In the first match since manager Nas Bashir departed, a strong Hayes & Yeading United XI took no risks on Tuesday evening with victory over Uxbridge at Honeycroft in the Middlesex Senior Cup quarter finals.
Alasanne N’Diaye’s crisp shot from the edge of the box in the eleventh minute put United into an early lead, and this was doubled just after the half hour mark when Kudos Oyenuga latched on to Sam Cox’s excellent through ball to fire past Matt Elston-Bull in the Uxbridge goal.
Cox then went close himself two minutes later, with a long range effort which went just over the bar.
It was 3-0 seven minutes before the break. Uxbridge failed to deal effectively with a United corner, and although Oyenuga’s initial effort was blocked, N’Diaye was on hand to finish from close range to give United a convincing half-time lead.
With just seventy seconds of the second half played United added another goal as once again the home side failed to clear from a corner, Luke Williams finishing from Daniel Wishart’s cross.
Williams netted his second to make it 5-0 on fifty-five minutes with United’s best goal of the night, Mark Bentley feeding him as he cut into the box and fired low into the bottom corner of Elston-Bull's goal.
On the hour Uxbridge’s liveliest player Matthew Woods was clipped by Tom Cadmore as he weaved into the
United penalty area, and Callum Madigan confidently slammed home the resultant spot kick.
Former United youngster Josh Christopher volleyed home superbly four minutes later to bring the score back to 5-2, leaving coach Delroy Preddie berating his players from the touchline for switching off and giving the home side a glimmer of hope.
Returning United ‘keeper James Beasant made a couple of fine saves from Woods in the closing minutes, but the good work in the first hour was enough to see United through to a semi-final against Staines Town at the end of February, the Swans edging out Harefield United on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Wheatsheaf Park.
Report by Lee Hermitage.
United Man of the Match: Luke Williams.
