Hayes & Yeading’s under 18s ended their losing streak on Monday evening at Church Road as a three goal salvo early in the game proved enough to hold off second placed Woking despite a brace from the impressive Jack Mazzone.

United started the game very well with all three goals coming in the opening 22 minutes. First to get his name on the score sheet was Leo Cunningham (right) who forced the ball home after Woking keeper Jordan Kennedy had parried a Cameron Gilmartin header from George Isaac’s corner kick.

Ten minutes later the lead was double when Isaac collected the ball just outside the centre circle and ran at the Woking defence, having drawn three covering defenders towards him, Isaac slipped the ball to his right where an unmarked Nicke Kabamba (below left) took a touch before firing past Kennedy into the far corner.

United’s third had a touch of luck about it. Skipper Joel Jacobs (below right) firing a free-kick over from the right touchline that appeared to soar over everyone’s head before nestling in the back of the Woking goal.

Having been knocked back on their heels, Woking finally started to put some pressure on the United goal as Lewis Martin powerfully met a George Frith corner, his header just clearing the United goal.

Kabamba set up Isaac for a strike at goal but his effort was wide of the target and as the visitors moved to the other end of the park a corner was won. This time Frith’s kick was met by Shane Cheeseman, his shot came back off the underside of Luke Daley’s crossbar only to be forced home by Mazzone from close range thus reducing the deficit.

Two minutes later it could have been worse for the home side when a long ball cleared Chevy Hart and was collected by Mazzone who proceeded to make space to shoot, only to be denied by a fine diving save from Daley. The loose ball on the left was recovered by Mazzone who found Frith in the middle but his shot went wide of the far post much to United’s relief.

United finished the half on the front foot however, firstly an Isaac free-kick sailed over everybody in the box and looked to be heading for the top corner only for Kennedy to punch the ball out from under his own crossbar. In the final minute of the half Callum Chickah found space inside the area but Kennedy was equal to his effort, diving to push the ball to safety.

Chances were to be few and far between in the second half but United were quickly punished for some slack defending when on 50 minutes Mazzone ghosted in unmarked to head a Tim Taylor free-kick past the unprotected Daley thus reducing the arrears to a single goal.

United quickly carved two good openings to increase their lead. Gilmartin’s free-kick was headed away blindly by Lewis Martin, the loose ball being latched onto by Isaac who forced another save from Kennedy. Kennedy was soon in action again as he palmed away a Gilmartin volley after Cyrus Longdon-Hughes had flicked on a Jacobs corner kick.

Despite seeing a fair share of possession, the closest the visitors came to drawing level was in the 70th minute when substitute Jordan Mukasa got his head to a free-kick but Daley caught comfortably.

At the other end, Kennedy did well to get his body behind a 30 yard Jacobs rocket before denying the same player in stoppage time, this time a fingertip save from Jacobs 25 yard effort.

Report by Kevin Watts. Photos by Ron Gilbey.

United Man of the Match: George Isaac (above).