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King's Lynn Town 2
Hayes & Yeading Utd 2
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Hayes & Yeading United journeyed to Norfolk, on a strangely spring like October day, and came away with a richly deserved share of the spoils, after what was an entertaining affair.
Caretaker manager Tristan Lewis, made two changes from the side that had defeated St Ives just four days earlier. Tom Gilbey returning at left-back, and debutant James McCarthy starting in the middle of the park with James Taylor and Cole Brown dropping to the bench.
The hosts enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, with Louis Wells in the visitors goal having to be called upon twice inside the opening five minutes to keep the scoresheet blank, saving firstly from Leon Mettam and then Lee Stevenson.
Eleven minutes had elapsed before United’s first goalbound effort, a McCarthy strike from the edge of the box which was comfortably fielded by Alex Street in the hosts goal.
The home Linnets however continued in the ascendancy and it was no surprise when they took the lead on 16 minutes. Home skipper Mettam collecting a Stevenson pass and firing across goal into the far corner of Wells’ net from eighteen yards.
United stepped up a gear in response, twenty-one minutes had passed when following good work from Sam Humphreys on the left of midfield, the ball found its way to McCarthy, whose shot was again easily dealt with by Street.
Seven minutes later, a long clearance from Wells found Lloyd Macklin in space but the strikers snapshot flew agonisingly wide of Streets left hand upright.
The second period also began at a lively pace, with both sides battling for supremacy. Fifty-one minutes were on the clock when a left wing cross from Tom Gilbey found Melford Simpson at the far post, he in turn headed back across goal to Macklin, who saw his effort palmed to safety by Street.
Within a few minutes United had an appeal for a spot kick turned down by referee Francis after a Linnets defender appeared to handle the ball in the box.
United continued to attack the hosts in search of an equaliser, and a goalbound effort from Macklin flew inches wide after a deflection and then with 20 minutes remaining United’s pressure finally paid dividends with an equaliser. A Humphreys free-kick was once again well saved by the impressive Street, the rebound falling kindly to Gilbey who finished from an acute angle to draw United level, much to the delight of the dozen or so travelling United faithful.
From here United continued to control proceedings going in search of a second which duly arrived on 76 minutes. Jerson Dos Santos, in just his second game for United, collected the ball midway inside the King’s Lynn half before showing sublime skill to weave his way through four or five Linnets defenders and then calmly slotting the ball through Streets legs to give United the lead.
With time fast running out, a long clearance from Street found Mettam in a good position, Joe Debayo at first looked to have the measure of his man only to slip at the crucial moment, allowing the striker a clear run on goal and with only Wells to beat he made no mistake, firing the ball into the back of the net, for his, and the Linnets second of the game.
Report by Mick Nile.
United Man of the Match: Tom Gilbey.
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King's Lynn Town |
Hayes & Yeading United |
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