Hayes & Yeading's reserve side progressed into the second round of the President's Cup by edging a seven goal thriller at Grosvenor Vale on Wednesday night.

The game however could not have started worse for Paul Hughes' side as the Stones were ahead after just 17 seconds. Joe Collewijn taking the ball from United skipper Nathan Webb before moving into the area and beating former Chelsea academy youngster Aldi Haxhia in the United goal.

After this early shock the game started to settle with both sides playing some smart football while tackles were not being held back. It took United just nine minutes to restore parity as Jack Pattison broke down the right flank, his deep cross being volleyed home by Daniel Wishart at the far post.

Just minutes later Haxhia came to United's rescue as he saved from Charlie Nichol who had cut into the area from the right side. It was not long before the ball hit the net again as a perfect ball through to Daryl McLean saw him beat the offside trap and with a single touch played the ball past the on-coming Stones keeper Sean Thomas to give Hayes & Yeading the lead.

Collewijn and Wishart both went close for their respective sides before United doubled their advantage on 22 minutes. Wishart sped past Dan Gerrard on the left, his deep cross was headed back into the mix by former Grimsby man Adrian Forbes and the unfortunate Adam Ward headed past his own keeper from six yards.

United could have had another minutes later when Paul Robinson held the ball up for Phil Appiah who tried his luck from 25 yards only to see his effort scrambled around the post by Thomas. From almost being three to the good it was to be all square within ten minutes as Haxhia was beaten twice. First to find the net for the home side was Nichol who controlled a centre following a short corner before firing home on the turn.

Minutes later Haxhia did well to deny Collewijn who saw his shot go over off a well positioned trailing leg from the United keeper, sadly it was to no avail as the resultant corner was met by a thumping header from Sean Cronin that went in off the upright.

In the final minutes of the half both keeper's were forced to turn shot's around their respective posts, firstly Thomas from a Robinson shot and in stoppage time Haxhia after Ward had met a corner with a firm header.

With six goals in the first 45 minutes it is hardly surprising that the second half was less frenetic with the constant sound of the referee's whistle meaning little flowed with any regularity. Just before the hour mark a vital boot in the United area saw Roy Byron's shot deflect over the top and minutes later the same player fired well wide and was amazingly awarded a corner, thankfully it came to nothing.

What was to prove the decisive goal came on 73 minutes and it was another Wishart volley that secured victory. McLean's left wing cross was helped on by a stooping Forbes and the ball fell to the United striker who made no mistake with his first time effort.

Five minutes later Wishart almost made it a hat-trick as he threw himself full stretch at a Marvin Williams cross, sadly his diving header was wide of the far post. Play immediately switched ends and Haxhia had to be alert to pick off an Alex Augustine header from former Hayes FC man Mark E'Beyer's free-kick.

Disaster almost struck the young United keeper a minute from time when he slipped coming out to meet Tyler Hayley, fortunately the Stones player didn't spot this and rushed his shot which went wide of the post. There was still time for the home side to almost take the game to penalties as an upward header was met by Cronin but Haxhia calmly caught the ball to see United through to round two.

Report by Kevin Watts. Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Adrian Forbes.