Dial's unbeaten eight-match run came to an end today (10 Oct) after Steve Brown's side went down 3-2 away to Saltdean United at Hill Park Stadium.

It was a frustrating afternoon for The Dial who were largely the better side over the 90 minutes. However, a lapse five-minute spell before half-time left the visitors feeling numb as United took up a 2-0 lead, which ultimately sealed Dial’s fate.

Manager Steve Brown was pleased to welcome back Charlie Plant and Deji Adeosun for the trip to the south coast, after both missed Dial's 0-0 draw away to Reigate Priory the previous week.

Assistant player manager and captain Jimmy Norman also returned to the heart of defence after a three-match absence. However, there was still no place for George Frith and Danny Taylor, who are both returning from injury, while Harry Rice is expected to be out until at least December.

After a fairly even and uneventful first half-an-hour, United skied a freekick over the bar. Then, a great through ball from Daniel Wanyonyi looked to have found Adam Aziz, but the hosts managed to prevent a goalscoring opportunity.

A great surging run from Ross Ewen almost helped pave the way for Daniel Cenzano to open the scoring, but he was unable to find a way past Rudy Stilgoe.

However, it was United who broke the deadlock in the 42nd-minute after Adeosun shoulder-barged his opponent in the box, resulting in only one outcome: a penalty. Charlie Yeates stepped up to take the spot-kick, sending George Douglas the wrong way to give the hosts the lead.

There was an element of good fortune regarding United's second goal two minutes later when George Douglas' clearance ricocheted off Alfie Marchant into the goal.

While the scoreline arguably flattered United, Dial managed to reduce the arrears three minutes after the break when Plant’s looping header from Aziz’s cross dropped just inside the post.

Dial were almost back on level terms 10 minutes later when Norman’s header went close from a corner kick. But it was the Brighton & Hove based side who scored again when Luke Burbidge netted his first and the hosts’ third in the 68th-minute to provide some respite.

Harry Furnell was inches away from making it 4-1, only to be denied by the outstretched leg of Douglas to keep the striker at bay.

Dial weren’t out of the running though when Joshua Adjei got ahead of his marker to fire the ball past Stilgoe in the 75th-minute, just four minutes after coming on as a second half substitute.

With the game on a knife edge, Stilgoe pulled off a fantastic save to deny Aidan Doran’s 88th-minute volley in what looked to be a near certain equaliser. Doran then saw his follow-up effort saved in stoppage time as United held on to claim all three points.

Speaking after the match, Brown said: “It was a bit of a bit of a strange game, as we didn't do too much wrong. Throughout the course of the 90 minutes, I thought we were marginally the better side. We definitely didn't deserve to lose.

“We had a blip five minutes before half-time, conceding two goals which ultimately cost us. However, I thought the attitude from the boys, particularly in the second half, was excellent. On another day, Aidan’s volley would have gone in, and we could have been talking about coming away with a point or even all three.”

DIAL SQUARE: Douglas, Apeni (Miles), Ewen (Bankole), Adeosun, Hayes, Norman, Plant (Doran), Cenzano (L.Taylor), Hinks, Wanyonyi (Adjei), Aziz.

MotM: Daniel Wanyonyi