An entertaining draw was fought out by local rivals Staines Town and Hayes & Yeading United despite very cold conditions at the Wheatsheaf Stadium.

The fans were made to wait, though as the first half was punctuated by stoppages due to injuries, but of the chances created, Staines had the majority. Will Bor headed a Ben Ewing cross just wide from an unmarked and central position and Mario Quiassaca hit a long shot that Melvin Minter collected comfortably. United responded with Ashleigh Artwell's pass picking out Harry Pearse whose low shot went wide and Jahson Downes slipped Jamekl Henderson through on goal but Kyle Meerson was equal to his shot.

Staines took the lead on the half hour mark. A free kick from Darryl Siaw caused confusion in the goalmouth and Quiassaca was on hand to finish through a crowded scene.

United again responded when Omar Mohammed's crossfield ball found Artwell and he cut inside. However, his goalbound shot was deflected by Ashley Lodge which made it easier for Merson to gather it in.

Staines went deservedly further in front after the break as Bor found Bajram Pashaj and the wide man cut inside and curled a shot in off the far post. However, again, Delroy Preddie's team responded impressively, and six minutes later, were level. Richard Whittingham's clever pass found Downes and he skipped throguh a flurry of tackles. Although in doing so, his angle for a shot narrowed, he still attempted it, and although Merson was able to push it away from goal, the loose ball was tapped into the empty net by Henderson.

United, in search of an equaliser, finished the game strongly but remained susceptible on the break. Downes missed a great chance when Pearse looped the ball over the defence and some dazzling twisting and turning culminated in a firm shot which went just over the bar. However, play quickly switched to the other end and Pashaj got to the byline, cutting the ball back to Scott Taylor whose shot was saved at the near post by Minter.

Lodge put Taylor clear, but Adam Richards caught up with him and did just enough not to foul him, but to put him off his shot which rolled just wide. Then from a Lewis Cole through in, Artwell turned and shot in quick motion, forcing a good save from Merson.

Minter was again called upon, diving low to prevent Quiassaca from scoring again after the lively forward had dispossessed Jay Kalama. However, United got a deserved equaliser in the 90th minute as Ben Gladwin advanced from midfield and although he was dispossessed, Brendan Cowell collected the loose ball. His pass found Cole in space and he drilled it low back in front of goal where Artwell bundled it in at the near post.

There was still some drama left in stoppage time as Siaw slipped the ball down the right channel to Taylor and his clever past inside found the onrushing Erivaldo Felix. He was allowed to run dangerously close to goal but Minter was able to keep his shot out.

Report by Nick Bell.

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