Hayes & Yeading’s under 18s ended their home match programme with a fine 4-1 victory over Northwood at AFC Hayes on Monday evening.

In an even start to the game, it was United keeper Melvin Minter who was first in the action as he quickly dived at the feet of Darius Murray in just the second minute.

United top scorer Riquel Samuel went close minutes later but his bobbly effort from the edge of the box went inches wide of the far post. Still inside the opening ten minutes, a drive from distance by Woods Lewis Davis forced another save from Minter with left-back Andrew Dean clearing up.

United then started to impose themselves on the game, Harry Tew-Robinson snatched the ball on the right and fired low across the six yard box but just out of the reach of the incoming David Manu, Tew-Robinson himself then rose to meet a Ross Seldon corner only for his header to clear the crossbar.

Two minutes later Tew-Robinson went even closer when after good work from Marvel Ekpiteta on the right, the striker took control and hit a 20 yard shot that went off the top of the crossbar.

Seconds later the visitors almost took the lead when a hopeful free-kick was pumped into the area and Minter was almost caught out by the bounce, the United keeper while back-peddling managed to push the ball into the air and Murray headed over from close range.

United’s best chance of the half came on the half hour mark when Elliott Legg blocked a clearance on the edge of the Woods area, the ball running to Tew-Robinson who delayed his shot and Luke Humphries made the save in the Northwood goal.

The second half took ten minutes to liven up and in the 56th minute the deadlock was finally broken, Tew-Robinson being upended in the area leaving referee Mr Andrews with no option but to point to the spot. Samuel stepped up and comfortably bagged his 10th of the season by sending Humphries the wrong way.

The visitors almost levelled straight from the re-start as the ball was played forwards to substitute Jamie McKay, his first touch of the game bringing the ball under control and the second forcing a save from Minter.

Jack Sutch then headed a corner wide for the visitors before Tew-Robinson and Samuel exchanged passes into the Woods area, Tew-Robinson taking the ball on and confidently planting a shot across Humphries into the far corner.

Within a minute though the visitors had reduced the arrears when McKay took advantage of defensive hesitancy to snatch a bouncing ball and fire past Minter who got his fingertips to the ball but could not get it around the post.

United soon went close again as Tew-Robinson picked out the run of Legg who saw his effort blocked wide by Humphries outstretched leg. The resultant Seldon corner was only cleared back to the United man who fired a deep cross that skipper Prosper Ezewuzie headed over.

Ezewuzie was not to be denied a goal though as he slid home a cross in the 78 th minute to restore United’s two goal advantage. It was only a three minute wait for number four as Seldon’s excellent crossfield pass picked out Legg who brought the ball under control, rounded Humphries and strode into the net with the ball.

A minute later Legg thought he had another as he tapped home only to be denied by a raised offside flag and then in stoppage time Samuel would have had a second but for an excellent tip over by Humphries from the United man’s dipping volley.

Report by Kevin Watts.

United Man of the Match: Riquel Samuel.