Hayes & Yeading took maximum points in a six goal thriller at Kingfield on Tuesday evening despite the dismissal of skipper Sam Cox in the 72nd minute for deliberate handball.

United were a little sluggish at the start and it was the visitors from Essex who made the early running and in just the tenth minute United keeper Matt Ingram had to be alert to tip a looping Sam Lechmere header over off the top of his crossbar.

After this scare United started to put their own stamp on proceedings with Luke Williams particularly influential from the middle of the park. In fact it was Williams who fired in United’s first two efforts, the first saw him turn inside Luke I’Anson having collected a Sam Cox pass but his effort was too high and then two minutes later after a run from the centre circle, his long range effort was fielded by Billericay keeper Dale Brightly.

Williams continued to run the show, this time feeding Kudus Oyenuga but he pulled his shot wide of the target from just inside the area.

I’Anson then fired one back for Billericay but Ingram was equal to his low skiddy effort before an uncharacteristic error by Tom Cadmore saw his back-pass head straight towards Harrison Chatting, the Billericay man totally missing the ball as it rolled into Ingram’s more than grateful grasp.

United broke the deadlock on 28 minutes. Williams fed the ball right to Dan Spence on the overlap, his low centre being forced home by Oyenuga (pictured left) for his second goal in as many games in a United shirt.

Just before the break the hosts lead was doubled, Williams held the ball up before playing it inside Nathan Green into Oyenuga’s well timed run, the striker firing hard and low past Brightly into the far corner.

Oyenuga almost had a hat-trick right on the whistle when he cut between two defenders only for his shot to be parried by Brightly before being cleared.

Billericay again seemed to be quickest out of the blocks in the second period and went close in the 49th minute when a curling cross from the left fell to an unmarked Alex Osborn in the six yard box, his shot being superbly charged down by Ingram in the United goal.

The Essex side were not to be denied however and just a minute later they were awarded a penalty when the ball struck an outstretched Spence arm just inside the area. Glen Poole stepped up and sent Ingram the wrong way to reduce the arrears.

United picked themselves up and pushed on for a third. Cox hit a 20 yard shot that deflected off Rob Swaine’s heel into Brightly’s arms and then just before the hour mark the two goal lead was re-established. Oyenuga collected a Mark Bentley pass and threaded the ball through to strike partner Tobi Joseph who hit a low drive through Brightly and into the net for his first United goal.

Seventeen minutes remained and United were reduced to ten men for the second game running when a goalbound effort was tipped away by Cox, unfortunately being an outfield player this was frowned upon by the officials and the red card was shown along with the award of a second Billericay penalty. Once again Poole stepped up and sent Ingram the wrong way.

Being a man short however did not stop United from again pushing forwards, Luke and Manny Williams combined to provide a good opening for Bentley following a short corner routine but the midfielder was off target with his header. A minute later however the final blow was struck when tireless midfielder Josh Ekim played the ball to substitute Jerome Anderson who ran at the last defender before firing under Brightly for United’s fourth.

The only opening that fell to the visitors was deep into stoppage time when Tunde Adenwunmi beat the offside trap and advanced into the area on the left before screwing his shot into the side netting of Ingram’s goal.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Josh Ekim.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.