The victory was the first time United had beaten Loxwood in five attempts and ensured they remained in the third and final promotion place – for the time being at least.
With United Manager Paul Daubeney absent, Paul Sargent took the reins and shuffled his pack as Calum Sherriff, Rory Newby and club captain Pete Featherstone returning to the starting XI.
United began the game playing a high, pressing line and had much of the play within the Loxwood half but failed to fully test ‘keeper Sam Smith.
After thirteen minutes and against the run of play, United were punished as Lewis Scally found space in the centre of the park to hit a curling effort from 25 yards that left Adam Sargent with no chance in the United goal.
Despite falling behind, United maintained the same style and the two Jacks, Mclean and Divall, looked lively on either wing with the former driving at the visiting defence and crossing for Pete Cooper who poked his shot narrowly wide of the far post.
Liam Baitup found Smith in inspired form on 36 minutes as his sharp turn and volley was turned behind for a corner.
From the resulting kick, Baitup was again denied by Smith after a powerful header from United’s leading goalscorer was clawed off the goaline and back into open play.
United did get the equaliser that there overall play had deserved on 42 minutes courtesy of an error from Smith.
The Loxwood ‘keeper allowed a Jamie Bunn free-kick from fully 30 yards to squirm through his grip and into the net.
United were forced into a change with ten minutes of the second half played as Jack Mclean limped off with an ankle injury to be replaced by Mark Goodwin, himself only just returning from injury.
Five minutes later, United were ahead after a powerful Divall header was well saved by Smith only for Baitup to be on hand to smash home the rebound.
Baitup was denied a second goal by Smith almost immediately after his first as the Loxwood stopper dived full length to prevent the marksman.
With less than fifteen minutes remaining, Baitup sealed the victory as he leapt like a salmon to thunder a header past Smith following a scintillating cross from Goodwin
The goal takes Baitup to 47 in all competitions for the season, with the striker surely bound to have one eye on making it fifty on the final day of the season.
United need to beat relegation threatened Rustington on Saturday and for fourth place Little Common to lose against either Oakwood (Tuesday) or league champions Littlehampton Town (Saturday) in order to secure promotion on what should be an exciting, but nerve wracking final day of the season.

United: Sargent; Simmonds, Sherriff, Newby, Featherstone ©, Stracey, Mclean (Goodwin 55) (Del-Gaudio 84), Bunn, Cooper, Baitup, Divall (Barden 79)