A missed penalty and a disallowed goal in the 90th minute summed up the afternoon as United were forced to settle for a share of the spoils despite having much of the possession. Russ Tanner and Mike Gardner returned to the side that was humbled at Crawley Down Gatwick during midweek as United looked to return to winning ways. United found an opening in the home defence inside the first minute as Jason Taylor hit an angled cross that was just out of the reach of Aaron Capon. Former United striker breached the United defence five minutes, but lifted wide of goal from 20yds as Tanner sprinted from his goaline. With 12 minutes played, Luke Leppard found himself clean through on Tanner’s goal, but United’s no.1 was equal to Leppard’s attempt to round the ‘keeper. From the resulting corner however, the ball fell at the feet of Josh Bryant who poked the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Five minutes later, United were gifted a chance to get themselves back into the game as Dan Pollard’s angled free kick found the run of Capon, whose run unceremoniously ended inside the area and a penalty awarded. Up stepped Wes Tate, but the usually reliable dead ball specialist lifted his effort from 12 yards over the bar.
The miss didn’t seem to hit the confidence of the United side as Taylor wriggled into the area before hitting an effort wide, with Capon also proving a threat with his direct running. Joe Summerbell rattled the crossbar with a header from a Matt Geard cross before the rebound was gathered by home ‘keeper Rob Gordon. The second half saw the game become narrow and congested, with much of the ball going through the centre of the pitch as Capon and Taylor struggled to take a stranglehold of the game. With just under 20 minutes left, United found a way back into the game through an unlikely source. Dean Stevens scrambled home at the second attempt after seeing his initial effort saved by Gordon for his second goal of the season. The goal clearly invigorated United with Peter Featherstone seeing a header from a Geard corner deflected over, while Pollard saw a header from another Geard corner punched away by Gordon. An incisive one-two from Brad Lewis and Tate ended with Lewis seeing a 20yd effort tipped behind by Gordon. With the ninety minutes up, Lewis twisted and turned on the edge of the area before crossing to Capon, who with the ball sitting up perfectly, rifled into the back of the net aided by a deflection.
The celebrations were cut short however after protests from the St Francis team and the decision was overturned and the goal disallowed for offside.