Roy Walker's side were looking for their first home league win since May and their first this season and had Wayne Drummond and Chris Rodgers return to the starting eleven in place of Dwayne Nelson and Liam Watson.

It was a game of few changes and little note with both teams battling well with little headway - Jordan Baker creating the best of the home chances in the first half but failed to test Billy Brennan in the Distillery goal.

The game kicked into life with 69 minutes gone when a stray arm from Davy Munster after a tussle with David Cushley was spotted by referee Raymond Hetherington and the defender was issued a straight red card with United now down to ten-men.

Undetered United pushed forward and grabbed the only goal of the game a minute later - excellent work by Curtis Woods down the right as the former Burnley defender kept the ball in and hooked a cross over to Gary McCutcheon who chested the ball down before firing his 16th goal of the season.

In a frantic final few minutes, the Whites did manage to force past Wayne Drummond's goal but Gary Liggett's effort was ruled offside in stoppage time.

United held out for a win that produced signs of tangible relief and sends the Sky Blues up to seventh place in the Carling IFA Premiership.