League leaders Woking produced a masterful display to defeat Hayes & Yeading United in the Ryman Youth League on Wednesday evening.

A game played to a very high standard started brightly with the first goal coming after just five minutes. Chris Aldridge got away from Joel Jacobs on the right hand side and produced a low centre for Ola Sogbanmu. The powerful striker had his first shot excellently saved by Alex Tokarczyk, but the United keeper was unfortunate to see the rebound land right back into Sogbanmu’s path and he was able to finish.

United responded quickly as Mark Goodman released Cyrus Longdon-Hughes with a throughball but Matt Pegler was quick off his line to smother the ball.

However, Longdon-Hughes was to get his goal in the 10th minute by rounding off an exquisite move by the visiting side. Dean Worman played the ball forward to George Isaac and his forward pass was well dummied by Goodman into Joakim Ehui’s feet. Goodman had spun away down the right for Ehui to pass to and his low centre was drilled home by Longdon-Hughes at the far post.

Woking almost got back in front immediately as Ollie Palmer headed Jack Blatchford’s free kick just wide of the far post. By the 25th minute they were back in front. Aldridge played the ball forward and Palmer nodded the ball down into George Frith’s pass and the midfielder shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Woking took control of the rest of the first half. Palmer was again narrowly off target, this time from Bob Carr’s pass. He then deflected Sogbanmu’s goalbound shot wide of the far post after good work by Anson Cousins. The forward then laid the ball off for Carr who shot wide from a good position.

Woking continued their dominance into the second half. Palmer collected Frith’s pass before firing narrowly wide of the right hand post. He was then wayward with a flicked header from Blatchford’s free kick.

Woking got a third soon afterwards. A Blatchford corner drifted across goal and Frith retrieved the ball and picked out Callum Eagle with a low centre. The defender had enough time to control the ball and fire it past Tokarczyk from close range.

United responded when Isaac headed Jacobs’s free kick across goal and just wide. However, Tokarczyk was required to keep Woking out after Sam Charles had picked out Carr but the wide player shot straight at the United keeper.

Woking sealed victory with twelve minutes remaining. A quick throw in from Josh Watkins caught the United defence napping and Jack Mazzone passed to George Frith who drilled the ball beyond Tokarczyk into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

United had no answer and Woking almost got a fifth late on when Alfred Ajani collected a blocked Palmer shot but was wayward with his finish.

Report by Nick Bell. Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Dean Worman.