Hayes & Yeading are still without a League victory in 2015 as Saturdays local derby at Wealdstone ended in a 2 goal defeat for Phil Babb’s side who now look to be embroiled in yet another relegation struggle as we head towards season end.

United made just two changes from the side that had beaten the Stones six days earlier in the County Cup, Adam Everitt returned from suspension in place of Jim Fenlon while Gary MacDonald replaced the injured Elliot Benyon.

The first half hour was tight, as you would expect from a high tempo local derby, however the action was in the main away from the strike zone with neither ‘keeper being overly tested as defences ruled the roost.

First real exertion from either stopper came as Jefferson Louis’s neat touch sent Matt Ball through into the United box, Calum Kitscha quickly coming off his line to block at the on-coming midfielders’ feet.

Minutes later, United’s best attacking move of the half saw Rhys Murrell-Williamson exchange passes with Nicholas Bignall, the winger falling away as he tried his luck from 20 yards and the ball went comfortably wide of Jonathan North’s goal.

The home side started to pressurize Kitscha’s goal as the half-time break approached. Louis and Ball were instrumental in sending Luke O’Nien through into the United box to the left side, his cross-shot flying across the face of Kitscha’s goal.

Then on the stroke of half-time, Louis tried to squeeze one inside the near post, the slightest of touches from Richard Jolly sending the ball within a whisker of the United goal and we went in all square at the break.

The second half could not have started any worse for Phil Babbs side as it took the Stones just 32 seconds to break the deadlock. A low Louis centre from the right was played away by a sliding Dean Inman, the ball was immediately fired back into the mix with Kitscha palming out Louis' drive, sadly the first to react was Matt Ball who nodded the ball into the empty United net from a few feet out.

Two minutes later United’s only “effort on target” came when a Gary MacDonald free-kick caught on the wind, forcing North to push the goalbound cross over the top.

It didn’t take long though for the home side to double their advantage. Ball fed the ball down the right to Louis and in almost identical fashion to his goal against United on Monday, the striker made space on the corner of the box and curled a shot beyond Kitscha’s fingertips into the far corner of the net.

The games' direction could have changed with 25 minutes to go as United substitute Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe was played through and seemed to be bundled over in the box by Sean Cronin only for referee and assistant to wave away United vociferous penalty shouts.

United finally started to put some pressure on the hosts although sadly North had very little to do. Mason Spence went on a forceful run forwards and when the ball ran loose to Bignall, his shot was deflected wide by a well timed defensive interception from Wes Parker.

Ogedi-Uzokwe then did well to get onto a deep Adam Everitt cross with a far post header that went narrowly wide of the target and then with time running out a loose ball in the home box was pounced on by Spence who saw his drive well blocked by Cronin.

United’s best chance of finding the net came with six minutes remaining and again it fell to Ogedi-Uzokwe who used his pace to run past the last defender, drew North before clipping the ball over the diving ‘keeper only for it to strike the outside of the post and go wide.

Last chance of the game went to the home side, O'Nien went on a run from halfway before putting in Scott McGleish, the strikers shot being pushed away by Kitscha.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Dean Inman.