Two somewhat fortunate goals for the visitors took the shine off a superb 25 yard Peter Holmes strike as York City took the three points back to Yorkshire from Saturday's visit to Church Road.

Manager Garry Haylock started with the same eleven from the previous game which saw three points earned against Southport, the only change coming on the bench where Lewis Ferrell replaced Daniel Wishart.

A frenetic start to the game saw chances come and go for both sides within the first five minutes. An early effort from the Minstermen saw a Leon Constantine free-kick from 25 yards settle in the midriff of United keeper Delroy Preddie before at the other end Jefferson Louis did well to hold off his marker before laying the ball to Peter Holmes, his soft touch header lofted over the last defender and back to Louis but he fired wide of the target.

United were having a good spell as Bradley Pritchard sent Lee Brown away on the left, the QPR loanee outpacing York full-back Liam Darville before cutting the ball back to Pritchard whose fired his shot straight at York keeper Michael Ingham. Brown was in possession almost immediately once again gliding past Darville on the left, this time he picked out Louis who shifted past a defender only to be foiled by Ingham who deflected the ball wide for a corner that came to nothing.

Still United have the edge as Holmes fires across a 15th minute corner that is only cleared as far as Elliott Buchanan who hits a shot through a crowded six yard box only to be foiled by a superb reaction save from Ingham who pushes the ball wide. The resultant corner sees Holmes pick out Hand but his 20 yard effort is just off target.

A spell of pressure from the Minstermen saw Will Hatfield try his luck from distance only for his effort to be a couple of feet too high to trouble Preddie. The opener was only minutes away though, albeit against the run of play. A York corner from the left appears to strike Jonathan Smith on the top of the thigh before flying past Pritchard and into the United goal, much to the York players amazement.

Hayes & Yeading were quickly back on the front foot, Pritchard crossing to Louis who coolly chests down to Buchanan only for his drive to be deflected wide by former Hayes FC loanee Chris Smith and then Louis hits a cross-shot from an acute angle only to be denied by Darville who clears off the line at the far post.

As the half closes in United are thankful to Bygrave who gets across well when a Darville cross from the right by-passes Tom Cadmore and as the ball arrives at the feet of Jamie Reed it takes a smart interception from the United man to deny him a shot on goal.

Just minutes into the second half United's players are aggrieved when Pritchard collects the ball and appears to be tripped as he enters the York area, sadly the only man that mattered was referee Mr Stewart and his whistle stayed firmly out of his mouth.

Not deterred though United continue to push for a deserved equaliser as Louis slips past James Meredith on the right and fires in a hard low cross that is twice toed away from an attacking boot in the six yard box before being cleared while at the other end Preddie clutches onto a looping Chris Smith header after the York defender found space to meet a corner from the left side.

On the hour United go close again when Cadmore rises highest to a Holmes corner, his goalbound effort being superbly tipped onto the crossbar by Ingham and the ball goes over the top. The resultant corner again falls to Hand but Ingham dives to his right to hold his shot.

It was starting to look like it would take something special to beat Ingham on the day and with 15 minutes left that something special arrived. Lively United substitute Andy Yiadom teased the defence on the left of the area before finding his skipper, Holmes took a touch onto his left foot before firing a contender for United “goal of the season” as his 25 yard effort flies into the top corner of Ingham’s goal.

However, when lady luck is against you it really is, just five minutes after drawing level United fell behind again courtesy of a deflection. York substitute Michael Rankine rising almost unchallenged to head goalwards a right wing cross that Preddie seemed to have covered until the ball deflects off Webb and into the United goal.

Deep into stoppage time Hand sent Brown away on the left, his low cross is fumbled at the near post by Ingham who is quick enough to pounce on the loose ball before a United boot can reach it thus securing the win for his side.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Lee Brown.

Highlights courtesy of FC Video here.