United debut four in Brighton Charity Cup win over Loxwood

Hutchinson rested six first-team players but United needed extra-time to beat their division-lower opponents Loxwood 4-3, after missing a whole host of chances.

One of United’s debutants, Josemario Francisco, opened the scoring from James Bywater’s free kick on 16 minutes.

Damon Aston levelled for Loxwood on 38 minutes but United regained their lead when Sam Schaaf struck from Tom Chapman’s excellent cross.

Aston made it 2-2 on 64 minutes, before Cyril Aghaeze powered the ball home after a mazy run to again give United the lead on 74 minutes.

Aston completed his hat-trick to send the tie to extra-time two minutes from time.

United got the winner five minutes into the additional period when Alex Thompson netted from Schaaf’s free kick.

Hutchinson said: “We could have won a lot more comfortably and the disappointing thing was how many chances we had.

“We counted them up afterwards and we had 10 one-on-ones and didn’t score any of them, which was just criminal.”

United dropped into the County League Division 1 relegation zone with the results at the weekend and Hutchinson said: “Arundel and Shoreham are dangerous sides, who are both improving, so we need to be looking at catching the likes of Crowborough, Sidley, East Grinstead and Horsham YMCA.

“It’s going to be very close at the bottom this season and I think you could be looking at needing 42 to 46 points to make sure you’re safe.”

Callum Christie, a former Charlton keeper, has joined from Eastbourne Town and made his United debut on Saturday, along with Francesco, midfielder Dominic Taylor and Jesse Whyte.

United travel to Lingfield in the league on Saturday.

UNITED: Christie; Gathern, Haffenden, Bywater, Freitas; Robertshaw, Chapman, Taylor, Thompson; Schaaf, Francisco. Subs: Whyte, Aghaeze, Gilmore (Francesco, Haffenden, Taylor 50), Gillard.