Hayes & Yeading just about managed to avoid the proverbial FA Cup banana skin as Heybridge Swifts were beaten at Kingfield by the odd goal in five to give Nas Bashir his first cup victory as Manager of United, at the fourth attempt.

United were quickly out of the blocks with Kudus Oyenuga collecting from Manny Williams on the edge of the area in the opening ten minutes only for his shot to be rushed which sent it wide of the target. Two minutes later a neat interchange on the left side involving Luke Williams, Dan Spence and Oyenuga saw the ball played back to Spence in the area, his angled shot being tipped over by Swifts keeper Nicky Eyre. The resultant corner was played in to Oyenuga who turned Jake Brown only to fire over, the visitors however suffered a blow as Brown appeared to get his foot stuck in the turf as he turned and had to be taken off on a stretcher with what looked like a possible break to his leg or ankle, we obviously wish him a speedy recovery.

In the 17th minute it was the visitors who should have broken the deadlock when Solomon Ofori ran at Mark Bentley before slipping the ball left to Michael Cheek, the striker being denied by James Beasant who was quickly off his line to push the ball wide.

Ben Newson then sent a curling effort just wide of the United upright quickly followed by a chance at the other end that saw Luke Williams chip the ball forwards to Oyenuga who brought the ball down well but fired over the Swifts goal.

Just past the half hour mark Oyenuga did hit the target, the United top scorer collecting the ball in the right channel before advancing into the box and firing powerfully past Eyre. It was just four minutes later that United and Oyenuga had number two. The striker collecting a Josh Ekim pass, moving into the area only to be tripped by Terence Amass with referee Stuart Butler pointing to the spot. Oyenuga himself took charge and calmly slotted past Eyre for his seventh in the opening nine games of the season.

Oyenuga missed out on a hat-trick just before the break when he headed a Luke Williams corner wide of the post and then as the half entered time added on United were caught in possession by Cheek who fed the ball to strike partner Luke Callander who was denied by an excellently timed block and grab by the in form Beasant.

The second half didn't quite start the right way for the home side and nine minutes in the Swifts were firmly back in the game. Amass finds Cheek in space, Beasant pushes out his low skiddy shot but the ball falls nicely to Newson who tucks it home from close range.

Just after arriving on the pitch in place of Oyenuga, Tobi Joseph raced onto a Manny Williams throughball, rounded Eyre but with the angle against him his pull back was hacked away off the line as Luke Williams arrived in the six yard box. John Goddard then went close with dipping effort from fully 30 yards which was soon followed by a long ball from Pelé that Joseph did well to control before feeding fellow substitute Daniel Wishart who forced a fine parried save from Eyre.

The 74th minute saw probably the most contentious decision of the season thus far from referee Mr Butler, with but benches fuming at his decision's. Bentley went in for a tackle outside the area on the left bringing down Callander, play continued and as the ball was swung into the area the referee blew for a free-kick for Bentley's foul just as Cheek looped a header past past Beasant, much to the disgust of the Heybridge management. The disgust quickly turned to the United bench as Mr Butler dished out a second yellow to Bentley and sent him off.

Ten minutes remained and Beasant was at his best as Cheek swung the ball to the far post to be met by Ofori, the United grounded keeper stretching a hand up to tip the ball away, although it did transpire that the save was not required as the flag was raised for offside the keeper was not to know that.

By now a third United change had been made with fit again Jerome Anderson replacing Manny Williams and it was Anderson who broke down the right side past Taylor Hastings before picking out Joseph in the centre but the young striker was too high with his shot. The same paid combined in reverse a minute later however as Joseph slid the ball into Anderson's run, the striker rounding Eyre before placing his shot past Daniel Folkes who was chasing back to cover.

As time closed out, Beasant saved again from Callander and then had to be at his sharpest again as a long throw was allowed to bounce in the six yard box, the United keeper touching the ball away from a flying boot into Cheek who watched it roll wide of the upright.

Still with ten men United were creating chances as Goddard fed the ball forwards to Luke Williams who forced a save from Eyre and then in the first minute of stoppage time United gave themselves a little wobble when a corner from the right was allowed through to Cheek and he volleyed home from six yards to make the remaining four minutes agony for those of a United persuasion, but the defence held out and victory was United's.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: James Beasant.

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