Staines Town came to Farm Park on Monday evening and went home as Ryman Youth League West Champions courtesy of a deserved 3-1 victory over Simon East’s Hayes & Yeading under 18 side.

With United’s own title aspirations falling by the wayside at Camberley a week previous, it was no surprise that it was the visitors who started the game in more lively fashion and should have taken the lead in just the second minute. Charles Gerson fired in a free-kick from the middle of the park that found the unmarked Kelvin Omohegbe, his header failing to test Luke Daley in the United goal.

Five minutes later another Gerson pass, this time picking out Dominic Ogun resulted in a shot that Daley did well to cover at the foot of his post. United’s first meaningful attack came just a minute later when Aristede Bassele made space for a shot that was well blocked away by Odane Kemar-Smith.

Top scorer Aaron Harriott got a rare glimse of goal shortly after when his header from Andrew Dean’s cross dropped just the wrong side of the Staines post.

On 20 minutes the Swans took a deserved lead. Gerson slid the ball down the left side, Harry Rumsey held of the challenge of David Femiola before sliding the ball clinically past Daley’s dive.

Omohegbe had a shot from the corner of the United box that whistled wide before Swans skipper Sam Bates burst past Dean and picked out Rumsey six yards from goal, the Staines striker blasting over much to United’s relief.

The last effort of the half saw Staines keeper Charlie Hyam field a long range Jeffrey Kimoto shot fairly comfortably.

Staines were soon back on the offensive at the start of the second half. Ogun found left-back Mario Mwanza in an advanced position on the right, his shot being blocked away well by the sliding Dean. Another well placed Gerson free-kick saw Omohegbe flick on to Rumsey who forced Daley to push his effort over from close range.

Just before the hour mark the Swans doubled their lead. Ben Laing’s corner on the left was met firmly by Omohegbe, his effort was blocked on the line only for Bates to force home the loose ball.

The visitors kept pushing for a third which came ten minutes from time. Gerson and Rumsey combined on the left of the United area, the latter curling a shot that Daley did well to push away at full stretch. Then just two minutes later Rumsey broke into the box only to be brought down by Daley who received a caution for the challenge and a penalty was awarded. Gerson stepped up and thumped the ball past Daley giving the United keeper no chance.

The final word did however go to United who netted a consolation goal three minutes from the end. Harriott chased the ball against the out-coming Hyam, beat the keeper to the ball but was forced wide, a quick look up and cross saw him perfectly pick out Bassele who headed past the defender on the line at the far post.

Report by Kevin Watts. Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Lewis Cole.