Hayes & Yeading got off to the worst possible start against Eastbourne Borough, conceding what turned out to be the only goal of the game after just 6 minutes.

Former United pair Dean Sinclair and Richard Pacquette started off the move with Sinclair picking up the ball in his own half, he found Pacquette and the big strikers neat flick helped the ball on to Kane Haysman who found a Simon Johnson on the right, his cross looked like it should have been food and drink to the United ‘keeper and/or defenders but it was allowed to travel all the way to the far post where Darren Lok arrived to fire home.

Five minutes later United had a good opportunity to pull the game level when Nicholas Bignall escaped his marker to meet a Greg Morgan centre, only to head wide from eight yards without troubling Lewis Carey in the Sports’ goal.

United gifted possession to the impressive Johnson in the middle of the park, and he advanced before trying his luck from distance with his powerful drive only just going wide of Calum Kitscha’s goal.

As the break approached, a long punt up field from Johnson cleared Dean Inman and fell nicely into Lok’s run, Kitscha came out to meet him and as the striker tried to lob the ball over the advancing ‘keeper, Kitscha pushed the ball away right on the edge of the box, Pacquette collected the loose ball and lobbed it back but cleared the crossbar.

Around the hour mark Pacquette flicked on, Inman missed his kick and Lok was again through on goal this time his run at Kitscha was held up by the sticky pitch but he retained possession and fed Haysman who saw his shot pushed around the post by the United ‘keeper.

United substitute Tom Derry tested Carey from distance, having received the ball from Morgan, the striker turned easily past Matt Aldred before hitting a low shot from 25 yards that the Sports custodian held well.

A sweeping move from United’s own area saw Morgan send Mason Spence away on the right, he then found Benyon further forwards and he crossed deep to Derry who just could not get his head fully on the ball and his header went well wide of the target.

With full-time almost upon us, an Adam Everitt corner from the left was met by an unmarked Lewis Ferrell but his header went through a crowd of players and wide of the far post.

Both sides could have found the net deep into stoppage time. Derry headed over the last defender to Inman, who had stayed forward in hope of saving the game, and he beat Carey low to his right only for the ball to strike the inside of the post and bounce straight back to the ‘keeper.

In the sixth additional minute and literally the last action of the game saw the Sports almost double their lead. Aldred played Gavin McCallum through into the United box, Kitscha stuck out a boot to deny him with the loose ball falling to Sinclair who saw his shot cleared off the line by Jim Fenlon just as the final whistle blew to herald another defeat for Phil Babb’s side.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.