Hayes & Yeading United & Eastbourne Borough shared the spoils in an eight goal thriller at York Road on Tuesday evening which was sadly witnessed by United’s lowest gate of the season.
Manager Garry Haylock made one change to his starting line-up with loanee Barnet duo Charlie Kennedy and Justin Nwogu swapping places, the latter coming into the starting XI.
The visitors forced the first save of the game in just the fifth minute, Charlie Burns pushing a Jack Evans free-kick around the post. Two minutes later the Sports were ahead, referee Mr Amey missed Jamie Taylor seemingly controlling the ball with his hand before a perfect ball from Evans saw Nathaniel Pinney turn past Devante McKain and pick his spot in the far corner beyond Burns’ dive.
United then started to force themselves back in to the game and were unlucky when Jordaan Brown played Max Worsfold in on the left, his driven shot was punched out by Sports ‘keeper Lewis Carey straight on to Luke Williams head but with no time to react, the ball flew over the crossbar.
Williams was not to be denied though and three minutes later he levelled the match. Jim Fenlon lofted the ball forwards, Worsfold and Elliot Benyon helped it square to Williams who beat Carey low to the 'keepers right.
Play continued to switch ends with United having more of the ball. The visitors however went close through Sam Beale who saw his shot fly across the face of goal and minutes later at the other end a long throw-in was inadvertently helped on by defender Kiran Khinda-John to Worsfold who outjumped his marker but Carey caught the ball easily.
Just three minutes from the break United took the lead for the first time, Devante McKain leaving his marker standing at the far post where he outjumped Marvin hamilton to meet Ashley Lodge’s corner with a header into the corner of the Sports net.
United came out looking for another and went close just a few minutes in to the second half. Worsfold again found space on the left, his drive was pushed out by Carey with the loose ball finally running to Lodge who saw his shot on the turn deflected wide.
This was to precede a ten minute spell which saw United go from leading to being in arrears. Beale levelled the tie on 53 minutes when having had his initial shot blocked, he lofted the ball towards the far post and somehow it was missed by all and sundry including Burns, and dropped in to the United net.
Burns then saved again from Beale before just past the hour mark a corner was headed from the near post to the edge of the box by Craig Stone with Evans striking a volley through a crowd that squirmed its way low into the bottom corner of the United net.
Within four minutes the game was level once more. Jordaan Brown played an excellent ball up the left line, Benyon got to the ball only to be blocked off by Sports skipper Ian Simpemba just inside the area and referee Mr Amey pointed to the spot. Benyon took charge from 12 yards, sending Carey the wrong way to make it 3-3.
Both sides continued to push for winner without either ‘keeper having much to do although Pinney was given far too much freedom in the box only for Burns to dive on the loose ball amidst a scramble in the six yard box.
It stayed level until two minutes from time when Adam Everitt found Benyon, he turned Marvin Hamilton just inside box only to be felled by the defender with Mr Amey again pointing to the spot. This time Lodge took the responsibility and just as calmly as Benyon had previously, sent Carey the wrong way.
Sadly for United the three points were not held onto as the Sports found one more effort in stoppage time to level once more. Evans pimped a free-kick in to the mix from the halfway line, the ball dropping at the feet of Ian Simpemba who turned and squeezed the ball between two defenders and with a slight deflection into the corner.
That being said there was still time for one final effort from United as the ball fell to Tom Collins in the Sports area but his effort was saved by Carey before being scrambled away to safety.
Report by Kevin Watts.
United Man of the Match: Elliot Benyon.
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