Not surprisingly, this was an absolutely cracking game between two of the Counties premier under 18 sides as Hayes & Yeading took on Staines Town at Church Road.

It was United who enjoyed most of the early pressure and with just six minutes played Cameron Gilmartin picked out Nicke Kabamba and he stung keeper Kyle Merson's hands from 20 yards, forcing the Swans keeper to tip his drive over.

With United having the majority of the ball it was somewhat of a shock when the visitors took a 21st minute lead when an inswinging corner was allowed to reach Swans goal-getter Mario Quiassaca at the far post and he fired home from close range.

This fired the visitors and they started to take a hold of possession themselves and on the half hour mark a looping high ball into the area saw United keeper Luke Daley jump with Quiassaca and his strike partner Che Masroh-McDowell, it was one of the Swans who touched the ball goalwards but thankfully for United Joel Jacobs had positioned himself well to clear off the line.

Minutes before the break Gilmartin headed over a Jacobs cross when well placed and then almost immediately the Swans doubled their lead when a crossfield ball found Liam Devine who smashed an instant volley across Daley and into the far corner of the United net.

United twice forced Merson into saves in the few minutes before the break, firstly the Swans stopper caught a George Isaac shot at full stretch and quickly followed this by smothering a volley from Umar Mansaray.

Simon East must have had a few harsh words at the break as United came out to attack and just three minutes after the break the arrears were reduced. Gilmartin found Callum Chickah on the left and the former Swan fired the ball low across the area and when the first defender missed his kick Isaac was on hand to fire home from close range.

The game now began to open up more as both sides went chasing the next goal. Jacobs curled a free-kick inches over the Staines goal before at the other end Daley did well to deny Quiassaca a second as he latched onto a Bradley Murray throughball. Just before the hour mark Masroh-McDowell went close from distance before Devine picked off a Chevy Hart pass across his own area only for Daley to catch his chip comfortably.

Midway through the half a rash Jacobs tackle saw the impressive Sam Bates leave the field on a stretcher as he crashed into the pitch wall, and this seemed to disrupt the visitors enough for United to find an equaliser. Mansaray had just been denied by Merson when Isaac broke away on the left and fired low across the area to where Chickah had arrived and he fired home despite a valiant attempt by Merson to keep it out.

The 80th minute was to provide high drama as both sides found the net within 50 seconds of each other. First to net was Swans Quiassaca who pounced from close range when Daley allowed a high ball into the area to slip from his grasp under challenge. With the Swans' manager's words "now keep it tight at the back" still ringing in their ears it was only seconds before the bell tolled for the Swans and United equalised again when Cyrus Longdon-Hughes quickly found Isaac and he fired into the bottom corner from just outside the area.

Stoppage time saw one real chance and it fell to United. Satnam Birk crossed from an advanced position on the right, Nicke Kabamba nipped in front of his marker at the near post but didn't connect fully and Merson gratefully grasped the ball to leave honours deservedly even.

Report by Kevin Watts. Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: George Isaac.