Striker Goran Slavkovski scored his first United goal as the Reserves won an incident-packed encounter at Worksop on Monday evening.

As well as seven goals, there was a sending off and the woodwork was struck three times as the Blades returned to winning ways after four games without a victory.

Slavkovski, on loan from Inter Milan, won the game's first corner, from which United began the goal-glut. Quinn delivered and after Grimsby half-cleared, EAGERS picked up the loose ball and fired across goalkeeper. Just a minute had elapsed.

After Slavkovski missed a one-on-one opportunity, Grimsby levelled on 12 minutes. Taylor glided through the midfield and forced a save out of Furniss but Liam DAVIS forced home the loose ball.

Abdi twice went close for the Blades and on 28 minutes Ashmore crashed a 25-yard free-kick off the middle of the crossbar. Slavkovski missed with a free header before Law struck the base of a post. The second string's leading scorer, however, was on the target with his next opportunity on 37 minutes, LAW cut in from the left before firing beyond goalkeeper Overton.

Just before the break, the overworked Overton was called into what was to prove to be his last action of the night. Slavkovski raced on to a through ball and was heading to place the ball into the empty net when he was hauled down by the goalkeeper. The referee had little choice but to produce a red card and defender Normington took over in goal.

Grimsby cleared the resulting free-kick for a corner but, with 44 minutes gone, the Blades made it 3-1 when Ashmore's delivery was headed home at the near post by ABDI.

The Blades had impressed in the first half and against ten men, plus a stand-in goalkeeper, were expected to extend the advantage in the second period but it was not to be as the young side failed to keep up the good work after the interval.

Taylor was causing problems and JARMAN struck the crossbar before he reduced the arrears on 63 minutes. The striker picked the ball up on the left and was given the space to float a shot over Furniss from the edge of the penalty area.

United's two-goal cushion was restored on 74 minutes, thanks to the loan striker. Quinn's forward ball was latched onto by SLAVKOVSKI, who held off Gray before coolly lobbing over Normington.

Eagers fired into the side-netting as United looked for a fifth but Grimsby caused a tense period of injury-time by scoring on 89 minutes. Taylor's shot was parried by Furniss into the path of JARMAN, who added his second of the night.

The victory was welcome but coach Ron Reid was not overly pleased. He said: "The first half was satisfactory but in the second we lacked application when we should have racked up six or seven."

Blades: Furniss, Chapman, Walker, Ashmore, Chanot, Wedgbury, Law (Tahar 78), Eagers, Slavkovski (Boden 76), Abdi (Askham 56), K. Quinn/
Unused: Ho Lee.

Grimsby: Overton, Normington, Parker, Steel, Gray (Woods 78), Bird, L. Davis, Rhoades, Jarman, Taylor, S. Davis (Freeman 78).
Unused: Matthews.