Hayes & Yeading’s pre-season continued at Beaconsfield Road on Tuesday evening with a feisty encounter against Evo-Stik Southern side Burnham, the visitors running out winners by the odd goal in five.

Both keepers were in action within the first 12 minutes as firstly for United, Luke Williams and Tobi Joseph combined to open up space for Jerome Anderson, he outpaced his marker but his shot was pushed away by the Burnham keeper. United’s James Beasant was quickly into the action too as former United hot-shot Kieran Knight saw his shot blocked out by Beasant who was quickly off his line.

Beasant was again needed at the halfway point in the first half, again blocking at close range after a low centre from the right found its target. Two minutes later the visitors had a narrow escape of their own making. Williams found Daniel Wishart on the left wing, his cross was headed over his own keeper and against the bar by a Burnham defender with Josh Ekim’s follow up being blocked.

Hayes & Yeading continued in the ascendancy, Joseph headed a Yassin Moutaouakil header over the top before Anderson cut in and forced a full stretch tip over from the Burnham stopper. Minutes later the deadlock was broken when Ekim was tripped in the area and referee Mr Kirkbride pointed to the spot with Moutaouakil then opening the scoring from 12 yards.

The lead lasted until just before the break when Knight was given too much time and he slid the ball under the advancing Beasant to level for Burnham.

United again started well after the break, Pelé had a volley well held by the Burnham replacement keeper and Williams saw his 20 yard effort from Wishart’s cross handled just as comfortably. Just before the hour mark Wishart should maybe have done better when getting his head to an Anderson cross but he was just too high.

Two minutes later United fell behind, a free-kick from the halfway line was flicked on before being thumped on the volley past Beasant by Tom Willment from 16 yards. Worse was to come 15 minutes later when Julian Owusu, who had finished the previous season in a United shirt, stroked the ball coolly past Beasant into the corner of the net to increase his new sides' advantage.

Two minutes later Williams reduced the arrears when he thumped the ball home from 25 yards as the ball brushed the keeper’s fingers before flying into the roof of the net. United’s only chance of an equaliser fell to substitute Victor Osobu whose shot on the turn was gathered on the line by the diving Burnham keeper.

Report by Kevin Watts.