Paul Hughes’ Hayes & Yeading closed off the title winning campaign with a 2-2 draw away at local rivals Uxbridge with United twice coming from behind courtesy of goals from strike partners Lee Barney and Elliot Benyon, the end result leaving United a mammoth 16 points clear of second place Bracknell Town at season end.

On a hard dusty pitch at Honeycroft, it was the home side who fired off the first effort towards goal as Craige Tomkins tried his luck with a swinging effort from 25 yards that missed the top corner of Jack Smith’s goal with space to spare.

United had the ball in the net in the twelfth minute only for the effort to be ruled out controversially by referee Scott. Scott Bridges played the ball wide to Toby Little, his looping centre was dropped by Reds ‘keeper Paul McCarthy under pressure from Lee Barney but as Elliot Benyon smashed home the loose ball the whistle went for a foul on the ‘keeper much to the disdain of the United players.

Five minutes later Smith did well to keep the scoreline at 0-0 at the other end when Luke Maguire broke away following a United corner, the Reds wide-man getting to the edge of the United box before being tackled, the loose ball ran to Tomkins who managed to play it on to former United youngster Prince Mbengui but Smith was out quickly to grab the ball at the midfielder’s feet.

Within a minute Smith was again required, this time to field a Maguire shot from the edge of the box which the United number 1 did comfortably. Shortly after United were again on the attack, Kunle Otudeko, Barney and Ed Asafu-Adjaye all combined from the middle of the park with the latter crossing from the left side into the danger area, McCarthy again spilled the cross, this time to Benyon who saw his quick fire shot go straight into the midriff of McCarthy who this time held firm.

As the game approached the half hour mark both sides came close to breaking the deadlock. Firstly it was United when Otudeko ran at the home defence before finding Little on the left side, his near post cross was flicked goalwards by Barney and despite another fumble by the ‘keeper, the Reds defence were on hand to clear. At the other end soon after Tyrone Pink ran at the United defence before sliding the ball sideways to Tomkins who saw his low shot forced wide the Smith who stood tall against the Reds front-man.

Two openings came in quick succession for Paul Hughes’ side. Barney and Bridges combined to pick out Little, the 23 goal wing-back being denied another by McCarthy who did well to push away Little’s drive after he had cut inside from the flank. This was soon followed by a neat clip over the defence from Bridges that found Benyon, the United striker flicking the ball past McCarthy only for Dave Thomas to clear the ball off the line.

With an open game looking to go into the break without a goal, it was a most unusual defensive lapse from United that saw the home side take the lead in first half added time. A stray pass across the back saw the ball go straight to Tyrone Pink who had the freedom to approach Smith, the United stopper did well to push the shot away but sadly for him a record breaking clean sheet was to be taken off the agenda when the ball came back off the post to Pink who tapped home from less than a yard out.

Shocked at being behind, United came out all fired up and within seven minutes could have had two but had to settle for one. Benyon found Joe Wilson coming in from the right, the young defenders shot across goal being tipped wide by McCarthy although United soon had the ball in the back of the Reds net as Little’s near post cross was turned home on the volley by Barney for his 33rd strike of the campaign.

United were only level however for five minutes as another defensive mishap saw an air kick leave the ball at the feet of Tomkins who cracked a fine drive across Smith’s dive from the corner of the box to restore the Reds lead.

Another United equaliser was only two minutes away though, Little had already struck the post with a corner before Otudeko beat two defensive challenges on the left side of the box before pulling the ball back to Benyon who despite having his back to goal swivelled and fired past McCarthy from ten yards out.

Ten minutes later the home side created another opening for themselves which saw Andrew Whorms play the ball down the right to Tomkins who flicked on to the impressive Maguire who cut in from the right side of the box, his shot being blocked into the air by Smith with Mitchal Gough clearing the danger.

As with many end of season games with nothing left to play for but pride the game sort of dwindled into nothingness with the only close shave coming two minutes from time when a 30 yard Gough free-kick flew past the wall before clearing the crossbar by a couple of inches and that was that for a fantastic campaign that has seen the pre-season objective achieved – PROMOTION back to step 3.

Report by Kevin Watts.



Photos by Montimagemedia ©.



United Man of the Match: Scott Bridges.