Hayes & Yeading’s final pre-Christmas game saw United earn a hard fought three points against high flying Maidstone United at York Road with a first half Elliot Benyon strike settling matters.
While some positional changes came in to play, Manager Garry Haylock made two enforced change to the starting XI beaten by Sutton a week previous, Omari Alexander-Salmon and Cole Brown coming in for injured pair Max Worsfold and Luke Williams.
United started well, forcing an early save from Stones ‘keeper Lee Worgan in just the seventh minute. Mason Spence found Alexander-Salmon 20 yards out, the young midfielder taking a touch before hitting a shot that Worgan tipped over the top. Cole Brown’s resultant corner found Emmanuel Monthe at the far post but his header was well off target.
A shot from distance by Dan Sweeney for the visitors failed to trouble Dan Lincoln before a quick line ball by Monthe found Benyon, the striker darting past Manny Parry and getting away a shot that Worgan needed two attempts to gather.
Brown headed wide for United from a looping Colin Mugoya centre before Lincoln was needed at the other end as Sweeney broke away and sent former United man Vas Karagiannis towards the box, his shot being held by the United stopper.
Six minutes from the break United could have fallen behind and within 30 seconds were ahead. James Rogers’ deep free-kick fell at the feet of Sweeney in the box, Jake Sheppard’s well timed block seeing the ball into Lincoln’s arms. United were quickly on the offensive as Mugoya’s excellent leap saw his header become a perfectly placed through ball that sent Benyon away and the striker buried the ball into the bottom corner past Worgan’s dive.
Lincoln was required before the break again, pushing out a shot from range as the half closed with United a deserved goal to the good.
Stones started the second half in the ascendancy and with the slope started to push forwards, Karagiannis firing high and wide when well placed at the far post before Lincoln did well to grab a Bobby-Joe Taylor effort after the cut in from the left side.
Again within seconds play had switched ends. A long throw by Lincoln found Benyon on the left side, he rolled the ball into Mugoya’s path and the impressive under 18 midfielder hit a crisp shot that Worgan caught diving to his right.
Just after the hour mark disaster almost struck for United when Monthe stuck out a foot in front of Lincoln trying to intercept a Karagiannis cross and the ball went across the face and narrowly wide of the far post.
Stones substitute Matt Bodkin headed over a Karagiannis centre before Worgan twice stopped his side from going further behind. Benyon’s quick free-kick found Sheppard on the right, he returned the ball to the United striker who saw his dipping volley touched over by Worgan. The resultant corner taken by Benyon found its way to United substitute Elliott Simpson who saw his goalbound drive again tipped over by the agile Stones ‘keeper.
United however saw out the remainder of the game with very little action in their box to claim a hard fought but fully deserved three points.
Report by Kevin Watts.
Photos by Ray Peploe.
United Man of the Match: Elliot Benyon.
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