Hayes & Yeading’s victory in this fixture against Egham and results elsewhere guaranteed Paul Hughes’ side a minimum of a play-off spot with the side moving to within three goals of the century for the current League campaign with a visit to leaders Beaconsfield Town up next.

Paul Hughes made a couple of changes to the starting XI beaten by Aylesbury United a week previous as Sahr Kabba came in for Duncan Culley who was not fully recovered after leaving the game against the Ducks while under 18 skipper Jack Roper came in for his first League start in place of Spyros Mentis.

A quick out of the blocks United saw an early Scott Donnelly free-kick beautifully clipped over the Sarnies defence to an on-coming Ryan Kinnane, sadly the centre-back miscued his volley and nothing came of it as Egham cleared their lines.

The visitors were seeing more than their fair share of possession without getting near to troubling Zaki Oualah in the United goal and then on 12 minutes a chance again came to United as Laste Dombaxe laid the ball right to Jack Roper, his 25 yard drive going just the wrong side of the upright.

Two minutes later though United were ahead. Egham’s Mitch Wiseman struck air as he attempted to clear the ball upfield, Sahr Kabba instantly chipped the ball up to Manny Duku on the edge of the box, a quick shift from one foot to another opened up space and United’s top marksman duly dispatched the ball beyond Matt Nolan in the Sarnies goal.

United soon had another chance to find the net as Duku received a Kabba pull back, this time his shot took a slight deflection off Greg Haydon and went wide of the target.

Just past the half hour mark the visitors first real serious threat saw the ball worked across the pitch from right to left before it dropped nicely to former United midfielder Ashley Lodge, his dipping volley from 25 yards being superbly tipped over by a flying Oualah. Sadly this did not deny the Sarnies who levelled the game as Wiseman arrived to volley the corner kick into the roof of Oualah’s goal.

Chances continued to come for United who were still on top despite conceding. Duku saw a shot on the turn blocked out by another former United player in the form of defender Joe Debayo and then the United striker exchanged passes with Roper before crossing to strike partner Sahr Kabba who could not keep his header down and it cleared Nolan’s goal.

Two minutes later United were back in front courtesy of a first strike of the season from skipper Tom Smith, the central defender rising highest at the far post to head home a Donnelly corner (photo top right).

In first half stoppage time Oualah was again needed, again at full stretch, this time tipping over a Michael Kalu free-kick from the left corner of the United area. This corner came to nothing and United went in at the break a goal to the good.

Paul Hughes made a double change at the break, bringing the fresh legs of Spyros Mentis and Ola Olajubu into the United midfield in place of Roper and Dombaxe.

United were to dominate the second period virtually from the start, scoring an unanswered four goals.

First opening came on 50 minutes as United earned a free-kick centre goal 20 yards out, Toby Little stepped up and curled the ball around the wall only for it to go just the wrong side of the post with Nolan beaten all ends up.

Ten minutes later goal three arrived as Kabba ran onto a slide rule Little pass before coolly firing past Nolan for the first goal of his second spell with United (photo above left).

Donnelly set up Duku soon after with Nolan doing well to push away his drive and then a minute later three became four. Little’s corner kick was nodded back by Kinnane at the far post, Duku headed past Nolan only to be denied by the post with Mentis hooking the ball home from the rebound (photo right).

United were by now pushing forwards at will, Donnelly again fed Duku who fired a first time shot that Nolan managed to kick away although he was not to be denied his 37th of the season soon after. Mentis did well to intercept a pass in the middle of the park before running at the Sarnies defence, he then flicked the ball right to Duku who confidently fired past Nolan (photo below left).

71 minutes saw a rare sortie forwards for the visitors as a Lodge free-kick fell nicely to substitute Ryan Debattista at the far post, his shot going narrowly wide courtesy of a well timed defenders interception.

A quickly taken United free-kick found Duku in the channel, he held the ball up well and picked out Mentis, his shot across the face going the wrong side of the far post.

The closing minutes saw a triumvirate of substitutes combine as Olajubu fed Mentis who helped the ball to Duncan Culley, he then sent Little through on the left, his driven shot was pushed away by Nolan who was helped out by his defence who cleared the danger.

Number 6 came as the clock was about to tick 90. A deep cross from the left was collected on the right by Donnelly, his first time centre being tucked home at the near post by Culley as United move to a guaranteed minimum of a play-off place with two games remaining in the campaign.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Scott Donnelly.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.