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United ended a three match losing sequence with an ultimately comfortable victory against Whitstable Town at the Pilot Field this afternoon, but still insisted on doing things the hard way, going a goal behind in the second half, before Frankie Sawyer's double and a late Sam Adams effort earned them all three points.

A season of defensive problems claimed another U's victim, with Charlie Bachellier having suffered a broken hand at Folkestone in midweek, forcing Matt Darby to fill in at right back once again, and handing Nathan Ferguson another start in midfield.

The sight of both Taser Hassan and Sawyer limping out of the action will have been far from welcome for United boss Terry White, therefore, although the latter did at least sign off with the seventy-fifth minute goal that completed the hosts' turnaround and set them on their way to a crucial win immediately prior to departing the scene.

Sawyer had been left hobbling after a seemingly innocuous challenge and looked to be really struggling when he swung his left foot at a shot from the edge of the area and watched it beat Luke Watkins' despairing dive and nestle in the far corner.

He had earlier become the fourth U's player to see his goals tally for the Club reach double figures this season, a beautifully timed run to the near post enabling him to meet Kenny Pogue's low cross and sweep an instinctive effort past Watkins to equalise just three minutes after the Kent side had claimed a shock lead.



Although they had caused United a few problems at the back, Whitstable had created just one chance of note, the highly impressive former Gillingham striker Ashley Miller missing the target from Scott Heard's volleyed cross, to the point at which unmarked centre back Laurence Harvey powered home a far post header from Macauley Murray's fifty-fifth minute free kick, rather dubiously awarded for a foul on Miller by Ben Judge.

United's response was unusually swift and decisive, yet they received a huge let-off when Whitstable substitute Ross Webb contrived to head wide of an empty net from Miller's driven cross, and they continued to live rather dangerously, with Miller the architect of the visitors' best moments.

At the other end, Tristan Toney saw a header from an Adams corner nodded off the line by full back Jack Parter, another ex-Gillingham player and a former U's transfer target, while Adams himself embarked on a surging run that sadly ended with a mi**** shot that allowed Watkins a simple save.

But Adams made no mistake when Pogue picked him out with an exquisite chipped cross from the left with little more than five minutes remaining, firing low past Watkins from close range to give United an unassailable two goal cushion, although there was still time for Miller to set up strike partner Charlie Smith for a superb headed chance that he wastefully looped into Pelling's grateful arms.

After so many painfully drab second half displays this season, this was certainly a finish to be proud of, and the U's could easily have been a couple of goals clear before the interval as well.

Within the opening couple of minutes, Watkins made two smart saves in quick succession to deny Judge his first goal for the Club from an Adams corner, while Ferguson also went close on a couple of occasions, and Watkins produced his best save in first half stoppage time, a fingertip effort to claw away a Hassan shot.

Sawyer fired against the base of the post shortly after the restart, after Adams had been denied by more Watkins heroics, and it was undoubtedly harsh on United when they then suddenly found themselves in arrears.

But their fightback was full of intent, and if they can build on today's very decent display with another away to champions Peacehaven & Telscombe on Easter Monday, they might be able to give supporters a more relaxing final day experience than they have become accustomed to in recent years.