Despite missing several regular starters, Hayes & Yeading United managed to overcome a strong Potters Bar Town team with a gritty and determined performance at Farm Park.

Without being able to call upon Andrew Dean, Romaine Palmer, Flavio Tavares, David Manu, Adam Cash and Eddie Keen, it was up to their replacements to step up to the plate, and they most certainly did, giving manager Simon East some welcome selection headaches for the next few games.

It wasn’t easy though, and it was clear how Potters Bar had made it to second in the league behind United, as they played with confidence, assurance and in particular with Liam Maynard, they had a player with real promise.

It was he who with clever trickery set up the first chance, as his dummy fooled Bradley O’Callaghan and he was able to get the ball to the by line, cutting back for Warren Obkinwe who hit his near post shot just wide.

United responded when Lewis Cole’s free kick was half cleared by Joe Hill and Dylan Hern’s return volley was helped on by Tom Marr but gathered in by Greg Marsh in the visitors’ goal. It wasn’t long before Cole was orchestrating the next move, putting Hamdi Salah in on the left, and his cutback was hit goalwards by Riquel Samuel, but the ball deflected wide off Hill’s legs.

On the half hour, Potters Bar took the lead and it was Maynard who was behind the move again, cutting in from the left flank before firing in a low centre. Prosper Ezewuzie looked to get a firm clearance on it but the ball cannoned into centre back partner, Marr and George Atkinson was perfectly positioned to put the loose ball into the bottom corner.

Potters Bar seemed to be on top at this point, so it was somewhat against the run of play that United found an equaliser, nine minutes later. Samuel’s throughball found Hern, who had switched to the left flank and he beat Charles Gibbs and attempted to cut the ball back. His first attempt was blocked by Hill but the ball went straight back into his path and so he tried again, this time picking out the onrushing Salah who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Just before half time, Potters Bar hit the post as Obkinwe diverted Bill Parsons’s shot and although this wrong footed Melvin Minter, it proved not to be costly as the ball came back off the base of the post.

The game was highly competitive throughout although it took a while into the start of the second half before any goalmouth incidents occurred, an off target Maynard free kick and a deflected Maynard shot being easily gathered in by Minter aside.

United came close to scoring in the 62 nd minute when a deep Cole cross was cut back across goal on the volley by Salah only just beyond the despairing reach of Alan Musoke.

A similar move was to bear fruit just five minutes later as United took the lead for the first time in the game. A deep cross from Cole drifted across the penalty area and was collected by Salah. This time he was able to control his cross and he picked out Hern’s run with perfect timing as the winger ghosted in to half volley the ball beyond Marsh.

Potters Bar came on strong but were unable to break down a resolute United defence well marshalled by Minter, Ezewuzie and Marr. Maynard hit a long range volley just over, while at the other end, Samuel borought a good reaction save from Marsh with a low shot from Hern’s cut back. Then Musoke broke clear but Hill recovered to block his shot. From the resulting Cole corner, Ezewuzie hit the bar with a looping header.

As time was running out, Potters Bar seemed to become frustrated by the lack of chances being offered by United’s defence and their one clear chance in the closing stages was well held by Minter as Parsons hit a rising shot from the edge of the area following good wing play by Marcus Eki.

After lengthy stoppage time, the final whistle sounded without any further scares for United and the lead at the top of the Ryman League is now stretched to seven points.

Report by Nick Bell.

United Man of the Match: Prosper Ezewuzie.