After the disappointment of going out of the RUR Cup on Tuesday night, manager Paul Daubeney wanted a response from his players but was far from happy with their first half display.
Daubeney made three changes to the starting XI with Gianluca Del-Gaudio, Simon Catt and Jack Divall returning in place of Mark Goodwin, Danny Simmonds and Nick Barden.
Just seven minutes were on the clock when Saltdean, who haven't gaimed a league point since the opening game of the season, took the lead after an attempted clearance from Adam Sargent struck Pete Featherstone and looped into the path of Danny Davis to pass home into an empty net.
United pressed forward after the early setback but found there chances limited to corner kicks which failed to test Graham Leach in the Saltdean goal.
Leach was called into action on twenty minutes when Jack Divall cut in from the left wing but could only find the outstretched foot of the 'keeper.
Pete Cooper went close with a looped volley before Ronnie Rubridge curled an effort narrowly wide for the hosts as United went into the half time interval a goal down for only the third time this season.

Whatever was said at half-time by Daubeney and Paul Sargent worked, as United came out for the second half looking like a different side, dictating the pace of the game from the very first whistle and could have found themselves level through Cooper immediately after the restart, but his shot went inches over the bar.
It didn't take much longer for United to draw level however, as a cross from Catt found Divall who saw his looped header cleared off the goal line only to be poked home by Liam Baitup for the strikers 22nd league goal of the season.
The lead was soon doubled when Calum Sherriff broke free down the right wing to produce an inch perfect pass into the path of Baitup at the back post who slotted home with ease.
Despite their league position, Saltdean showed a strong resolve and could have drawn level when James Bentley produced a cross with whip and bounce that Sargent reacted quickly with to turn around the post.
Divall had a chance to extend the visitors lead but could only hit the post from a narrow angle.
Saltdean punished the miss moments later as Matthew Fleming was allowed a free header from a corner to draw level.
The goal appeared to spur United on as Sherriff marauded forward once more and produced another perfect cross to Baitup, whose header was palmed into the path of Simon Catt to fire home from a narrow angle to ensure three points returned to Eastbourne.

EUAFC: Sargent; Lee (Filsell 72), Harrison, Sherriff, Featherstone (C), Stracey, Del-Gaudio (Bunn 79), Catt, Cooper, Baitup, Divall (Barden 83)