Hayes and Yeading United started their pre-season warm-up with a single goal victory over Walton & Hersham on the Rosedale 3G, Esmond James hitting the back of the net early in the second period.

United started quickly and with just three minutes played the Walton keeper had to be sharp to block away a Scott Fitzgerald volley after good approach work by Toby Little. Ten minutes later Delroy Preddie saw his first action when he comfortably fielded a 20 yard effort.

Having already had two efforts ruled out for offside, Fitzgerald again went close just before the half hour mark as his stooping header went inches wide when he met a Danny Allen-Page near post cross.

The final two close shaves came at the wrong end from a United perspective as two efforts from the edge of the area sailed just wide of Preddie's right hand upright.

United also started the second period in the ascendancy, Jake Lovell turned his marker on the edge of the area and advanced goalwards only to be thwarted by the Walton keeper who scrambled his shot wide. The lead was just three minutes away though as James burst into the area and despite being tripped he kept his balance and neatly tucked his shot past the diving keeper and in off the far post.

Less than a minute later it could have been two, Lovell once again turned his marker and advanced on goal, this time the diving keeper blocked his effort away with his legs.

With changes taking place at regular intervals it was no surprise that the game went into a bit of a lull however two chances did come in the last few minutes. The visitors worked the ball into a good striking position but substitute keeper Chris Baker was quickly off his line to bravely gather at the strikers feet and then for United Fitzgerald tried his luck from 30 yards, just missing the target with the keeper beaten.

Report by Kevin Watts.