In what was arguably United’s biggest game in recent memory, Simon Rowland’s side dominated the first half and found themselves two goals to the good with less than 25 minutes played.
Sean Ray struck for the second game running as he reacted quickest at jumped highest to head home a Dryer corner.
Four minutes later, Dryer struck his first goal in a United shirt as he was on the end of Ryan McBride’s knockdown to drill his effort into the far corner of the goal.
United ‘keeper Grant Young had to be alert to twice deny Villa striker Adam Turner, but United came close to making it three before half-time as Matt Maclean struck the crossbar before the ball fell to Dryer who forced Dixon into a fine fingertip save.

A change of formation and personnel brought Villa back into the game in the second half as Ross Cheetham struck the post and began to apply some pressure to United.
With 63 minutes played, Turner pulled a goal back for Villa as he struck from the edge of the area and soon after the rain began to fall.
On 74 minutes, Cheetham drew the home side level as the ball skidded past the United defence and he slotted the ball past an onrushing Young.
One minute later, the match referee took the teams off the pitch amid crashes of thunder, lightning and a barrage of heavy rain until the weather subsided.
The players returned to the pitch ten minutes later and played out the remaining fifteen minutes on a very heavy pitch that was cutting up under every twist and turn from both sides.

Villa were dealt a blow in the second minute of extra time when Turner was carried from the pitch with a suspected broken foot and United took full advantage.
Richard Greenfield, who was introduced into the action at the start of extra time, found space behind the home defence to produce a cross into McBride who restored United’s lead on 96 minutes.
A fourth goal followed for United and it was undoubtedly the goal of the match, if not the season.
Scott Dartnall picked up the ball on the left wing 40 yards from goal and proceeded to cut inside and jink his way past four Hanworth players before opening his body and calmly slotting home to the delight of the visiting United fans.
United hit a fifth with seven minutes of the second period of extra time played, as Wes Tate fed Dryer who slotted past the ‘keeper for his second of the afternoon.
A sixth followed four minutes later as Dryer completed his hat-trick by lashing an effort in at the near post.
United reached seventh heaven in the 118th minute after Greenfield was pulled back in the area by Villa captain Joe Johnson, who was dismissed for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Tate stepped up and slammed his penalty into the back of the net to set up a tie with Morpeth Town of the Ebac Northern League at The Oval on Saturday 15th February

Photographs from the fixture by Stuart Tree can be viewed HERE