Paul Hughes’ Hayes & Yeading side netted a first maximum of the season with a double come from behind victory against Thame United at the SKYex on Saturday afternoon.

Things didn’t start off well for the home side though as Thame took lead in less than 2 minutes. Dan West and Lynton Goss exchanged passes to the right of the United box, the former advancing inside before pulling the ball across the face of goal to the arriving Luke Ricketts who slotted home despite a desperate attempt by Jack Smith to keep it out.

United came out quickly and were immediately pushing for a quick reply. Josh Chamberlain received an excellent cross-field pass, his centre was collected by Rowan Vine who set up Spyros Mentis, the midfielders curling effort going the wrong side of the far post.

United did draw level after 15 minutes with a sublime first goal for the club by Chamberlain. Danny May fired a free-kick from deep in his own half down the right side, Vine flicked the ball on the Chamberlain who lofted the ball first time over the stranded Eddie Cavanagh in the Thame goal from 20 yards.

Two minutes later Chamberlain almost had a second after collecting a pass from Phil Appiah, the United goalscorer turned his man and struck the ball low from 20 yards only to see his effort go wide off the outside of the post with Cavanagh again well beaten.

United soon went close again as Tom Smith played the ball forwards to Vine who held it up for Chamberlain and he in turn fed Danny Blanchett on the left side, his curling shot going just wide of the far stick. Play was soon switched to the other end and Thame fired themselves ahead for the second time in the game as Goss collected the ball on the left side of the United box, feeding Ricketts inside and he fired home his second of the game from just inside the box.

This time the home side were behind for just a minute. Appiah played the ball forwards to Vine, he neatly flicked the ball on to Mentis who outjumped his marker to head the ball back into Vine’s path, the veteran striker side footing a volley over Cavanagh from the edge of the D.

Four minutes later United were ahead for the first time. Vine played a neat interchange with Rohdell Gordon before pulling the ball square to an unmarked Chamberlain who saw his initial strike cleared off the line by Matt Johnston only for the ball to go straight back to the United man who volleyed home from six yards for his second of the game.

The visitors didn’t let their heads drop at going behind, West found himself well placed 12 yards out but screwed his effort wide without testing Smith, he did however cause problems for the United stopper just two minutes later when he moved onto a through ball only to be denied by Smith who stood strong to block out his effort with Mat Mitchell-King sweeping away the loose ball.

After a five goal first half, it was no surprise that the pace dropped a little after the break although United almost added a fourth just 14 seconds after the re-start as Gurkan Gokmen cut in from the right side and hit a goalbound shot that Cavanagh did well to push away.

Minutes later Chamberlain saw a hat-trick beckoning as he was put through by Vine, the midfielder being denied as he was about to strike by an excellent sliding challenge from Johnston who took the ball off his toes.

Thame again created a good opening just before the hour mark when West and Goss again combined with the latter firing his volley straight into Jack Smith’s grateful arms.

With just 16 minutes remaining United took the fight out of Thame somewhat by netting a fourth. Blanchett played the ball from left to right, Vine stepped over it in the middle allowing Gordon to collect, the wide man heading straight to the box before turning his marker and firing past Cavanagh from 12 yards (above right).

Oamr Daidouh for United and the impressive Goss for the visitors both went close in the final ten minutes and then after a neat move involving Vine and Gokmen on the right, the former sent Daidouh away towards the by-line, his centre finding Vine who had continued his run but his shot went across the face of goal and wide of the far stick.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Josh Chamberlain.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.