UNITED BLOW UP BRIDGES

Tactically United got it spot-on and the players likewise with their error-free performances to instructions and their manager's expecations. Bridges' Darren Freeman was sent off at 0-0 after a booking for persistent fouling and his reaction to a subsequent penalisation reportedly left the referee with no option.

Shortly, with 28 minutes gone and Bridges in consequent disarray, Dave Schneider ran diagonally onto Neil Shelley's perfect and penetrating pass to give United the lead with his eighth goal in eight games.

Bridges, with only one league win this term, switched to three men up front but shoestring United swarmed around them. They also avoided playing to the aerial hands of Bridges' big central defence and notched points against that dominant department.

United defender Lee Bone twice outjumped Damian Webber to head goals in the 65th and 75th minutes from perfect deadball deliveries by Jason Hughes and Stuart Sell.

And four minutes later it was 4-9 when, after Paul Brown's fine approach play, Shane Moses put in Neil Shelley on a deep run to score.

United boss Ian Browne said: "Steve Pickles and Sonny Banks were outstanding. Bridges couldn't find us out. We applied oursleves and met fire with fire instsead of standing off them.

"We kept possession well, got wide and behind them but some good goalkeeping, good recovery defending and poor finishing prevented them going ahead in the first 20 minutes. And this time, the referee was really good."

UNITED: House; Hughes, Pickles, Bone, Keech; Brown, N.Shelley, B.Shelley, Sell; Schneider, Banks. Subs: Moses (Banks 68), Webb (Schneider 73, R.Raynsford (Hughes 75), Lewis, Oakley gk. Att: 144. Jan Miller (Littlehampton) has rejected an approach fromUnited, who await answers from Phil Churchill (YMCA) and Shaheen Sadough (Shoreham). All are strikers.

See The Herald for a report of United's Sussex Senior Cup tie with Steyning Town.