A coolly converted penalty from Kudos Oyenuga two minutes from time was enough to earn Nas Bashir’s side three points in a hard fought game in the West Country.

Nas Bashir made two changes from the starting eleven that started against Salisbury last week, John Goddard replacing the suspended Mark Bentley and Manny Williams coming in for Oyenuga who took a place on the bench.

It was Hayes and Yeading that started on the front foot with early pressure forcing home keeper Glyn Garner into an early save from a low Luke Williams shot.

The early pressure was rewarded in the 7th minute, Daniel Wishart, who terrorised the home defence all afternoon, latched onto a Dan Spence ball down the line, beat a defender and crossed low from the left, the well placed Luke Williams missed his shot but the loose ball ran to Manny Williams who made no mistake from 6 yards out (pictured above).

The visitors continued to control the game, the impressive Goddard having a 10th minute shot well blocked, but against the run of play Bath produced an equaliser. Adam Connolly’s stunning volley from the edge of the box rattled the woodwork with Beasant beaten and with the United keeper unable to locate the rebound Chris Allen was able to tap home from close range.

United however were not subdued by the equaliser and continued in the ascendancy, Spence forcing another save from Garner in the 26th minute, but they were given a warning of what the hosts could do just two minutes later as Aaron Brown’s left wing cross found former H&Y man Sean Canham and his half volley produced a comfortable save from Beasant. A minute later Luke Williams went close for United after his shot was deflected following an interchange with Goddard.

The pressure finally paid off again in the 33rd minute with a well worked goal. Once again Wishart caused mayhem in the hosts defence and his low left wing cross was dummied by Luke Williams, which fooled the Bath City defence and Jerome Anderson was on hand to smash home (pictured right).

After an injury to Bath City’s Morgan, Hayes and Yeading were a little slow to react to the resultant free kick 5 minutes before the break and Gethin Jones was given too much room in the box, his close range shot bringing a great save from Beasant and with the ball only half cleared it took a good defensive header from Pelé to fully clear.

The let off didn’t last for long though as two minutes before the break the Romans equalised again. Joe Burnell’s excellent right wing cross found an unmarked Sean Canham whose powerful header sneaked past Beasant.

With the break approaching both sides had opportunities to go in ahead. The hosts Noah Keats long range effort drew a save from Beasant then a minute before the break Manny Williams’ shot was somehow deflected wide following good work and a left wing cross from namesake Luke.

The second half started brightly for Nas Bashir’s men when a twenty yard Wishart free kick appeared to be heading into the roof of the net before Garner did very well to tip over.

Bath had the majority the second half possession without creating too many chances as they tried to get a result for their newly appointed manager Lee Howells. Joe Burnell saw his 57th minute volley deflected just wide after a half cleared free kick and in the 64th minute Harry Hooman headed Brown’s free kick over when well placed.

Hayes and Yeading seemed happy to handle their hosts at arms length with a lot of the game being played in midfield with United happy to try and hit the hosts on the break utilising their pace. An injury to Goddard forced United into a change with Oyenuga giving United further pace on their breaks.

The game appeared to being heading for a draw 15 minutes from time, Wishart had a goalbound effort deflected wide and four minutes later Manny Williams was just wide after good work from Luke Williams. This was to be Manny’s last contribution to the game as he was replaced by Ryan O’Toole a minute later as Nas went in search of the win.

United won the game two minutes from time with the controversial awarding of a penalty. Wishart burst into the left side of the box as home defender and Hooman left his feet to slide into a challenge, referee Mr Harris immediately pointed to the spot with the hosts up in arms over the decision, as they felt the defender had played the ball. After a long wait while Hooman was booked and the while the referee waived away the long and constant home protests, Oyenuga stepped up and with the ringing of home boos in his ears he very calmly sent the keeper the wrong way to slot home his ninth of the season.

Hayes and Yeading comfortably held out for the last few minutes including 4 minutes of stoppage time, the only scare being when Beasant struggled to get through a mass of bodies to a free kick pumped into the box but the loose ball fell into the grasp of the grateful keeper to seal all three points on the road for Hayes and Yeading.

Report by Nick Griffith.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Daniel Wishart.

© Sam Cox