Injury-plagued Steven Kabba marked his surprise return to action with the winning goal as United's beat Wigan in the Pontins League on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old striker was named as a late substitute in the Blades side and kept his nerve to slot the winner through Gary Walsh's legs on 88 minutes.
The swirling cold wind inside Saltergate did little to stop both sides looking to work openings, in fact the conditions encouraged neat, short passing football.
Lee's free header from a corner on four minutes was straight at United's trialist goalkeeper, Worsnop, whilst the home side's early opportunities saw Quinn fire over a difficult chance and Walsh saving a near post shot from Ward.
Worsnop saved with his feet from Johansson, who also missed the best chance of the half on 35 minutes. From a corner, Kozluk blocked an Edwards effort but the ball fell to the Swede - a £450,000 signing in January - who managed to miss the target from inside the six-yard box.
For United, Ward pulled Ashmore's free-kick down on his chest and half-volleyed wide, whilst in the closing minutes of the half Quinn laid off to Hurst on the right, but his shot across goal was narrowly wide.
Chances after the break became more sparse, although Wigan missed with another glorious opportunity on 50 minutes. Following a scramble close to goal Owens, just like Johansson, missed the target from inside the six yard box.
McMillan and Owens also tested Worsnop, whilst United's chances were limited and the first excitement of the second period for Blades fans was the introduction of Kabba. He was a late inclusion in the Blades squad and made his first appearance of the season as a 73rd minute substitute.
Wigan had undoubtedly created the better chances, none more so than on 85 minutes. A collision caused Worsnop to spill and Whalley looked odds-on to score but Horwood made a dramatic block and rolled onto the loose ball to enable the goalkeeper to gather.
United had not worked a chance of note in the second half and the fairytale end was made for Kabba. Three serious injuries had hampered his progress but when the ball broke to him on 88 minutes he coolly slotted through Walsh.
Fired up, he also picked up a warning from the referee for a late spat with Waterhouse but it failed to ruin his big return.
Blades: Worsnop, Ashmore, Kozluk, Harper, Roma, Horwood, Hurst (Travis 75), Gyaki, Ward (Kabba 73), S. Quinn, Forte. Unused: Carrick, Annerson, Kerry.
Wigan: Walsh, Wright, McMillan, Edwards, Lee, Jarrett, Sulaiman, Whalley, Graham, Johansson, Owens (Waterhouse 83) Unused: Joyce, Salisbury, Litchfield, Traynor.
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