Hayes & Yeading needed two stunning 90th minute goals to salvage a point in a game where we dominated the chances but once again found ourselves down to ten men with the 77th minute dismissal of Tom Cadmore who appeared to catch Nathan Smart across the throat with his arm as he was fouled by the Basingstoke player.

United created the first of many chances in just the second minute. Kudus Oyenuga feeding the ball to John Goddard in the Basingstoke box, the midfielder switching feet before curling his effort over the angle while aiming for the top corner.

Three minutes later the home side struck the first goal of the afternoon. Delano Sam-Yorke was put away on the left side, he outpaced Pelé before picking out an on-coming Jordace Holder-Spooner who volleyed past Matt Ingram without hesitation.

We move forwards to the midway point in the half for the next chance, Oyenuga evading three attempted tackles before firing over from the edge of the area. Four minutes later the home side were grateful to two pieces of excellent goalkeeping from their veteran stopper Ashley Bayes that kept United at bay. Oyenuga collected the ball on the bye-line before rolling it to Tobi Joseph who took aim for the top corner only for Bayes to tip the ball over. The resultant corner was punched weakly to skipper Sam Cox who drove the ball back in from 20 yards, Jay Gasson's head deflected it on the way but Bayes was still able to touch the ball over once more.

Minutes later the arrears were doubled and I'm sure manager Nas Bashir will not be happy with the simplicity of the goal. Matt Warner sent in a free-kick from the left side that saw Tim Sills rise almost unchallenged to glance a header into the bottom corner.

Hayes & Yeading continued to push on, looking to get back into the game quickly. Goddard tried from 20 yards but Bayes pushed the ball wide of the post and seconds later Luke Williams threaded the ball through to Oyenuga but once more Bayes stood strong and blocked the ball wide.

Ten minutes from the break United were nearly hit on the break again as Rob Rice broke away from midfield before firing across Ingram and thankfully wide of the far post. The half closed with another chance for the home side as Daniel Wishart lost the ball to Nathan Smart on the edge of his own box, the 'stoke man's shot being grabbed at the second attempt by a grateful Ingram.

The second period was to prove not less action packed than the first. An early warning again for United came just two minutes in as Sam-Yorke went on a surge towards the United box only to pull his shot across goal and wide of the far post.

In the 52nd minute Joseph should have reduced the arrears. Pelé won a header in the 'stoke area and when Bayes fumbled under challenge from Oyenuga, the ball fell nicely to Joseph 8 yards from goal but he crashed his shot against the crossbar and the ball was finally cleared. Five minutes later the woodwork came to the home sides rescue again, Williams ran into the area and hit a low drive that Bayes did well to touch onto the upright, Jerome Anderson firing the loose ball back across but Ross Adams was quickest to hack it clear.

Just after hour mark it was Wishart advancing from left-back that gave Basingstoke another warning shot across their bows as his shot with his weaker right foot only just missed the far corner.

Thirteen minutes remained when the game changed totally. Tom Cadmore was fouled right in front of the benches by Smart who was caught across the throat by Cadmore's arm and went down rather worryingly. After a discussion between referee Powell and his nearby assistant it was decided that Cadmore's action was violent conduct and a red card was issued. Obviously only one person knows whether it was accidental or deliberate but I will state that having seen Tom play over 200 times for United it would be extremely out of character, but that's only my personal opinion. With Smart leaving the ground to go to hospital (Basingstoke have advised that he has been released from hospital suffering from concussion and whiplash, and we obviously wish him a speedy return to action) it left both sides with ten men as all substitutes had been used.

It took a while for the pace to pick up again but with United having had plenty of practice playing with ten men this season already it was not surprising that a comeback was to come. A minute remained and it looked as if Bayes was to never be beaten as he backpeddled to touch over an errant Oyenuga cross that seemed to be heading for the top corner.

As the clock ticked to 90 United did finally get on the scoresheet and what a cracker it was. Cox won the ball some 25 yards from goal and moved forwards before striking the ball sweetly past Bayes and the foot of the post to give United hope.

Two minutes into what was to be almost 11 minutes of stoppage time, five for the injury and most of the rest for Bayes time wasting, Cox tried again from distance, this time Bayes grabbed the ball at the second attempt just under his own crossbar.

Just a minute later Wishart collected the ball midway inside the Basingstoke half and ran at pace towards the area, evading some pretty lacklustre tackling to make his way between the final two defenders before picking his spot from 12 yards much to the glee of the United faithful behind the goal (pictured left about to fire home).

In fact in the eighth minute of stoppage time Nas's side nearly took all three points as Williams centre was collected by Oyenuga at the far post, he tried to squeeze the ball low into the near corner but Bayes was equal to it again, touching the ball into the side netting and it was honours even at the final whistle.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Sam Cox.