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Hayes & Yeading Utd 1
Wingate & Finchley 0
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Hayes & Yeading scored a second successive pre-season victory over a Premier Division side as a first half Liam McDevitt header saw United beat Wingate & Finchley 1-0 at the SKYex on a blustery Saturday afternoon.
United almost made an unbelievable start as skipper Scott Donnelly fired goalwards with the wind straight from kick-off, his effort measured at 4 seconds just inches over the Wingate crossbar with the ‘keeper frantically back-peddling.
With the visitors struggling to get the ball forwards against a strong wind, the next opening again fell to United in 13 minutes as Keano Robinson shot from 20 yards was blocked away by Jack Humphreys, the ball going to the right side from where it was played back inside to Ed Asafu-Adjaye, his strike from range going just wide of the upright.
Minutes later the visitors created an opening of their own as Asafu-Adjaye was turned by Reece Beckles who moved into the box and fired goalwards with a well-timed Liam McDevitt tackle taking the sting off the shot allowing James Shaw to hold comfortably.
United were soon going forwards again, Ola Olajubu and Kaan Fehmi combined in the middle of the park with the latter playing Lee Barney through but his effort was held by the visitors ‘keeper.
Two Donnelly corners in a couple of minutes saw United take the lead, the first was met at the far post by Ryan Kinnane who was just off target with his header, the same could not be said for McDevitt though four minutes later as he rose highest to power his header into the Wingate net.
Two chances came in the final few minutes of the first half. Former United reserve team striker Marc Charles-Smith robbed the last United defender before running into the box, he did however delay getting his shot away allowing a fine Asafu-Adjaye tackle to take the ball clear of danger and then at the other end another Donnelly corner swinging in with the wind caused chaos as a Wingate player sliced the ball against his own crossbar before it was hacked clear and United went in a goal to the good at the break.
Less than ten minutes after the re-start, United were again indebted to the impressive Asafu-Adjaye who was well positioned to clear a McDonald shot from eight yards away off the line.
The next opening came the way of United as Ismael Ehui played Tom Jelley in on the right flank, his first time cross finding Lewis Toomey but he was unable to get his glancing header on target and the effort sailed well wide of the target.
Within a minute United’s defence were put to the test again inside their own 18 yard box, McDonald broke away on the left before cutting inside, his effort was blocked by McDevitt and then when the ball ran to Charles-Smith his strike was deflected wide by Kinnane.
With the wind keeping chances to a minimum, the next for United came in the 76th minute when Toomey met a Donnelly corner, his header going inches wide of the Wingate goal and then just four minutes later the last clear cut opening fell to the visitors when a poor pass around his own area by Manny Folarin saw the ball passed directly to Wingate’s Beckles who hit a curling shot that was well intercepted by Asafu-Adjaye who managed to head the powerful shot wide of his own net and United saw out the final ten minutes to net a 1-0 win against higher ranked opposition.
Report by Kevin Watts.
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Hayes & Yeading United |
Wingate & Finchley |
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