Hayes & Yeading started the squad rebuilding process by utilising 22 players including many trialists in a comfortable 3-0 win away at FC Romania in the July sunshine.
United almost got off to the perfect start in just the first minute when returning striker Elliot Benyon charged down a clearance by the hosts 'keeper only for the ball to go inches wide of the target.
In a half of very few openings as befits the first game of pre-season, the next chance came after 20 minutes when Laste Dombaxe slid the ball through to James Clark, the former Wealdstone man took the ball around the 'keeper but went too wide to get a shot in as the stopper held onto his subsequent cross.
Six minutes from the break the home side finally had an effort on goal as a 20 yard drive was blocked wide by a well timed interception by the returning Dan Spence.
Paul Hughes threw on a completely changed eleven in the second half and this brought chances at both ends and three goals for his side without reply.
The first opening of the half came for the home side as a header from a left wing cross left trialist 'keeper Lee Axworthy rooted to the spot only for the ball to come back off the post before being cleared.
A few minutes before the hour mark a quick break forwards by Jonathan Hippolyte saw his right wing cross being deflected toward his own goal by an FC Romania defender with the ball coming back into play off the 'keepers knee.
On the hour though the deadlock was broken as a right side corner was forced home in the centre by trialist Hani Berchiche.
Fired by going ahead, United pushed for a quick second. Dean Mason broke out from defence and fed Hippolyte who saw his dangerous low driven cross deflected away for a corner kick that came to nothing.
A minute later though United did have another when Hippolyte collected a perfect through ball and confidently slid the ball home.
Twenty minutes from time a fine low pass into the United box presented an opening for the home side only for James Taylor to chase back to slide the ball away from the attackers boot.
Hippolyte could have had a second but a heavy touch took the ball through to the 'keeper while at the other end a well struck shot from 20 yards came crashing back off the United crossbar and again the defence cleared up.
The final ten minutes saw a drive from trialist Dylan Ive well held by the home stopper but a minute later United had a third when Tobi Adaje curled a 20 yard free-kick around the wall into the bottom corner to round off a satisfying start to the pre-season fixtures.
Report by Kevin Watts.