Hayes and Yeading United’s fringe players, under 18s and first team squad members combined to comfortably defeat CB Hounslow United in the first ever meeting between the two clubs to progress in the Middlesex Charity Cup. 

The home side had an immediate effort on goal from the first free kick of the game as  Gavin Bamford’s free kick was met with a header from Jack Watts who beat Xavi Comas to the ball, but he looped his header onto the roof of the net. Hayes and Yeading responded with their own header as Steven Ellery’s corner found Keano Robinson but the defender’s header just cleared the crossbar. Another CB Hounslow free kick, this time taken by Watts, produced the first shot on target but Comas easily held on, and at the other end, a second Ellery corner found a blue shirt, with Komal Llewellyn-Reid heading wide of the far post.

CB Hounslow keeper Rhys Forser had his first call into action soon after when he unconventionally kicked away Ismail Ehui’s long range shot. However, on 28 minutes, he was powerless to prevent Hayes and Yeading taking the lead, and CB Hounslow were unfortunate as with defender Stuart Bamford off the pitch receiving treatment for a head injury, Ellery’s short corner was collected by Rohdell Gordon and he got to the byline and cut the ball back for Andrew Ofosu to apply a finish into the rod of the net from 6 yards.

Youth team captain Jack Roper, on his senior debut, almost marked it with a goal when a fine passing move finished with Ismail Ehui rolling the ball to him and his curling shot just missing the far post. The home side enjoyed more possession and territorial advantage towards the end of the half without seriously troubling the Hayes and Yeading defence.

The second half was in contrast a disappointing affair and despite the hosts pushing for an equaliser, they didn’t seriously threaten the Hayes and Yeading goal. It took until the 71st minute for the visitors to get another chance on goal and with it, the second goal came from another Gordon assist as Ismail Ehui tapped in from his cross.

Soon afterwards, Comas preserved the new two goal lead by tipping over Watts’s deflected shot and he also kept out Gabriel Chiedozie’s header in the same way after it had bounced up menacingly towards goal. From the resulting corner, he then blocked Ireland’s header.

Despite these close calls, Hayes and Yeading held out and in fact added icing on the cake with Ismail Ehui’s deflected free kick in stoppage time to claim a place in the next round of the Middlesex Charity Cup. 

Report by Nick Bell.

United Man of the Match: Stephen Ellery.