Hayes and Yeading United preserved their unbeaten home record against league leaders Moneyfields but were left wondering what might've been after the visitors' second half comeback.
The home side started strongly when a dangerous Moneyfields corner was cleared and Rowan Vine combined with Tre Mitford up front. A tackle led to a loose ball which Frankie Jones closed in on and his long range effort curled wide right. Steve Hutchins responded immediately with his own long range effort which dipped just over.
However, Manny Duku wrestled free of a strong challenge from Sam Pearce to break clear of the back line again soon afterwards but his left footed effort brought the first save from keeper Stephen Mowthorpe. The missed chance clearly fired Manny up. On the quarter hour he played a clever one two with Rohdell Gordon and broke free again, this time tucking the ball inside the far post beyond Mowthorpe's dive.
Moneyfields quickly went in search of an equaliser as Pearce headed wife from a corner. However, United settled 
again and the quick feet of Gordon got him into the box but his shot was deflected wide. Then, Duku attempted a difficult header from Tommy Cooney's cross which Mowthorpe was able to catch. Mitford then had the ball in the net from his own header from Gordon's cross but was ruled offside.
United continued on the offensive as Gordon's quick get beat his close marker for skill and advanced into the area before curling his shot just wide. However, a minute later, Gordon was to conjure up the second goal for Duku with a sublime pass with the outside of his right boot, the Dutch striker showing calmness under pressure by controlling the ball before firing the ball in with a low shot.
Moneyfields again responded strongly to the goal as Daniel Wooden broke free down the left channel but Jack Smith raced out to smother his shot. Wooden then had an even better chance in the six yard but misjudged his first attempt before his second was blocked by Orlando Rodrigues.
Just before half time a Duku flick on put Mitford again behind the visitors' defence but his lob didn't quite have enough elevation to clear Mowthorpe.
A flurry of substitutions made the game rather disjointed at the start of the second half but out of the blue, Moneyfields hit back with a fine volley from Steve Hutchins, after a deflected cross found him in space in the area. Six minutes later, they then stunned the home crowd when Brett Poate hit a stunning free kick in off the bar.
United settled the game down well and although Moneyfields looked confident, they were restricted to half chances. On 72 minutes, Hutchins volleyed over from point blank range and Jake Raine tested Smiths handling with a rising shot from long range. As time became short, the tension began to show in both sides and Giddings fired over from a great position.
Mowthorpe escaped punishment towards the end when it looked for all the world that he was outside his area when he grabbed the ball to prevent Gordon from latching onto it. However, it wasn't to affect the outcome as the teams shared the spoils of an entertaining match.
Report by Nick Bell.
Photos by Ray Peploe.
United Man of the Match: Manny Duku.
Print the Teamsheet: Here.
