The hosts trailed 1-0 at the break before Matt Bale and Adam Woonton found of the back of the net to put United back in front, but they couldn't hang on.

Wallis were then awarded a controversial penalty in the final five minutes of the game to draw level after they had a player sent off with 20 minutes remaining for a second bookable offence.

United coach Nathan Wade was surprised at the penalty decision, but refused to blame it for their inability to extend their lead at the top of the ladder.

"I'm not sure what it was for; Jyal cleared the ball away and I thought we were out of trouble," he said.

"At halftime I would have been happy with a draw, but at fulltime I wasn't happy with a draw."

The Lakies showed why they have been perennial semi-finalists over the years with an impressive first-half performance.

"We weren't even in the contest in the first half and were totally outclassed; they gave us a lesson, but we turned it around in the second half," Wade said.

United still hold a seven-point advantage at the top of the ladder after Macleay Valley Rangers defeated Port Saints 1-0 to move into second spot.

The Green Bloods will look to return to the winners list on Saturday when they host Kempsey Saints and Wade was hopeful they would learn from their slow start against Wallis.

"You've got to be ready to go from the first minute," he said.

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