Paul Hughes' Hayes & Yeading side re-found their scoring boots at South Park on Saturday afternoon, firing in six goals with just a single reply from the home side courtesy of former United striker Great Evans.

The Gaffer made a single change to the side that lost to Marlow at the SKYex with newly acquired defender Mitchal Gough coming in for George Bennett meaning Josh Chamberlain moved forwards from the back three to his more accustomed midfield role.

With literally a gale blowing down the pitch this was never going to be a game for the purist. Early chances for United, playing with the wind saw a fourth minute Scott Bridges corner being met by Mitchal Gough, the ball sliding through the hands of 'keeper Michael Eacott only for a defender to hack the ball clear off the line.

United continued to push for an early strike. Ed Asafu-Adjaye fed Toby Little on the left, his first time centre was met by the head of Josh Chamberlain but Eacott saved and then in the 10th minute a Little corner from the right side sailed over Eacott only to come back off the bar to Chamberlain who blazed over from close range.

Five minutes later Little fed the ball down the left to Lee Barney, his low cross just evading the sliding Elliot Benyon at the far post.

Without the home side even looking like troubling the United goal, United finally broke through on 23 minutes. Scott Bridges, Asafu-Adjaye and Little moved the ball quickly from the middle to the left side, Little's centre was knocked down by Benyon to skipper Scott Donnelly who coolly slotted the ball past Eacott.

This seemed to wake up the Sparks as a couple of minutes later the ball was fired across the United box with no connection in the middle but in the very next move they drew level. Tom Summerfield broke in from the left and crossed, Gough got a toe to the cross but this only took the ball to former United striker Great Evans and he tapped home from close range.

United were immediately back on the attack. Asafu-Adjaye exchanged passes with Barney before seeing his effort held by Eacott at the second attempt with Eacott also denying Barney just moments later after Gough and Bridges had forged an opening for the striker.

Five minutes remained in the first half when a rare foray forwards by the home side's Evans saw the striker win the ball in the middle of the park and advance before shooting from 20 yards out giving Smith a chance to warm his hands as he saved comfortably.

A minute later United were back ahead courtesy of an absolute cracker from Chamberlain who received the ball down the left side and he instantly smashed a volley over Eacott from the left corner of the box into the far top corner of the Sparks net.

United almost had a third in stoppage time as Asafu-Adjaye played the ball with the wind over the home defence, Benyon brought the ball down and lobbed Eacott only for the wind to assist in taking the ball over the top and the half closed out with United 2-1 ahead.

Despite now playing against the wind, United came out in the second period and blew away the opposition, taking just 54 seconds to go further ahead. Donnelly and Benyon combined in the middle before releasing Ashley Smith on the right, his first time cross being controlled by Barney with his back to goal before he turned and smashed home his 31st of the season to give United a 3-1 advantage.

United continued to push for more. Benyon flicked on to Bridges but a heavy touch gave Eacott a chance to block and although a scramble for the loose ball ensued, the Sparks stopper was eventually able to drop onto the ball.

Soon after Asafu-Adjaye played the ball forwards to Chamberlain who in turn chested it down to Benyon but Eacott held onto the strikers' volley and a minute later Benyon had another chance as Little raced past Catmull before pulling the ball back to Benyon but he fired over.

Another opening for the hosts came on the hour mark as Ryan Richefond crossed to Catmull, the wingers' glancing header failing to trouble Jack Smith as the effort went wide of the target.

A minute later United made it four as the ball was played upfield to Barney in the left channel, his low cross saw Benyon step over the ball as it ran to Donnelly, the skipper crashing home his 21st of the season, finding the top corner, giving Eacott no chance.

A chance apiece came at the midway point in the half. Firstly for United, a quick throw found Asafu-Adjaye however Eacott held his angled drive, the ball quickly moving to Evans at the other end, he moved into the United box, his shot going just wide of the upright.

United still looked for more as the game entered the final 20 minutes. Substitute Joe Wilson whipped in a cross from the right that Barney met with a diving header, his off target effort going at pace to Chamberlain who volleyed over and just a few minutes later Little curled a pass beyond the home defence to Barney who ran into the box and fired across Eacott but wide of the far post.

As United continued to press, Asafu-Adjaye got his head to a Bridges free-kick but was too high before a well timed tackle saw the ball run to Barney in the box, his effort being blocked wide by Harry Pollard.

United's fifth came on 86 minutes, Barney collected the ball on the right and played it inside to Wilson, the raiding wing-back firing the ball low across the six yard box to Little who slid home his twentieth of the season at the far post.

Stoppage time saw a brace of chances for substitute Chid Onokwai, the first saw the striker play the ball through Eacott's legs from the acutest of angles only for Pollard to clear it off the line however just a minute later Onokwai did indeed get his name on the scoresheet when he collected a Chamberlain pass before coming in from the right side of the box to fire home beyond Eacott (above right) to seal a 6-1 United victory.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Montimagemedia ©.

United Man of the Match: Josh Chamberlain.

Andrew Herring