Hayes & Yeading United failed to avoid defeat for the ninth time from exactly that amount of visits as all the points stayed with Eastbourne Borough on Saturday at a very blustery Priory Lane.

Manager Garry Haylock made an enforced change at right-back with Elliott Simpson coming in for the injured Jim Fenlon in a side that also saw Max Worsfold return from injury to replace Luke Williams who took his place on the treatment table.

The home side started well and found the net after just seven minutes in rather fortuitous circumstances. Elliott Romain beat James Hamon to a low ball in from the left, his initial effort came back off the post only to strike the unlucky Darren Purse and go back in to the United net for an unfortunate own goal.

United started pushing forwards in search of an equaliser and were unlucky in the 26th minute when Elliot Benyon sent Max Worsfold on a forwards push, the wide man’s shot beating Lewis Carey in the Sports goal only to strike the outside of the post and go wide to Benyon who saw his low drive pushed out by Carey with a defender clearing the danger.

Less than ten minutes remained of the first half when a neat Emmanuel Monthe pass picked out Benyon, his low centre aimed for Worsfold was well held low in the middle by Carey while at the other end, Darren Lok’s lay off to Kane Haysman presented a shooting chance from 20 yards that was just wide of the United goal.

The final action of the half saw Worsfold and Ashley Lodge with the ball left side, the latter’s low centre being met in the six yard box by a defender at the far post and cleared as Benyon held back at the far post.

Within minutes of the re-start a shot from distance by Romain failed to trouble Hamon and he did the same again minutes later, this time having broken away from his own half down the left, his attempted cross falling straight back to him 20 yards out but he pulled his shot wide of the target.

Another breakaway following a spell of United pressure in the 56th minute saw Romain find Gavin McCallum on the right, the midfielder making good progress down the right side before sliding the ball back to Romain who took it past his marker and almost to the bye-line before hitting a shot from an acute angle that Hamon did well to push wide at his near post.

Monthe and substitute Ismael Ehui then held the ball up well on the edge of the Sports area before presenting Charlie Kennedy with a shooting chance, his effort being held comfortably by Carey in the Sports goal.

With six minutes remaining, a Hamon free-kick played deep into the Sports half saw Shepherd Murombedzi turn his marker and feed Cole Brown, the under 18s winger picking out Ehui who struck the ball low in to the six yard box but with United bodies waiting at the far post, a sliding Ian Simpemba cleared the ball away. It came straight back to Cole Brown though, again he found Ehui in the area, his chipped cross picking out Benyon at the far post, his goalbound header being pushed upwards by Carey before striking the top of the crossbar and going over.

As United continued to push for a late equaliser, more space became open at the back for the home side to exploit, Hamon saving a low shot before in stoppage time a poor pass in the middle of the park gifted the ball to Sports substitute Jack Evans, he advanced and found Nathaniel Pinney who in turn fed the ball wide right with the cross providing a walk in goal for Evans and United’s fate was sealed.

Report by Kevin Watts.

United Man of the Match: Darren Purse.

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