Hayes & Yeading continued to push for a play-off place with a step 3 club record 6-0 victory over Blackfield & Langley at a rain swept SKYex on Tuesday evening with massive credit to Derrick Matthews for providing a superb playing surface despite to recent inclement weather.

Manager Paul Hughes started with the same XI that were due to take on Hendon on Saturday before storm Dennis forced the game to be cancelled just minutes before kick-off meaning a second United debut for returning stopper Dan Lincoln in the United goal.

United got off to a dream start, going in front in just the fourth minute against one of only two teams that we had not yet faced this season with this fixture having fallen foul to the weather twice previously. Francis Amartey turned his marker inside out on the right side of the Watersiders area before crossing to Manny Duku, his first time shot was off target and when the ball was recovered, United forced a corner kick. Omar Rowe took the kick short to Karl Cunningham before collecting the return and drilling the ball past visiting ‘keeper Lewis Noice from the right corner of the box for his twelfth of the campaign.

The game settled with little to shout about at either end for a time until Rowe had the ball in the net again on 20 minutes, firing home after Noice had done well to push out a low Duku shot, only to be denied by a raised assistant’s flag for offside.

Five minutes later the visitors were on the attack with Hisham Kasimu collecting the ball in the right channel, his cross toward strike partner Patrick Suraci looked comfortable for Dan Lincoln only for the United stopper to slip on the slick surface however he still had the presence of mind to get a strong hand to the ball to push it to safety with Jake Sheppard clearing the danger.

The final ten minutes of the half aw Duku fire into the side netting from a tight angle for United and at the other end Suraci cut in from the right but his low shot was dragged wide of the target without troubling Lincoln who was required a couple of minutes later but comfortably held a low shot from the same player.

A minute before the break United created another good opening when Callum Buckley rose at the far post to meet a Cunningham corner but his header was straight at Noice who held easily and the half closed out with United a goal to the good.

As the teams came out for the second half the heavens decided it was time to open and we kicked off under a deluge of rain to which the SKYex pitch seemed to hold up very well and once again a quick start by the home side saw United double the lead just four minutes in as Jack Williams played the ball down the left line to Rowe, he held the ball up well against his marker before finding Cunningham in the centre and he fired home his first goal for United from the edge of the box in only his second start having returned from long term injury.

Three minutes later as the rain continued to pour, two became three. Williams found Amartey this time in the left channel and he patiently looked up before rolling the ball across the six yard box to James Clark who fired home off Noice’s body to his great relief as the rest of the goal was gaping.

United were really in the mood for more now with the game virtually sewn up by the 52nd minute. Amartey raced forwards before finding Duku who saw his shot go just too high and then just a minute later Duku was bundled over in the box and referee Creswick pointed to the spot. With regular taker Scott Donnelly on the bench, Amartey took charge of the ball only to see his kick blocked away by Noice’s trailing leg and we stayed at 3-0.

Amartey was not to be denied however and just past the hour mark substitute Hassan Jalloh received the ball in the right channel from skipper Liam McDevitt, his low first time centre fell perfectly into Amartey’s forward surge and he fired beyond Noice without breaking stride.

Two chances of getting a goal back came for the Watersiders in the next ten minutes, firstly a deflected Tom Hanfrey shot almost wrong footed Lincoln but a quick change of direction enabled the United ‘keeper to push the effort wide and then just a few minutes later Sam Griffin found space in the United box but again Lincoln stood tall, pushing the drive to safety.

As we entered the final ten minutes United were to add two more to the tally, starting on 81 minutes. Lincoln pumped the ball long, Duku did well to beat Harry Medway to the ball in the air, flicking on to Amartey who turned past Josh Harfield on the edge of the box before sliding the ball past Noice for his fifth in five since signing from Slough Town.

Two more chances for the visitors, who didn’t stop pushing forwards despite the scoreline, came in quick succession. The first saw an excellently timed Callum Buckley block deny Kasimu and then Lincoln was on hand to palm away a Suraci effort before United iced it off with a sixth three minutes from time when Amartey won possession on the left side and played the ball to Jalloh in the middle and he rifled the ball past Noice from just outside the box.

This result sees United move into the play-off places for the first time this season on the back of a five game winning streak with the next three games against fellow play-off chasers you support as always will be required.

Report by Kevin Watts.

United Man of the Match: Francis Amartey.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.