Hayes & Yeading United Manager Paul Hughes made three changes to his bank holiday starting line-up that had demolished Bedfont Sports as illness deprived the gaffer of the services of Tom Jelley, his place being taken by George Ademiluyi with a re-shuffle from defence to midfield for Roddy Collins seeing Priestley Farquharson come in for Hassan Jalloh. Also returning after being side-lined with injury since December last year was Jack Smith who replaced James Shaw in the United goal.

In the late summer sunshine at the SKYex, United forged an early chance on five minutes as Ed Asafu-Adjaye broke on the left side, his cross was met powerfully by Lewis Toomey, his header being well blocked by Terrors ‘keeper Liam Sallis who was up quickly to tip the Toomey rebound effort wide of the post.

A “getting to know you” period of around twenty minutes followed with both defences well on top until United almost gifted the visitors an opener when the nippy Isaiah Jones got to the ball before Jack Smith outside the box, his shot going across the face of the gaping goal and wide of the far post much to the United defence’s relief.

Almost immediately United themselves were almost ahead as Lee Barney crossed low from the left into the run of Toby Little, his first time driven shot being pushed wide by Sallis.

The hosts soon after started to take more of a grip of proceedings. A long pass forwards was well held up by Toomey, his lay off to Scott Bridges seeing the midfielder control the ball with his chest before hitting a volley that sailed just the wrong side of the upright. Just before the half-time break a long Donnelly free-kick sailed through Sallis’s hands and onto the head of a surprised Liam McDevitt who couldn’t direct his effort at the target and we went in scoreless at the break for the first time this season.

The second half started in fine style for United who were to find the net three times in fourteen minutes with the visitors also being reduced to ten men as Danny Bassett saw red for a two footed lunge on Asafu-Adjaye minutes after United netted number one.

Just a minute into the second half United were awarded a penalty by referee Tristan Greaves as Little was sent tumbling to the floor having burst into the box from the left side. Skipper Donnelly stepped up and as cool as you like sent Sallis the wrong way.

Minutes later the Terrors were reduced to ten men and shortly after this United scored number two when a free-kick in from the left was headed goalwards by McDevitt, Sallis pulled off an excellent point blank save only for Barney to smash home his tenth in eight days from close range.

The goal of the game, and possibly United’s season thus far came on 59 minutes as Donnelly fed Barney, his fierce drive was blocked out by Quincy Rowe with the ball dropping to Donnelly who volleyed into the far corner from in excess of 20 yards to pretty much seal the points for United.

At the midway point in the half the Terrors had the chance at a lifeline when the impressive Jones was adjudged to have been tripped in the box and referee Greaves awarded a second spot kick of the afternoon. Peter Wedgeworth stepped up to take the kick and aimed low to the corner only for an excellent save by Smith who diving full stretch pushed the effort around the post.

Just four minutes later United substitute Duncan Culley was denied by Sallis, the Terrors ‘keeper pushing out the United striker’s well struck angled drive and with United spending much time just playing keep-ball the final chance of the game came two minutes from time and was for the visitors as Razzaq Coleman tried his luck from 25 yards, his effort just missing to the left of the United goal.

Ten points from the opening twelve equates to United best ever start to a League campaign that sees Paul Hughes’ side sit in second place behind a Bracknell Town side sitting pretty with a 100% record.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Scott Donnelly.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.