Having worked tirelessly up front and been denied a couple of times in last weekend's defeat by Rangers, May was selected again as Livingston's main point of attack - and he delivered.
The striker chased down Esselink as the defender tried to usher the ball back to Kucherenko and pounced when Esselink's pass was short. Pittman was the beneficiary, receiving May's pass and finishing into a largely unguarded net as Kucherenko had come off his line.
But it was not just with the goal that May made his presence felt. The striker set the example with Livingston's high press, often giving the United defence a torrid time.
Livingston were forced into a first-half change when wide man Smith was withdrawn, striker Tete Yengi coming on. Yet Livingston maintained May as the lead front man, recognising how well it was working.
That was until half-time, when United made some tweaks of their own. Manager Goodwin had gone from a back three to a back four in the first half, replacing Iurie Iovu with Julius Eskesen, and Craig Sibbald and Amar Fatah's half-time introductions gave the hosts more attacking impetus.
They got a bit of a break with the leveller, Keresztes' wayward shot finding the net when it could really have gone anywhere.
Nevertheless, attack proved the best form of defence for United - so much so that May was substituted - and the hosts ended up with the point their second-half showing deserved.