Pete Cooper and Nick Barden joined the list of unavailable players, but there were returns to starting XI for goalkeeper Adam Sargent and Gianluca Del-Gaudio.
18 year old Luke Snashall was handed his debut at right back in a defence that also included 17 year old Ben Farrant.
Jack Mclean was rewarded for his impressive recent performances for the reserve team and started on the right wing; with reserve team top scorer Jacob Adlam and Patryk Miszkiewcz of the Under 18’s named among the substitutes for the first time.
United began the game playing into a strong swirling wind and leading scorer Liam Baitup created the first opportunity but saw his shot saved smartly at the near post by Carl Morris in the Westfield goal.
As has been the case too many times this season, United found themselves a goal behind early on in the contest.
A long ball over the top of the United defence was met by Sargent who reacted quickest, but the returning ‘keepers clearance could only rebound off a diving Gordon Cuddington and loop into the United net.
With sixteen minutes played, United were staring down the barrel once again as Westfield doubled their lead.
Mike Booth was allowed too much time and space on the edge of the area, as he turned to fire home past a diving Sargent.
But on 25 minutes, the balance of play shifted in United’s favour when Westfield were reduced to 10 men.
Adam Davidson disposed of Steve Thomson just inside the Westfield half and found himself one-on-one with Morris and after pushing the ball past the ‘keeper, Davidson was clipped by Morris and a penalty was awarded.
After consulting with his linesman, the match official deemed Morris to be the last man and the ‘keeper received his marching orders.
With no substitute ‘keeper on the bench, midfielder Brad Owens took over between the sticks and after a three minute delay from the initial foul Baitup stepped up to confidently send Owens the wrong way and bring United back into the game.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Westfield still pressed forward as Sargent produced a fantastic fingertip save from Cuddington to keep the score as they were.
Calum Sherriff came close to opening his United account with a curling free-kick that eluded everybody in the penalty area but narrowly went the wrong side of the post.
United had the wind at their backs in the second half and looked to make the most of their extra man and were awarded a second penalty on 55 minutes.
Gianluca Del-Gaudio surged into the area and was clipped by Ross Williams to give Baitup the chance to score his 30th league goal of the season.
Baitup duly delivered with a strike into the bottom left corner despite the best effort of Owens to keep the penalty out.
It took just two more minutes for the turnaround to be completed as Jack Divall chipped the ball over Williams and found himself bearing down on goal before unleashing a left footed drive that beat Owens to give United the lead for the first time in the match.
United were in the ascendency now and stretched their lead on 63 minutes when the lively Mclean nipped in behind the home defence to loft the ball over the outrushing Owens as United made it four.
Chances were few and far between for Westfield in the second half, but on 84 minutes they showed they weren’t out of the contest as a low drive by Cuddington beat Sargent to set up a pulsating finish to the match.
Divall had other ideas for United as almost immediately he pounced on a defensive error to get between the Westfield defence and ‘keeper to roll the ball home and seal a 5-3 victory and became only the third side to taste victory at the Parish Field this season.
United: Sargent; Snashall (Adlam 80), Farrant (Miszkiewcz 56), Sherriff, Featherstone, Stracey, Mclean, Davidson, Divall, Baitup, Del-Gaudio