The first pre-season fixture of the summer ended in victory for Mickey Lewis's Hayes and Yeading United side but the afternoon will not be remembered for the result. Corinthian-Casuals player Niall Wright sustained a horrific head injury just after the start of the second half. The medical personnel of both clubs were rightly concerned and an ambulance was called. After a 42 minute delay for treatment, he was taken to hospital.

Everyone at Hayes and Yeading United Football Club takes player safety very seriously and our first thoughts are to wish Niall a full and speedy recovery.

As for the game, it started at a decent tempo as the conditions, although dry, were not typical of pre-season. The first half was even throughout but it was clinical finishing which allowed Hayes and Yeading United to take command. On 12 minutes, Tom Collins cut inside from the left channel but dragged a weak shot wide of the near post. However, seven minutes later, Lewis Hayden opened the scoring, advancing through the midfield impressively, at first declining a shot but then committing the keeper before rolling the ball past him.

Corinthian-Casuals went close through Shaun Okojie who stole in between defence and keeper Louis Wells but hooked his volley narrowly wide. United responded as a long clearance found Cole Brown on the right flank. Although he appeared to miss his best chance to cross the ball, a trick beat his opponent and he sent over a pinpoint cross for Ismael Ehui to head home.

Okojie went close again missing the far post again by inches and Wells produced a smart save low to his right to keep out a firm 20 yard shot from Wright. Just before half time, United got a free kick, and a deep cross found Cole Brown who got ahead of his marker and hit a powerful shot in first time from close range.

Two minutes after half time, play was suspended for the injury to Wright, who appeared to bang his head on the ground whilst challenging Cole Brown. After the restart, the game really sparked into life as both teams used the cool conditions to play some pacy, passing football. In the 100th minute, Casuals got a goal back as Okojie fired in at the second attempt after his initial effort was parried by Wells.

United responded as substitute Manny Williams got to the byline down the left channel and cut it back for Cole Brown whose shot was kept out by the legs of Ricky Bowry, the diving goalkeeper. Okojie almost got another back but slipped in the act of shooting when in a very good position and Wells was able to gather. Then at the other end, Lloyd Macklin beat Bowry to the ball and nudged it past him only for Elliot Anderson to hook the ball away off the line. Once again, play switched and Emil Salama hit a tantalising cross shot which missed everyone and just cleared the far post.

The closing stages saw the game lose its momentum somewhat as substitutions punctuated play, but it was United who won through to Sunday's final against Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Report by Nick Bell.

Lewis Hayden