Another solid United performance was enough to see off the challenge of Newport County on Saturday at Church Road where goals from Ram Marwa and Josh Scott saw the home side to a third consecutive victory.

Manager Garry Haylock was forced into one change from the team that won so well at Welling the previous Tuesday with James Mulley coming in for the injured Danny Allen-Page, his place on the bench being taken by newly contracted 18 year old striker Jake Lovell.

The Exiles started very quickly and just 30 seconds had elapsed when Craig Reed burst into the area, his path was blocked but the ball ran loose to Wayne Turk who could only shoot weakly at Delroy Preddie in the United goal. United were soon into their stride though, Ram Marwa got his head to a Gary MacDonald cross but the ball went well over the top of the Newport goal.

The lead was no long coming though, Esmond James chipped the ball forwards and it looked like keeper Glyn Thompson would claim the bouncing ball. What he did not expect was a leaping Josh Scott to head the ball away from his touch, the striker then chased to the byeline and crossed with his weaker right, this time Marwa was on target as he threw himself at the ball and headed home from barely an inch (right).

From then on the half pretty much belonged to United as the visitors seemed to insist on pumping long balls that were food and drink to the excellent Cadmore and Ruby at the heart of the United defence. Preddie was needed on 17 minutes though when Steven Gregory lost out in midfield to Nathan Davies and the ball fell to Paul Cochlin but his effort from 35 yards was comfortable for the United stopper.

Gregory then went close at the other end from long distance before a long Preddie punt was flicked on by Scott to Will Hendry but the ball fell to his weaker left foot and Thompson saved easily. Thompson was really tested on the half hour mark when Scott and Hendry combined and the former hit a goalbound shot that the Exiles keeper did well to claw around the post. Six minutes later United went even closer to a second, Mulley played Esmond James away down the right flank, he breezed past Martyn Giles before beating Thompson only for his shot to bounce back off the upright.

Newport's best chance of the half came just two minutes later. Danny Rose played the ball wide to Reed who made space before crossing to an in-coming Rose but his header failed to trouble Preddie. Thompson was again called upon during first half stoppage time, Gregory played Scott through the middle, he turned Kevin Stephens but his shot was touched wide by the keeper.

United started the second half very much in the same vein as the first and just seven minutes later the lead was doubled. James played a throughball that found Scott against Exiles skipper Aaron Cook, the United striker shrugged off his challenge before sliding the ball past Thompson's dive for his 17th of the season.

United continued to press for more, Scott was denied a shooting chance by a well timed Giles tackle and then on the hour James beat Giles before crossing to the near post where Marwa met the ball but was denied at point blank range by Thompson.

The visitors finally found some real forward momentum in the final six minutes but still did not really trouble Preddie. Kris Leek crossed deep from the left side to Rose who had time at the far post but headed wide and then Rose stepped up to curl a free-kick goalwards but despite a gaggle of players in front of him Preddie gathered well. Rose then had a shot from the edge that again Preddie grasped to secure his second clean sheet of the week and three more important points for Hayes & Yeading United.


Report by Kevin Watts. Photos by Ray Peploe.

Match Highlights available at www.fcvideo.co.uk

Website United Man of the Match: Esmond James.