United's reserves suffered defeat in their opeing Pontin's League game of the season.

A young United team went down 3-1 to Hull City at North Ferriby. Gavin Rothery, 19, was the most experienced member of a United side which saw the game slip away in the closing stages.

Neil Thompson's men enjoyed the better of the opening exhanges and the lively Nathan Cartman twice tested Tigers goalkeeper Tom Woodhead as United made the early running.

Rothery also went close in 19 minutes when he rapped the woodwork with a pile-driver from 25 yards.

Hull, who included Henrik Pederson in their starting line-up, slowly came back into the contest and their best chance came on 38 minutes when a Danny Coles effort hit the underside of the bar and was cleared off the line.

The home side started the second half strongly, though, and took the lead on 56 minutes, courtesy of James Devitt after good play by Pederson.

They added a second seven minutes from time when Devitt, who also went close with a free-kick, found Will Atkinson inside the area, who struck the ball hard and low past Matthew Edwards in the United goal.

Substitute Duane Grace did pull a goal back with a minute remaining with a looping header, but Hull made it three in stoppage time when Atkinson lobbed Edwards inside the area.

United: Edwards, Madden, Fisher, Hotchkiss, Lees, Wilkinson, Darville, Cartman, Connor (Grace 71), Rothery, Ovington (Falkingham 79). Subs:Milne, Mycoe