Hayes & Yeading United continued their build up to the new season in the Blue Square Premier with a 1-1 draw against St Albans City at Oaklands College.
United started off in lively fashion as Danny Allen-Page’s deep cross was volleyed towards goal by Dale Binns but St Albans keeper Paul Bastock blocked the ball with his legs.
 The hosts responded as Gary Cohen slotted a low cross past Delroy Preddie, only for the assistant referee to rule the goal out with an offside flag. However, in the 13th minute, United took the lead.
Allen-Page slotted the ball through the right channel and Rob Gradwell cut the ball back from the bye-line towards the onrushing Ram Marwa. The former City midfielder had his shirt pulled which denied him a shot at goal, but earned his side a penalty which Gradwell confidently converted low to Bastock’s left.
Marwa also had a shot which just cleared the crossbar from James Mulley’s lay off, but United had to settle for a one goal lead going into the first of two breaks after 30 minutes. 
St Albans had their best spell after the break and Cohen beat Steve Perkins to a long James Fisher pass before slotting the ball past Preddie. His strike partner went close to establishing a lead but fired just over Preddie’s bar and a firm free-kick was conmfortably dealt with by United’s keeper.
Just before the second break on the hour, Mulley had an audacious attempt at goal which just cleared the crossbar from long range.
A flurry of substitutions in the third period caused a rather disjointed 30 minutes of play but after Adam Green had cleared the ball off the line following a shot at goal from a deep corner, United finished strongly, with Scott Fitzgerald heading Toby Little’s cross just wide and Craig Dundas being put through on goal by Allen-Page, only to fail to get enough height on his lob to clear Bastock. Report by Nick Bell. Photos by Ray Peploe.
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