Hayes & Yeading let their five game unbeaten run slip at the hands of Whitehawk, in a game of few clear cut chances at the Enclosed Ground, on a mild spring evening in deepest Sussex.

In truth, this was a totally drab affair, with both sides showing why they have been struggling of late. The Gaffer made two changes to his starting line-up from Sundays’ excellent draw with top of the table Eastleigh. Brandon Goodship starting up front in place of Freddie Ladapo and Kamaron English, given a rare start on the left hand side of the park, in place of Samir Bihmoutine.

United came closest to opening the scoring, when seven minutes into the game, Pat Cox sent a header narrowly wide. Six minutes later, Whitehawk came close to breaking the deadlock, when Danny Mills tried his luck with an audacious overhead kick that went just wide of the upright.

Just prior to the midway point of the half, United felt that they should have been awarded a spot kick, when captain Dean Inman looked to have been tripped in the eighteen yard box and was left sprawling in agony on the turf, but the appeals were waved away by referee Nigel Lugg.

Just four minutes later, United man of the match Luke Williams, sent in a cross from the right hand touchline and found Cox, leaping like a gazelle, above the home defence but unfortunately, he couldn't find the target with his header.

Thirty-two minutes had elapsed, when Cox sent yet another headed attempt over the home teams’ crossbar, this time from a Williams free-kick. The last chance of the half fell to the home side when a speculative effort from Jake Robinson flew wide of the visitors’ left hand post.

The second period was largely a non event, as both teams strove to cancel each other out, with the ball spending more time in the air than on the field.

Seven minutes into the half however, former United defender Sami El-Abd gave the home side the lead with a header from close range. The Assistant referee flagged for offside but was mysteriously overruled by referee Mr Lugg, who somewhat surprisingly allowed the goal to stand.

United were awarded a free-kick midway through the half, but Luke Williams' effort was driven straight into the wall and then fifteen minutes from time another long distance effort, from the home side’s Robinson flew harmlessly wide of the post.

With six minutes remaining, a right wing cross from Jack Mills, found the head of Cox but went agonisingly wide of the home custodian's right hand stick.

At the final whistle, the home teams’ fans delight, was clear for all to see. The twelve travelling United faithful, were left to rue over what might have been on another day.

Report by Mick Nile.

United Man of the Match: Luke Williams.