It had been a frustrating start for United as first James Hull and then Ryan Welch had opportunities and failed to convert them. Patience was apparently going to be the watch word.

On 15 minutes Ryan Welch decided to change the narrative, getting sin binned, and in his enthusiasm to point out the referee's shortcomings managed to convert it to a Red Card.

Down to 10 for the majority of the game, United had to reorganise. It seemed to make little difference as Grout and Ball (twice) went close without really scaring the Wick keeper. Ball had another effort saved, but just approaching half time, against the run of play there was a misunderstanding between Headland and Broadbent resulting in the visitors taking a 1-0 lead into the interval.

Wick were enthused by their goal and started brightly after the interval, without making Broadbent work any further. Storey took matters into his own hands with a double substitution on 51 minutes, Hull and Samways making way for the returning Farrell and Nathan Crabb.

United looked energised again, with Charlie Ball immediately going close to equalising. A minute later, an impossibly high pass was taken down brilliantly by Ball, who cut through the defence on the right, crossing to the far post for Gary Ingram to tap home for 1-1.

The crowd were joyously celebrating moments later as Ingram decided that he liked the adulation and repeated the trick to make it 2-1 to United.

United kept looking to seal the deal, with Wick to their credit working really hard to get back in it. Arthur Grout's free kick took a wicked deflection, but right into the arms of the Wick keeper. Ingram was intent on a hat trick, but headed just over.

Sonny Walsh replaced Charlie Ball with five minutes to go, and almost immediately put Ingram through, who couldn't get that third. Walsh also went close before referee Nathan George called time on a hugely entertaining match.

United then are outside of the play-offs on goal difference alone, but more intriguingly are just two points off third place.

On Tuesday evening they make the long trip to Midhurst, scene of last season's 5-0 thrashing, looking to put that one to bed for good.