Hayes & Yeading’s poor sequence of results since December continued on Saturday at Kingfield as Phil Babb’s side lost to a single goal scored just 8 minutes from time as United failed to defend a corner leaving Ryan Woodford a tap in at the far post.
Babb made two changes to the previous starting XI as new signing Rashid Yussuff came in for Geoff Mitchell and Frankie Merrifield switched his place on the bench for a return to the starting line-up in place of Ryan Blake.
The Hawks were to have the first shot in anger after just three minutes as Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz comfortably pouched a Scott Donnelly 20 yard free-kick and although the visitors seemed be in charge in terms of possession, the next two openings both fell to United. Jack Mills swinging cross from the right was met by a leaping Luke Williams but he cleared the Hawks goal by some distance with his header then from a Kiernan Hughes-Mason corner Merrifield went close when his flicked near post header that went across the face of goal and just wide of the far post.
Minutes later the visitors nearly fluked the lead when former United central defender Pelé saw a poor cross from the right glance off the face of the crossbar and out of play beyond the far post.
Jaimez-Ruiz was solidly behind a fierce Nigel Atangana 30 yard drive around the halfway mark in the first period and then with ten to play Inih Effiong found Rashid Yussuf in the box, his effort not really troubling the giant Scott Bevan in the Hawks goal.
Before the half-time whistle blew the Hawks created two good opening but failed to take either. A ball upfield to Sahr Kabba saw the diminutive striker nip past Dean Inman but Jaimez-Ruiz held his ground well and the strikers curled effort rippled the side netting. In stoppage time and swift passing move between Scott Jones and Nic Ciardini saw another chance fall to Kabba but this time his effort was well blocked by Ben Gerring on the edge of the six yard box.
The second half took a real long time to get going and it was not until the 69th minute that either goalkeeper was seriously threatened and again it was to be Jaimez-Ruiz’s. A corner from the right from Perry Ryan was headed back across goal by Woodford with Adam Everitt being perfectly placed on the post to head off the line.
Seconds later another opening presented for the Hawks, this time falling to half-time substitute Dennis Oli who tried to lob Jaimez-Ruiz from just outside the box but his effort drifted over the United goal. Play was quickly switched to the other end and a long Everitt throw was controlled by Williams who found Yussuff but he fired weakly at Bevan.
Set pieces were becoming the order of the day as a United corner picked out Dean Inman, his header was blocked as far as Kamaron English who despite getting his shot away again saw his effort blocked before getting through to rouble Bevan.
Jaimez-Ruiz held a Christian Nanetti drive before the Hawks struck the killer blow with nine minutes remaining, Ryan’s corner being helped on at the near post and falling perfectly to Woodford at the far post where he volleyed home from close range.
With United’s attack continuing to fail it was not really surprising that the Hawks held on comfortably to take the three points leaving the United Gaffer to ponder how he can improve his striking options before the signing’s window closes I’m sure.
Report by Kevin Watts.
Photos by Ray Peploe.
United Man of the Match: Matty Harriott.
Print the Teamsheet: Here.