Phil Babb's first competitive match as Hayes & Yeading boss didn't quite go to plan as two lapses in defence saw visiting Bromley take all three points back to Kent with them.

With United fielding just one player from last year's squad, new skipper Luke Williams, you could be blamed for thinking it would take them a while to get going, in fact it was the opposite.

Although the visitors had a more then even share of early possession, it was United who created the early openings as in just the second minute Jake Reid pulled the ball back to Frankie Merrifield, his shot going just the wrong side of the upright, then minutes later Merrifield returned the favour by setting up Reid who hit a shot that was beaten out by Bromley keeper Lewis Carey before being hacked clear by Joe Anderson.

It was 23 minutes before the visitors had a strike of note at Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz's goal when a 25 yard free-kick from Bradley Goldberg whistled wide of the post.

Just before the half hour mark a Tom Bird corner was met at the far post by an unmarked Charlie Wassmer, the returning United defender being unable to get enough control on his header to find the target.

Former United man Pierre Joseph-Dubois then went close for the visitors, having collected a Steven Smith pass, he tried to find the top corner of the United net from the corner of the area, only missing the target by a fraction.

Just a minute later though the visitors stole the lead, Wassmer was caught in possession on the edge of his own area by the impressive Brendan Kiernan, the winger taking the ball into the area and sliding it neatly past Jaimez-Ruiz's dive.

Four minutes from the break Jack Mills fed the ball to Reid who worked space for himself on the right hand corner of the Bromley box and with little on offer in the middle he hit a shot himself that beat Carey only to strike the top of the crossbar and go over.

Two chances early in the second period again went United's way as first Reid was just too high with a dipping 25 yard drive and then Dean Inman rose highest to meet a Bird corner only for his effort to go the wrong side of the post.

Just over the hour mark we almost had a comedy gold moment as Jay May thumped the ball back towards his own keeper from the half way line and only just cleared the crossbar. The resultant corner was met at the far post by Inman before appearing to strike a defenders hand and go wide, despite the vehement United protests, referee Serrano only awarded another corner that came to nothing.

Bromley then went close on two occasions in quick succession Kiernan collected the ball in defence and fired it forwards to Goldberg, the Bromley striker bringing the ball superbly under control before hitting a curler from 25 yards that was only just wide. The same player then collected the ball on the edge of the box and tried his luck again, this time despite being on target, Jaimez-Ruiz was well placed behind the shot.

Fourteen minutes remained and United went close to leveling again, Williams bursting in from the left and picking out substitute Luke Medley in the middle, with a teammate getting in his way, the striker still managed to squeeze the ball past Carey only for a well positioned Anderson to clear the ball off the line.

As the game entered its final phase chances were still coming, Kiernan picked out Joseph-Dubois at the far post but he headed straight at Jaimez-Ruiz and almost immediately at the other end, Reid cut in from the left and hit a 20 yard drive that Carey did well to palm away.

The killer blow for United came with just six minutes to go when Joseph-Dubois was for the second time in as many minutes left in space at the far post, this time he collected Kiernan's pinpoint cross and fired past Jaimez-Ruiz to ensure the points traveled back to Kent.

Report by Kevin Watts.

United Man of the Match: Jake Reid.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.