Hayes and Yeading United’s season ended in disappointment as Cambridge City performed a smash and grab single goal victory to win through to the play off final and leave the club missing out on promotion in front of a record attendance at the SKYex.
Roared on by their ever enthusiastic crowd, the Hayes and Yeading United players enjoyed a lot of possession to begin with, but found the Cambridge City defensive unit in solid form. The first corner was in fact enforced by the visitors but it came to nothing. The game remained cagey for much of the first half. In fact, the first shot on goal came on 19 minutes after a superb run and cross by Toby Little was half cleared, Spyros Mentis passed to Manny Duku in space in the area and slightly off balance, he fired his shot over the bar. A Laste Dombaxe piledriver from 30 yards looked goalbound but for Jordan Gent’s brave diving header to deflect the ball behind for United’s first corner. From the set piece, Cambridge keeper Josh Bexon’s punch was eager unconvincing but his defence were alert enough to clear the danger.
The best chance yet came to Duku on 27 minutes when Dombaxe threaded a slide rule pass to bisect the two centre halves to the Dutch forward but he couldn’t quite take it in his stride and Bexon was quick of his line to snuff out the shot. Cambridge City’s first chance came when James Hall threatened to get in behind the United back line but Ryan Kinnane recovered to half block the shot and make it easy for Zaki Oualah to gather in.
Cambridge came more into the game as the half wore on but were held at bay by the home defence, although Ryan Towner managed a long range volley which didn’t dip enough and cleared the bar. Another Bexon fumble from a Little corner will have caused palpitations in the visitors’ defence but he was able to gather at the second attempt whilst surrounded by red shirts.
United were quicker out of the blocks at the start of the second half and forced Bexon into a really smart save when Scott Donnelly fed Little down the left and his run took him into the box. He cut back for Dombaxe but the low shot produced was well smothered by the Lilywhites’ keeper. A Donnelly free kick was then sliced over his own bar by Jordan Williams, who at the other end had his own shot blocked by Tom Smith’s legs.
On 62 minutes, the opening goal came but it was to the visitors. James Hall received the ball on the right channel and was able to cut inside before finishing off the inside of the right post. This seemed to take the wind out of the United sails for some time and Cambridge’s game management was superb. United found it very difficult to make any headway and in fact Cambridge substitute Lewis Wilson went close with a rising shot on the break.
On 88 minutes, United substitute Ismael Ehui looped a header from Donnelly free kick onto the top of the bar and Donnelly fired over from long range. Kaan Fehmi was then presented with a golden chance deep into stoppage time but blasted his volley inches over the bar. However, United’s pressure was to count for nought and the season ended disappointingly with a harsh defeat against nevertheless strong opposition who make their way to Monday’s play off final.
Report by Nick Bell.
United Man of the Match: Scott Donnelly.
Ben Robinson 
