UNITED'S TOUGH FLESH AFTER BONE GOES

Scoring nil in now six of their last nine games, finishing is United's Achilles heel and they were already 2-1 down when Bone, unable to clear patted away an awkwardly bouncing ball on its way into the net when Tommy Pattenden headed powerfully downwards.

However, Fuller got down low to his right to save Wes Millis' penalty and Hawks did not seal their win until Craig Hall's goal three minutes from time. Although one short, United overcame their initial despondency, they impressed not only boss Ian Browne with their character.

Ex-Albion man Ian Chapman, the Whitehawk manager, commented: "I think we just deserved to win but United showed great spirit to stay in the game right until the end. In the second half you wouldn't have thought they'd gone down to 10 men."

Paul Rapps had impressively fired United ahead (6min) but Pattenden looped in a header to equalise (13) and Stuart Garrod made it 2-1 (20) after United wasted chances to clear the danger.

Then, for United, Dave Schneider headed to high, then missed a cross and Rapps shot straight at keeper Wayne Collins in a one-on-one.

Later, Collins foiled Schneider when he was through and denied Neil Shelley with a great save.

Browne, who never wavered from emplying his positive three-man front line, said: "The first two goals were sloppy but although my players might sometimes flinch a bit in their self-belief, my belief in them never does.

"We're generally playing well. We're doing eveything but put the ball in the net, but we needed all 10 men to take the game properly to Whitehawk."

UNITED: Fuller; O'Sullivan, Pickles, Bone, Keech; N.Shelley, J.Shelley, Brown; Rapps, Schneider, Sell. Subs: Banks (Brown 50), Hancock (Schneider 65), Webb (B.Shelley 66), Lewis, House gk. Att: 80.