Hayes & Yeading United were hit early by League One side Brentford as the Bees raced into a two goal lead within the first fourteen minutes of this pre-season friendly at Church Road.

The Bees, fielding a strong side, could have taken the lead in the second minute as a combination between Sam Wood and Ben Strevens saw the latter send Danny Foster through on goal, the midfielder's shot passing Simon Overland only to be hacked off the line by the retreating Adam Green.

The Bees waited less than sixty seconds before actually finding the net, a long throw from David Hunt on the right was flicked on by Phillips then Bennett before the ball fell nicely to former Notts County man Myles Weston at the far post and he played it through Overland's legs from close range to give his side the lead.

The League One side continued to take control of proceedings, an excellent crossfield ball found Weston, his first time touch created an opening for Wood but his drive from the edge of the area was wide of the target. Number two for the Bees and for Weston was not long coming though as on 14 minutes a route one long ball from Bennett at the back found Weston who outpaced Matt Ruby before lobbing neatly over the advancing Overland into the vacant net.

With United getting little change out of the Bees defence, it was again the visitors who could have scored just after the half hour mark. A corner kick was played deep to Weston, his miss-hit volley found its way back to Daniel Lucas on the far post but he could only find the waiting arms of Overland.

On 37 minutes United finally gave their own supporters something to cheer as Adam Green smashed a 25 yard volley past keeper Lewis Price only to see his effort come back off the post to Rob Gradwell who touched the ball wide of the open net under pressure from Bennett.

This turned out to be the last action of the first half, the second sadly was to start as badly for United as the first had with the visitors netting again within ten minutes of the re-start. Weston raced away on the left of the United area, his pull back looked to be cut out by Green but the ball evaded the defenders boot and fell to Wood who coolly centred to gift a goal to Lucas who fired home from close range.

The introduction of former Brentford striker Scott Fitzgerald just before the hour gave United more option in attack and indeed it was Fitzgerald who twice went close within minutes of coming on. First chance came when he rose highest to a Toby Little corner, his header being too high, and then he met a near post Allen-Page cross only to see his close range header clawed out by Price.

The Bees then almost made it four when Sam Saunders broke two tackles before being denied by the feet of Overland. With fifteen minutes remaining and the visitors having made a mass of substitutions United again found the woodwork when a close range Fitzgerald volley from Green's cross struck the upright and came back into play.

Report by Kevin Watts. Photos by Ray Peploe.

Highlights courtesy of FC Video
(no sooner than 48 hours after the game).

F. P. Herting & Son United Man of the Match: Tom Cadmore.