Hayes & Yeading's first action under the stewardship of new Manager Phil Babb saw United beaten by the odd goal in three against Windsor at Stag Meadow on a hot July afternoon in Berkshire.

The home side who had already had a couple of run outs showed some early cohesion in their forwards play as in just the fifth minute a neat chipped throughball from Robert Lazarczuk picked out his strike partner George Gould who lofted the ball over Craig Bradshaw in the United goal but also over the crossbar.

Seven minutes later Gould was again well positioned to meet a Jason Sheehan cross but United left-back Tom Bird did enough to put him off his stride and he headed over.

A minute later United's first opening came when a curling 20 yard free-kick by Bird was superbly tipped around the post by Windsor keeper Carl Dennison who threw himself full stretch to his right to deny the United defender.

Daniel Wishart then saw a 20 yard effort well held by Dennison down low before the home side broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark when a half cleared free-kick was controlled by Dan Hicks who coolly picked his spot in the bottom corner from just outside the area.

Minutes later it was almost two as Lazarczuk chested a long pass away from Jack Pattison and fired off a shot that Bradshaw did well to parry before the ball was played clear.

With five minutes to go until the break Bird again tested Dennison but he was equal to the low drive and then with virtually the last touch of the half United levelled. Skipper Luke Williams harassed the Windsor defence in the area and when the ball broke free in the middle, Luke Medley was on hand to slot the ball easily past Dennison to send the sides in level at the break.

With many changes in the United line-up during the second half it was difficult to find any fluency in the visitors game, but with a new manager and virtually new squad these changes at this time in the pre-season are a must for Phil to assess what he requires.

First opening of the second half also went to the home side, a ball over the United defence found Gould, he was held up well by Joe Debayo but still managed to pick out Lazarczuk in the middle, the striker firing over from close range under pressure from Jon Dollery.

Just after the hour mark the home side were indebted to goalscorer Hicks who was well positioned at the far post to glance away a goalbound effort from United substitute Kameron English who tried to pick his spot having cut inside from the right to collect a deflected Williams centre.

Dennison came to the home sides' rescue in the 77th minute when Bird rose first to glance a Williams free-kick goalwards but the home stopper was equal to the effort, palming the ball away to safety.

Eleven minutes remained when the winner hit the back of the net, sadly it came in favour of the home side as Lazarczuk broke down the right before picking out Gould in the middle who connected with his shin to send Bradshaw the wrong way as the ball rolled into the opposite corner to the keeper's dive.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.