Formartine maintained their unbeaten league record at Christie Park with hat-tricks from both Stuart Anderson and Cammy Keith.
Delighted United manager Kris Hunter said: “It was always going to be a difficult game with Huntly on a high from their win over East Stirling in the Scottish Cup.
“A key point in the game for us was at 2-0. Huntly had a goal disallowed and we then went up the other end of pitch to score which deflated Huntly a bit as the next goal was going to be crucial.”
Hunter was full of praise for his scorers and added: “They were both excellent. Having Cammy come off the bench shows the attacking options we have. Cammy didn’t have competition last season, and it has brought him on, he’s shown a bit of hunger and showed us what he can do.”
Two goals in a nine-minute spell put the visitors in control.
A Scott Barbour cross in the 28th minute was not dealt with and Anderson was left with simple tap in, and the former Southampton midfielder made it two with a superb chip into the top corner.
Eight minutes into the second half Huntly had the ball in the net through a David Booth drive only for referee Dan McFarlane to rule the forward had committed a foul in the build-up. A minute later Formartine made it 3-0 when Anderson completed his hat-trick with a drive which went in off the post.
Substitute Keith scored a great fourth with another chip from a tight angle and three minutes later the same player received a return pass from Neil Gauld before drilling home.
The substitute completed a 20-minute hat-trick with a powerful shot from a Paul Lawson feed.
Huntly manager Gregg Carrol was disappointed Booth’s effort was ruled out and said: “It had an effect on the game as they went up the pitch and scored their third right after the decision.
“I didn’t see anything wrong with the goal, it was a good finish from David. We gave in during the second half, collapsed.”