of changes at the start of the second half with top scorer Connor Calcutta and former United man Sam Corcoran joining the fray as the Greens looked to get themselves back in the game.

Early chances were at a premium and certainly not a hint of what was to follow, the best effort in the opening 15 minutes seeing Corcoran try to lob Smith from the centre circle, the United stopper easily holding the effort.

Just past the hour mark the visitors did get themselves back in the contest though. Amartey hit a shot on the turn that took a deflection before being headed wide by Liam McDevitt. The resultant corner saw Smith's attempted punch fall to another former United man at the far post with Kameron English volleying home while Smith needed treatment for a recurring injury.

A few minutes later United were to restore their three goal advantage however. Gabriel Piorkowski was felled 20 yards from goal with Rowe stepping up to the free-kick, curling the ball around the wall into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Grace.

Controversy was to reign at the re-start however as Smith had gone the bench during the goal celebrations to receive some more treatment, as he returned to the pitch and was halfway to his goal the referee re-started the game with the visitors rolling the kick-off to Corcoran who lofted the ball over the retreating Smith from the centre circle to reduce the deficit once more despite vehement protests from the United players.

Corcoran was soon to be the subject of another controversial incident in United's eyes as the already cautioned midfielder ploughed into a tackle in what appeared to be a reckless manner and with United fans and players alike expecting either a second yellow and/or straight red card, referee Begley chose to just issue a "talking to".

Both sides continued to look for more. English received the ball in a dangerous position only to drag his shot wide and at the other end Obi received the ball and moved past the oncoming Grace only for Gardiner to take the ball off his toes.

Within a minute the visitors were just a single goal in arrears as a long ball found a suspiciously offside looking Amartey who correctly "played to the whistle" and slid the ball past Smith from just outside the box.

United quickly made an opening of their own as substitute Toby Little collected the ball on the left and cut inside, his shot across goal going just wide before disaster struck at the other end with Amartey collecting a loose ball on the righthand corner of the United box before drilling a low shot beyond Smith into the far corner to level the tie at 4-4.

Three minutes remained and despite his injury, Smith pulled off the save of the game to stop United going behind, the stopper getting enough on a Charlie Smith shot, after he had broken into the box, to take the ball onto the crossbar with Ismail Yakubu clearing up.

Just a minute later the tie was decided with a crucial ninth goal of the game. Jalloh collected the ball on the left of the Greens area and danced his way inside only to be tripped with referee Begley again pointing to the spot. This time Jalloh took charge, his kick beating Grace to give United the lead once more.

Paul Hughes's side did enough to see out the game as United progress to the final qualifying round of this seasons Emirates FA Cup as we await Monday's draw with anticipation.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos with thanks to Derek Beech of DBeechPhotography ©

United Man of the Match: Hassan Jalloh.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.

Sergio Manesio