The Hatters had to settle for a draw despite a dominant display in a topsy-turvy friendly at Tannadice.
Trailing to a David Babunski finish the Town led 2-1 at the break thanks to a Jordan Clark penalty and an Alfie Doughty close-range finish.
But a second half penalty from Louis Moult meant although the Town left Scotland without victory, there was plenty of encouragement to take from a promising performance.
The Town, who began with Thomas Kaminski and Teden Mengi from the start, began brightly but it was against the run of play that the hosts took the lead in the 16th minute. Kristijan Trapanovski sped down the left and teed up Babunski to fire a well-taken drive beyond Thomas Kaminski.
It was United’s first meaningful attack and, aiming to catch the Hatters cold, Babunski attempted to lob Kaminski just moments later.
Behind, the Town rallied. A fine move involving Tatith Chong and Doughty almost presented a chance for Elijah Adebayo on 23 minutes.
Still having the majority of the play, the Hatters began to find their rhythm and on 34 minutes they were level from the spot. Zack Nelson’s guided throughball found Reuell Walters in on goal and after he was sent tumbling in the box, skipper Clark tucked home the penalty.
It was almost 2-1 to the Town moments later when Chong was closed down from 10 yards when about to pull the trigger.
Chances continued to fall the Hatters’ way. On 37 minutes Shandon Baptiste fired wide before Nelson, who scored twice in the last friendly against Göztepe last week, curled a well-hit drive just over from the edge of the box.
As half-time approached, the Town then needed Kaminski to be alert, getting down to his right superbly to repel a goal-bound effort from Miller Thomson.
But just when everyone inside the ground thought that was the last of the first half action the Hatters led. Tom Holmes dug out a cross deep from the right and Doughty found space in the six-yard box to volley past Walton.
After the restart, Kaminski’s palms were warmed by a shot from Brandon Forbes on 51 minutes but the Hatters continued to control proceedings and Clark came close to adding a second on 64 minutes only for his first-time shot from the edge of the box to be blocked.
Two minutes later Adebayo then raced clear of the United defence but was denied by a last-ditch tackle by Will Ferry before Rob Edwards made a triple substitution on 67 minutes with Cauley Woodrow, Andros Townsend and Joe Taylor introduced.
Despite continuing to have the majority of the ball, the hosts levelled when referee Iain Sneddon awarded a second penalty of the night when Mengi upended Ross Graham in the box and substitute Louis Moult converted from 12 yards.
As time ticked down into the closing stages, Edwards continued to make changes, with the entire back three made-up of academy graduates come the final whistle in Christian Chigozie, Jack Bateson and Aiden Francis-Clarke.
The Town’s final pre-season friendly before the season kicks off is at Kenilworth Road a week on Saturday when Celta Vigo are the visitors. Tickets are on sale now. We’ll see you then.
Town: Kaminski, Walters (sub Francis-Clarke 60), Doughty (sub Luker 76), Holmes (sub Ogbene 46), Mengi (sub Bateson 76), Johnson (sub Chigozie 83), Baptiste (sub Mpanzu 56), Clark (sub Woodrow 67) Nelson (Townsend 67), Chong, Adebayo (Taylor 67).
Sub not used: Shea.
