Injuries and suspensions ruled out a number of key players for United. In the first minute skipper Kevin Davies had a shot tipped over by veteran keeper Engin Salih, but on 11 minutes, against the run of play, Jermaine Darlington beat Jim Meara and passed to Dean Holness who scored with a low shot from 10 yards.

Salih twice saved from Mick Swaysland, whilst at the back the re-signed Paul Benning did well and Gary Phillips denied Whitmarsh just before the break.

On 51 minutes a Matt Brady corner was headed in by Matt Hayward to level at 1-1, but Hamlet re-took the lead from a corner on 69 minutes, a simple close range header by Phil Gallagher.

McKimm and Whitmarsh went close, Brady headed just wide, and in the final minutes Phillips tipped over from Akers, whilst a Davies chip was destined for the top corner but Salih pulled off an excellent save to deny United who slipped to their sixth consecutive away league defeat.