Despite dominating the game for 90 minutes and earning in excess of twenty corner kicks, it was two goals in the final nine minutes that finally saw Hayes & Yeading earn three points against a stubborn yet defensive Cove side.

The United side, skippered by Charlie Wassmer, was soon into its familiar stride using width and pace to attack the visitors. Just five minutes had been played when Nathan Webb and Mark Goodman combined on the right side, Webb's centre found Josh Andrew but his header was just wide of the target.

Five minutes later another wing combo, this time on the left between James Nortey-Silke and Andrew saw the ball played into the area where striker Michael Obiri-Darko made space but his shot was saved by Cove keeper Laurie Moss. On 15 minutes United went even closer when Charlie Noble rose to head a Nortey-Silke centre past Moss only to see it come back off the upright.

Five minutes later Wassmer fired a free-kick around the wall from 25 yards but Moss was well positioned to make a diving save. A rare Cove sortie into the United half saw Aaron Wilson turn past Wassmer but his shot on the run was charged down by Isaac Bonket. Andrew then had a shot saved by Moss before Goodman's cross from the right was helped on by Bonket to Andrew by his drive came crashing back off the crossbar.

Alex Tokarczyk finally warmed his hands after 34 minutes when Luke Cousins centred to Bimal Bilal who shot first time but the United stopper dealt with his effort comfortably. Right on the stroke of half time United were again denied by Moss, Goodman raced in from the right flank, after receiving the ball from Obiri-Darko, and unleashed a shot that Moss pushed over the bar.

Cove were to have a little more of the ball in the second half but it was still United who had the majority of possession and chances. In the 50th minute Nathan Webb fed a pass into Andrew's run but his shot was inches wide of the righthand post. Twenty minutes had passed in the second period when a loose United clearance was pounced on by Cove substitute Chris Reidy but his first time effort was just wide of the post.

Twenty minutes remained and still United could not get the deserved breakthrough, Goodman's deep cross was met on the volley by Jack Todd but Moss dived to save at the foot of the post. Just 12 minutes remained when Tokarczyk had to make his one meaningful save of the game to prevent United falling behind. Matt Wise stepped up to strike a free-kick from 25 yards that saw the United stopper hurl himself to his right to make a midair catch.

Just nine minutes remained when the ball finally ended up in the back of the Cove net, but not until it had hit the woodwork again. Goodman played a corner into the centre of the box and Andrew rose highest to head past Moss, his effort hit the underside of the bar before bouncing down and back up into the roof of the net.

Cove could have stolen an equaliser as the game moved into stoppage time, Wassmer was down injured so United were short at the back when Sam Jones crossed onto the head of Reidy but thankfully from five yards out he headed over.

The victory was finally sealed with the last kick of the game, Andrew moved into the area from the right and his shot was touched away by Moss's boot but fell nicely to Todd who rifled it back into the Cove net.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Website United Man of the Match: Josh Andrew.