Having got back a two goal half time deficit, Hayes & Yeading United were knocked out of the Middlesex Senior Cup by a superb goal from Staines Town forward, Tyrone Marsh.
United welcomed back striker Kudus Oyenuga after suspension and gave a first start to Ben Gladwin. James Beasant, Pelé and Josh Ekim were also restored to the starting line up as Tony O'Driscoll took the opportunity to mix up his side and give some others some game time.
The game started well for United as Oyenuga quickly called Jack Turner into action with a low shot and then volleyed just wide after a quick throw in allowed Tom Collins to find his team mate in space.
Good work from John Goddard and Alassane N'Diaye down the right set up another chance, this time for Ben Gladwin, who saw his shot turned away by Turner at the near post.
However, from their first attack, on 18 minutes, Staines took the lead as Louis Rae-Beadle ran clear of a static defence and although rounding Beasant took him wide, he still managed to squeeze his shot in off the inside of the post.
Play was scrappy for a long while afterwards but United had a scare on 36 minutes as Ashley Lodge threaded a ball through to Marsh who also raced clear, but hit his shot too high.
Staines doubled their lead on 40 minutes as their star performer, Darren Wheeler collected the ball, turned smartly on the edge of the area and fired a low shot past Beasant. This spurred United into immediate acvtion and they thought they'd got one back when N'Diaye tapped in from Corcoran's pass after Oyenuga had stung the hands of Turner, only for the offside flag to chalk the goal off. A minute later, Oyengua hit a shot shich shouldn't have caused as much trouble as it did for Turner, who almost spilled it into his own net. Daniel Brathwaite fired just over from long range before half time but Untied were left to rue missed chances as they went in two goals down.
O'Driscoll's half time team talk must've been good. Within eight mintues, Untied had scored twice and were back level. First, Goddard, and substitute Luke Williams combined to tee up Corcoran and although he might want to claim his first United goal, his shot was radically diverted into his own net by former United defender Lewis Ferrell. Then, Tom Cadmore's throughball was seized upon by Oyenuga, whose direct running proved too much for the Swans' defence and he slotted the ball in from the edge of the area.
Beasant saved from Troy Ferguson and Corcoran tested Turner with a 20 yarder. However, it was Staines who were get the decisive goal on the hour. Wheeler's cross picked out Marsh who shaped to shoot, dummied and then hit a stunning shot straight into the top corner.
United rallied again and thoguht they'd equalised for a second time, only to be dnied by the flag for a second time. This time, it was Oyenuga who cut his celebration short after he'd fired in the rebound from N'Diaye's saved effort following more good approach play by Corcoran.
Williams cut inside and just missed the far post with his shot, and then Corcoran finished a fine move involving Goddard and N'Diaye with a shot which again deflected off Ferrell but this time bounced agonisingly wide. Corcoran also just cleared the crossbar with another shot foloowing good work by Oyenuga and Williams. However, Staines also looked capable of extending their lead as Max Worsfold just missed with a header from Will Bor's cross and then fired a free kick which hit the post, hit Beasant but stayed in play.
Just as the game seemed to be drifting away from Untied, a chance arose as Oyenuga was upended in the penalty arc. Cadmore hit the resulting free kick with pure venom but Turner somehow stayed strong enough to beat it away and confirm his side's place in the Middlesex Senior Cup Final.
Report by Nick Bell.
United Man of the Match: Sam Corcoran.