Hayes & Yeading United’s new look under 18’s got off to a flyer with a 5-0 Ryman Youth League victory over Wingate & Finchley at Farm Park on Monday evening.

With most of last year’s squad having graduated, just three remained in the starting line-up in the shape of Luke Daley, Ashley Parker and Adam Butler, two other returnees found places on the bench, namely Umar Mansaray and Ryan Simpson.

United forced a good save from Wingate keeper Andrew Layton-Ogden in just the third minute when centre-back Leonel Da Goma got his head to a corner and ten minutes later Aristede Bassele went close from long range.

Bassele again went close for the Home side midway through the half when he was set up by some excellent ball control by Bruno Goncalves. The visitors first real push at Luke Daley’s goal drew a fine block from the United keeper as Cairo Duncan bore down on goal, Adam Butler doing the clean up.

Daley then did well to grab hold of an Angelo D’Allessio header before the deadlock was broken at the other end in the 35th minute. Bassele worked space on the right for a cross that was missed by a defender before being rammed home at the far post by United striker Aaron Harriott.

Goncalves was denied twice in quick succession by Layton-Ogden and at the other end Daley did well to field an 18 yard curler from Erroll Ozkomru.

Hayes & Yeading doubled their advantage a minute before the break, again through Harriott who beat a defender to the ball on the left of the area, rounded the diving keeper and from the narrowest of angles placed a perfect shot just inside the post.

United came out in fine fettle in the second half and were soon pushing for a third. Butler rose highest to a free-kick only for his header to come back off the crossbar and then just before the hour it was 3-0. Skipper Jeffrey Kimoto angled a deep free-kick to the far post, Harriott headed the ball back across goal and with the ball looking like it was to drift wide, Bassele arrived to fire home a volley at full stretch.

Wingate, who had played some neat football all evening, continued to push upfield themselves in search of a comeback. Daley comfortably held a 20 yard Ozkomru effort and then Wingate substitute Andreas Kyprianou fired in a free-kick from the corner of the area that was only just wide of the target.

Hayes & Yeading then effectively killed the game in a 90 second spell that saw the lead increased to five. First on the scoresheet was Goncalves who latched onto a loose ball fully 25 yards from goal and hit a rocket that flew past Layton-Ogden into the roof of the visitors net. Having barely had time to note this goal, another went in as United substitute Carron Moses-Holmes, who had only been on the pitch four minutes, ran onto a throughball and curled a shot past Layton-Ogden from 15 yards.

Despite the game being over at this stage, Wingate & Finchley deserve a lot of credit as they continued to play good football, still pressing forwards without letting their heads drop. Kyprianou hit an angled shot that Daley did well to push wide and then from the resultant corner David Lunce-King hit a volley that Daley fielded easily.

Seven minutes remained and Ashley Parker showed he was still full of running as he raced half the length of the pitch and upon entering the area picked out Moses-Holmes, his shot was well blocked by a diving Layton-Ogden and the danger was cleared by the visitors defence.

Two minutes later saw the final real chance of the game, Duncan’s shot was pushed out towards the penalty spot by Daley, Lunce-King rolled the rebound past the United keeper only for Da Goma to slide the ball off the line thus sealing a clean sheet for the new United defence.

Report by Kevin Watts. Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Aaron Harriott.