Hayes & Yeading earned another important point at York Road against high flying Dartford but it could have been so much more had United not let a two goal lead slip and then hit the post deep in stoppage time.
The visitors were to make a fair amount of the early running, playing downhill and with the wind. This was evident within the first minute when Danny Harris broke down the left and crossed to Tom Bradbrook, his header being caught by James Hamon in the United goal.
Elliot Bradbrook was just too high soon afterwards from fully 25 yards before a low cross to the near post was slid out of play by Darren Purse with two blue shirts in close attendance.
Still the visitors pressed and on 19 minutes went even closer. Harris again made inroads in to the United box before squeezing the ball under Hamon only for Jordaan Brown to sweep the ball off the line.
Two minutes later a sweeping move forwards by United saw the deadlock broken. Luke Williams made space for a shot that after a small deflection forced a save from Darts ‘keeper Deren Ibrahim, the loose ball however was pounced upon immediately by Elliot Benyon who fired United into the lead.
Just seven minutes later that lead was doubled. Ashley Lodge made space to shoot, Ibrahim pushed his effort back in to the mix, Emmanuel Monthe saw his shot blocked by a defender before Shepherd Murombedzi fired home a debut goal.
United held the advantage until six minutes from the break, enough time for the Darts to cancel out United’s advantage, courtesy of the brothers Bradbrook. First to find the net was Tom, turning his effort with the aid of a small deflection past Hamon’s dive.
Then just as the game was about to enter stoppage time, Harris raced away on the right, his cross being inch perfect for on-coming Darts skipper Elliot who headed powerfully past Hamon to level the scores.
The second half didn’t really have the fast start that the first had and it was almost the hour mark before either goal was troubled, Monthe controlling a Purse free-kick on his chest before juggling the ball and volleying over the top.
United looked to have scored in the 65th minute when Benyon’s cross was pushed straight to substitute Justin Nwogu, his effort beat Ibrahim only to be cleared off the line by Elliott Bradbrook.
As we hit the final ten minutes, the Darts almost took a freak lead when a curling free-kick from Ryan Harris deceived all before going over off the top of Hamon’s crossbar.
Stoppage time almost gave United the full points as first Lodge found his way to goal only to see his effort deflected wide by a well positioned Ibrahim boot and then Elliott Simpson won the ball in the middle of the park and pushed upfield whereby he found Benyon in the box, the striker being unlucky to see his low drive come back out off the post only to be cleared. It was therefore a point apiece and is now one defeat in seven 2016 matches for Garry Haylock's side.
Report by Kevin Watts.
Photos by Ray Peploe.
United Man of the Match: Ashley Lodge.
Print the Teamsheet: Here.
Print the next Fixture Poster: Here.
