A gutsy Hayes & Yeading United performance ensured an important three points were earned against in form Eastleigh despite the harsh sending off of Daniel Brathwaite in the first half.
It proved to be a difficult afternoon for United as Eastleigh played with strength and confidence and in Dale Binns and Jai Reason in particular, they had plenty of invention and attacking threat.
Binns prompted the first effort on goal as his low centre found Craig McAllister who hit the underside of the bar with his shot. Then it was Reason's turn as his long range effort was held by the impressive Brandon Hall.
Right winger Corey King latched onto some loose defending to cross for McAllister whose header went wide. However, United worked their way into the game as Alassane N'Diaye's determination in combat with Dean Beckwith saw him release Tom Collins on the left channel and the on loan forward saw his angled shot fizz across the face of goal.
Play ebbed and flowed in an entertaining first half. Binns laid the ball off to Glen Southam whose 30 yard shot whistled just wide before N'Diaye's free kick tested the handling of Ross Flitney in the Eastleigh goal. Hall collected in a firm Chris Todd header before Collins was released by Mark Bentley but he curled his shot beyond the far post. Then Reason was the next to create an opportunity as he collected a pass from Alex Lacey, turned and shot from the edge of the area, but straight at Hall.
A smart one-two between King and Reason set the former galloping down the wing and although his cross was diverted by Sam Cox's header, it landed at Southam's feet and Calum Butcher was required to bravely block his powerful shot.
The key moment of the game came just as the first half was coming to a close and it was a controversial one. Already on a fairly harsh booking for what looked like an innocuous foul challenge, Daniel Brathwaite blocked a pass with his hand and although it seemed impossible to avoid, and despite the fact that previously, Binns had been penalised for a clear handball whilst blocking a cross but not booked, Brathwaite saw yellow for a second time and was dismissed.
United's management team were clearly incensed by the decision but they collected their thoughts during half time and set the team up in a 4-4-1 formation for the second half, with John Goddard moving to the unfamiliar position of left back and Collins to left midfield leaving N'Diaye on his own up front. Those two banks of four sat fairly deep and defended resolutely as Eastleigh enjoyed lots of possession in front of them but couldn't initially fond a way through.
Then came a surprising breakthrough. N'Diaye held the ball up well and played in the marauding Butcher. The full back used all of the space in front of him and got the ball into the centre where N'Diaye had made a lot of ground. He beat Beckwith whilst contesting possession before ramming the ball home into the bottom corner.
This spurred Eastleigh into action. Southam released Binns who popped up on the right hand side. His low centre was looped up goalwards by Lee Peacock but Hall was on hand to catch the ball. Then Eastleigh's two ex United players combined as Dan Spence found Binns on the left flank and the winger fired the ball across goal and wide. Hall then blocked Binns's next effort from Mark Hughes's corner.
United's remarkable defensive display soon reaped further rewards as another smart breakaway resulted in a second goal. Jerome Anderson brought the ball out of defence and connected with Julian Owusu-Bekoe, who had replaced the hard working N'Diaye to begin his second spell at the club. The returning forward cut inside and found Cox in support and United's captain hit a long range shot all along the ground which clipped the post and spun into the goal.
Now with a two goal lead to protect, United played with more confidence, but still Eastleigh probed and pushed all the way. Another Todd header from a corner was caught by Hall before substitute Andy Forbes hit the bar with his own header from Binns's cross.
On 85 minutes, Eastleigh finally got their goal to set up a more nervy finale. Spence advanced and threaded the ball through to Peacock. Hall was quick to come out and although he seemed to have been rounded, he recovered to produce a remarkable save. The loose ball fell to Forbes who crashed his shot against the bar, but Todd was lurking 15 yards out and his shot was unstoppable.
The onslaught for an equaliser was expected but never really arrived as United's defence, ably shielded by Cox, Bentley and substitute Sam Corcoran, held firm. Reason did send a cross over which missed everyone but went dangerously close to the far post and deep into stoppage time, Flitney's long punt upfield into the area which was nodded out by Bentley was picked up again by Southam. He lobbed the ball back into the mixer and Binns seemed certain to score, but Cadmore did enough to put him off his shot and save an almost certain goal.
In the seventh minute of stoppage time, referee Tim Wood finally blew the final whistle, signalling a victory earned with great endeavour for Hayes & Yeading United.
Report by Nick Bell.
Photos by Ray Peploe.
United Man of the Match: Sam Cox.
