Hayes & Yeading's road to Wembley hit a dead end in the shape of a feisty game against an organised Wealdstone side who dominated a United side who have now failed to score in their last three matches.

However the game was overshadowed by a serious injury to United's ex-Wealdstone player Jack Mills who was stretchered off with what was later revealed to be a dislocated kneecap.

It was all Wealdstone from the outset, with the hosts forcing a succession of corners in the opening 10 minutes but they were kept at bay thanks to a mix of poor delivery and resolute defending. It was United who had the first real chance of the match, with Louis-Rae Beadle firing just wide of Jonathan North's post in a rare counter attack.

The match could have taken an entirely different path on fifteen minutes had referee Laver seen fit to produce a red card for what appeared to be a late challenge on Grant Smith by Wealdstone striker Scott McGleish following a chase for a long ball with Dean Inman. The ensuing flare up of tempers allowed the referee time to think and he settled for a booking for the striker.

United again went close on twenty minutes. Following a spell of Stones pressure, a long ball was flicked on by Pat Cox to Isaac Layne whose shot struck the post with North soundly beaten. That was as good as it got for Hayes & Yeading as Wealdstone dominated the rest of the first half, keeping possession well without really testing Smith in the United net.

Shaun Lucien was the Stones dangerman as he twice played in good crosses, the first for Jonny Wright who headed just over the bar and the second for veteran striker McGleish whose header thundered off the crossbar with Smith beaten. Smith was called into action in by McGleish in the 34th minute, drawing a smart stop from the United keeper.

The second half started a much more even affair with no chances of note for either side, bar a routine save by Smith from a Lucien free kick.

United appeared to be holding their own in the midfield battle, when the game turned in the 58th minute when Jack Mills went down after an innocuous looking aerial challenge. He immediately signalled his discomfort to the bench and was stretchered off to warm applause from both sets of fans.

This led to Rhys Murrell-Williamson being brought on and forcing Hayes into a switch of style that allowed Wealdstone to dominate the midfield to an even greater level than they had before and enabled them to look comfortable on the ball and leave United chasing them around the park.

United continued to defend well and looked to be heading to a ground out draw until the 77th minute when once again they were undone by a set piece. A corner from the right was not cleared properly and in the scramble caused, a ball was drilled across the face of goal and Wes Parker slid in to beat Grant Smith.

This woke United up but it took them twelve minutes to make any real chances. Mason Spence, who looked promising when United had their rare forays forward whipped in a dangerous cross that was headed behind by the defence.

The last five minutes of the match were much more open with United pushing forward in search of an equaliser whilst Wealdstone looked to pick them off on the counter. Smith saved well from Wright whilst Louis-Rae Beadle fired over after some lovely interconnecting play down the left, however it was Wealdstone who went through.

After the final whistle, the away fans who had outsung their home counterparts for the entire ninety minutes made their opinions known to the players and management.

Report by Daniel Kerr.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Mason Spence.