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Hendon 0
Hayes & Yeading Utd 2
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With promotion very much at the top of Manager Paul Hughes’ list, the gaffer took the chance to give a full ninety minutes to several of his squad players on Tuesday evening along with some of the clubs under 23 side as United travelled to holders Hendon in the Quarter-Final of the Middlesex Senior Challenge Cup.
The side was led by striker Duncan Culley with no fewer than 9 changes to the starting XI that beat Tooting & Mitcham on Saturday, the side also saw debuts for Jake Sobalak and Callum McAllister from the under 23s in midfield.
The home side who also made 5 changes from their previous game line-up saw Andrew McCorkell in goal having signed from United a couple of days previous and they were captained by another former United man Darren Locke. Other familiar former United faces in the hosts line-up were Matty Harriott in midfield with Howard Hall and Danny Boness on the bench.
The opening quarter hour saw a solitary opening for each side. United had the first effort on goal in the seventh minute, Callum McAllister swung a deep corner in from the right side, Roddy Collins won his header at the far post only for McCorkell to push the effort wide before claiming the following corner for himself.
The thirteenth minute almost proved unlucky for United as a pass ricocheted into the path of Matty Harriott who bore down on goal, Jack Smith did well to save the first effort with his legs, the rebound going back to Harriott who saw his shot strike the top of the United crossbar before going over the top.
As the game approached the half hour mark Ash Nzala collected the ball, breezed past Ric Alexander-Greenaway into the Greens area, on trying to take the ball around McCorkell’s dive the former United stopper tripped him over and referee Smith pointed to the spot. Skipper Culley stepped up and duly sent McCorkell the wrong way to put United ahead.
Culley almost had another two minutes later, Sobalak played the ball to Culley, his quick turn and shot being held by McCorkell. A minute later United were almost caught out when Shaq Hippolyte-Patrick played the ball in from the right to Shaun Lucien, the striker being denied a shot by an excellent Michael O’Neil challenge that took the ball out for a corner but sadly saw the young United defender suffer a foot injury, he returned to the game but soon had to be replaced by Dan Edwards, making his United debut.
A free-kick conceded in the United “D” saw Lucien fire past the wall but his effort was too high to trouble Smith in the United goal. Stoppage time saw Smith comfortably sweep up a weak Hippolyte-Patrick effort and United went in ahead at the break.
United were almost gifted an early goal in the second half as a weak Darren Locke backpass was seized upon by Nzala, McCorkell blocked the initial strike and as the ball looked to be going back to Nzala, it span backwards on the 3G pitch straight into the ‘keepers arms.
McCorkell held another Nzala effort from 20 yards soon after before producing a better save on the hour mark. Rylan Myers exchanged passes with Sobalak before letting fly from 18 yards, McCorkell doing well to fingertip the ball wide as it flew goalwards.
We reached the midway point in the half and Nzala and Sobalak combined with the former putting the ball in the air inside the Greens area, Culley looked to bring down the ball only to be cluttered to the ground from behind and United were awarded their fourth spot kick in less than two games. Culley again stepped up but this time his effort went wide of the post.
The United striker made up for the miss five minutes later though by netting his and United’s second. Sobalak played the ball through, Culley’s initial effort was blocked by McCorkell but the ball ran kindly for the United man and he slid it past the defenders on the line to double United’s lead with less than 20 minutes remaining.
The closing minutes of the game saw little from the home side as United saw out the game, the best opening for the hosts coming eight minutes from time when substitute Gianni Crichlow whipped in a cross from the right that was met by Locke, his header going harmlessly into Smith’s waiting arms.
So United progress to a semi-final tie against one of Barnet, Brentford “B” or Harrow Borough.
Report by Kevin Watts.
United Man of the Match: Roddy Collins.
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