A late fight-back by the young Tangerines saw them just fail to salvage a draw after being two behind in today's youth league fixture at Albyn Park, Broxburn.
Feature of the afternoon were two great strikes by United's twin strike force of David Goodwillie and Robbie Feeney.
Goodwillie set up United's opener on the half hour mark when he beat three defenders to set up Feeney whose fine finish from fifteen yards beat the keeper.
There was blow for United when Hibs equalised a minute from the break.
Just five minutes onto the second half, the home side took the lead when John Gibson made a great save, but was unable to keep out the shot from the rebound.
Sloppy defending allowed Hibs to increase their lead after 63 minutes, but the game was far from a lost cause.
Two minutes later, Marco Andreoni hit the post with a free-kick from just outside the box.
Then on 68 minutes, David Goodwillie conjured up a magnificent solo goal, beating three defenders before squeezing the ball home from a very acute angle from 15-yards.
Before the end, substitute Ryan McCord had a goal disallowed and hard as the Tannadice teenagers fought to the end, an equaliser proved elusive.
Dundee United: Gibson, Flynn, Russell, Burnett, McMechan, Donnelly (Matheson 72), O'Hara (McCord 60), Andreoni, Feeney, Goodwillie, Gray (Watson 60). Sub not used: Paterson).