With the end of the season approaching, Hayes & Yeading United and Burnham agreed to a “double header” on Wednesday evening with two games of 60 minutes taking place on the same evening.

The first game, United’s home fixture, started well for the home side, Andrejs Štolcers shot on the run from 20 yards was just wide of the Burnham post and a minute later a Štolcers centre was well controlled by Robert Gradwell but his volley was just too high to trouble Shay Morris in the Burnham goal.

Štolcers and Gradwell then combined to create an opening for Ivan Sputaj but his drive flew across the face of goal and wide. Josh Andrew then found Charlie Wassmer on the overlap, his cross being met by an in-coming Toby Little but his header was picked off by Morris.

The opening goal was only seconds away though as Sami El-Abd played a pass from just inside his own half that Gradwell advanced onto before skipping around Morris and tucking into the empty net.

United continued to press for a second, Sputaj set up Gradwell but he blasted over before Wassmer sent Andrew away on the right wing, his low driven centre being turned just wide of his own goal by Samson King.

22 minutes had passed when the United lead was doubled. Štolcers took control of proceedings just outside the Burnham area before feeding Little who coolly placed the ball beyond the dive of Morris and into the bottom corner.

For a side that had shown little going forwards, it was quite surprising when less than 60 seconds later Burnham pulled one back. Luke Lewis being the provider as his neat ball found Jordan Dowdican who slid the ball under the advancing dive of Chris Baker.

This seemed to spur on the visitors who closed the half well as a long punt forwards by Luke Williamson was controlled by Dan Thomey who was just wide of the target with his shot on the turn.

Two minutes into the second half and Burnham should really have levelled. The tireless Dowdican ran at the United area and when Baker came out to meet him he rolled the ball square to Ryan Noel who with the goal gaping stumbled on the ball which allowed Baker to recover his position and smother it inside the six yard box.

United then started to assert themselves once more. Štolcers set up Little but he fired wide and then a quick corner to Sputaj saw a cross to Gradwell but Morris was well placed to grasp his header. The same two then combined again, this time Gradwell’s shot being deflected wide before the last chance of game one fell to Burnham former Hayes FC man Charlie Hill, his free-kick being comfortably dealt with by Baker.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Website United Man of the Match: Charlie Wassmer.