Hayes and Yeading United's pre season campaign continued with a 0-2 defeat in the SJP Community Cup semi-final at Hendon FC, leaving them to compete in a third place play off with Hemel Hempstead Town on Sunday.
The performance showed pleasing progress has been made from the two previous matches and this game started at a brisk pace, although the first clear chance didn't come until the fourteenth minute when Danny Blanchett crossed at the second attempt and Peter Skapetis fired the bouncing ball just over from ten yards.
Two minutes later, Hitchin responded with their first effort but Jack Smith comfortably held onto a header.
After a delay for treatment to the Hitchin goalkeeper and Manny Duku after an accidental collision, United seemed to lose focus momentarily and were punished by Hitchin who scored with a low finish on the turn by Connor Vincent in the 33rd minute.
This was harsh on United who had started brightly, and the lively Duku went close soon afterwards, heading just wide from May's free-kick.
After the break, United went close again when Duku nipped in to win the ball ahead of the Hitchin keeper and cut it back to Skapetis whose shot was turned behind by a retreating defender in the six yard box.
Just after a triple substitution from United, Hitchin doubled their lead with a firm, far post header from their own substitute.
However, United continued to be positive all the way to the end and the highlight of the match saw an exquisite throughball from May reach the onrushing Luke Eley who smashed a volley goalwards only for a stunning save by stand-in goakeeper Lewis Rolfe in the Canaries goal to deny him a spectacular strike.
Report by Nick Bell.
