Manager insists United are improving ahead of Sussex Senior Cup clash with Eastbourne Borough

United, who play their football three leagues below in the Southern Combination Premier, have endured a difficult start to the season and are still winless in the league after a 1-2 loss at home to Shoreham this past Saturday.

Two goals in nine first-half minutes gave Shoreham a nice advantage at the break and United were unable to find an equaliser despite Sam Willet’s penalty ten minutes into the second-half.

“Despite the fact we lost, it was probably the step forward that we needed,” insisted Cooper

“We played really well in patches and got unlucky with a few decisions like the penalty for their first goal. I was really pleased with the attitude and the application the lads showed and their second goal was just a really good finish. It was tough to take because I don’t think they got out of their half in the second half, but we just couldn’t capitalise and take enough of the chances that we created.

“A month ago, we probably would have lost that game 5-1 rather than 2-1 so we are making improvements but that is another game gone now so it has to be on to the next one.”

However, perhaps thanks to some favourable draws against lower-league opposition, United have enjoyed more success in the cup competitions this year and so it proved again this past Tuesday evening when they ran out 5-2 winners at home to Division One outfit Midhurst