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Staines Town 2
Hayes & Yeading Utd 2
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A quick return fixture between these sides was made even quicker by United agreeing to bring the game forward 24 hours to avoid clashing with Staines’ Youth Cup Final on Wednesday (a tie that was unfortunately rained off the next morning).
Delroy Preddie’s United side, including former Swan Huw Johnson, proved a more experienced and daunting prospect than the week before, and watched by Phil Babb, the league leaders shared the points in a highly entertaining game.
Staines had a great opportunity to continue where they left off in the cup semi-final, as Jerson Dos Santos was clipped as he darted into the box in the 6th minute, only to see his his penalty saved by Crowley, the offender – Kane Mason being a little fortunate that this was a Capital League game, as he received only a yellow card.
United then took a 14th minute lead courtesy of a superbly struck shot by Kamaron English, curling into the top corner from just outside the box.
United looked the more likely side to score and increase their lead, although Jeremy Boakye did have the ball in the net for Staines in the 29th minute but the free-kick that set him up was taken too quickly and it didn’t count and
Stéphane Ngamvoulou’s second attempt from just beyond the ‘D’ thudded into the wall.
Scott
Taylor had a powerful shot beaten away by Crowley a couple of minutes later, and it remained 1-0 at the turn around.
Staines looked a better proposition in the second half, and a 52nd minute exchange between Taylor and Boakye set up Ngamvoulou for a shot that Crowley did well to palm over for a corner.
Four minutes later play returned to the other end for a United corner, Kyle Merson stretching to punch clear English’s flag-kick, and then watching as Ahmed Mohammed blazed his follow-up volley over the bar.
It was becoming a very open game, with numerous corners, the greater number going to United. English twice came close to a second, first screwing a 71st minute effort across the face of goal, and then seeing his raking drive well saved by Merson seven minutes later.
However, Staines suddenly looked dangerous, and Dos Santos fired a good chance wide, just before setting up the 81st minute equaliser, ghosting past his marker and laying off for Taylor to pass the ball into the net.
And just a minute later Staines found themselves in the lead, Ngamvoulou powering into the box and clipping over Crowley with a deft left foot finish.
But Staines were unable to see the game out, failing to curb a neat United move in the 86th minute, which ended with substitute and under 18s top scorer Josh Odunwo firing an equaliser from 10 yards out.
There was a break in play in the 88th minute, when a juddering but accidental clash of heads saw a player from each side leaving the field. Both returned after treatment, the United man, Mohammed, reasonably sure that he would not be subbed as both their remaining subs were goalkeepers!
Report with thanks to Steve Parsons @ Staines Town FC.
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