Hayes & Yeading’s season is finally off and running as Paul Hughes’ side put a mark in the W(in) column at the fourth attempt as goals from Scott Donnelly and Lyle Della-Verde saw off Farnborough at the SKYex on a steaming hot Bank Holiday Monday.

The gaffer made two enforced changes from Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Liam McDevitt and James Clark unavailable through illness and injury respectively, their places going to Taofiq Olomowewe and Elliot Benyon while Dylan Switters was preferred in midfield to Lyle Della-Verde who took a place on the bench.

After a cagey opening few minutes the first half chance came United’s way when Scott Donnelly sent a deep cross to Elliot Benyon, the United strikers header looping over the top of the ‘Boro goal. A couple of minutes later play had switched to the other end as a low ball in from the left picked out Perry Coles, the diminutive striker turned and got a shot away that the United defence deflected away for a corner, the kick being easily caught by Jack Smith in the United goal.

On 12 minutes a similar move from the visitors saw the ball again at Coles’ feet, his first time shot being well blocked by United skipper Ismail Yakubu who then cleared the ball away from the danger area.

Within a minute United were inches away from taking the lead. Omar Rowe received the ball inside the ‘Boro area before settling it back to Toby Little who returned it to Rowe but his effort went the wrong side of the upright. The same player missed by a similar margin ten minutes later, again Little was the provider with Rowe’s effort from the edge of the box again just missing the target.

United were back inside the visitors area within sixty seconds, Rowe broke in from the left before finding Dylan Switters, his shot on the turn was deflected across goal but too quickly for Benyon, the strikers glancing reaction header going well wide.

Just past the half hour mark the visitors missed out on a great chance to break the deadlock as Coles broke away on the left side, Jack Williams chased across to cover but the striker managed to pick out Andrew Sealy-Harris in the box, the midfielder scuffing his effort wide with just Smith to beat.

Keano Robinson soon after drove just too high from fully 25 yards before Beach pulled off a magnificent save to deny former Farnborough man Donnelly, the United midfielder’s 20 yard free-kick destined for the top corner but for a super tip over by the ‘Boro stopper.

As the half moved into stoppage time a third opening for Rowe saw another close shave and then in stoppage time Benyon collected in the box from Rowe and in the process of turning to shoot was adjudged by referee Ellsmore to have been fouled and a spot kick was awarded. Donnelly stepped up and fired beyond the desperate dive of Beach and United went in ahead at the break.

The second half in all honesty took some time to get going in the hot summer heat with the first decent opening not coming until an hour had been played. United won a corner kick on the left, Donnelly swung the ball into the middle where Yakubu headed goalwards only for substitute Kavan Cotter to play the ball off the line at the foot of the post.

Fifteen minutes later another opening for the hosts saw Switters thread the ball neatly through to Little, the United man being denied by Brach’s outstretched boot.

The visitors first noteworthy effort of the half in which United’s defence had stood firm came on 83 minutes and not surprisingly it was once again the lively Coles, his shot from the edge of the box just clearing Smith’s goal. Within a minute of two Sealy-Harris again found himself well placed in the United box, this time he was the recipient of a long Tony Halsey throw-in only to blaze the ball over the top.

Still the visitors pushed for an equaliser and with three minutes left Smith had to make his first real stop of the game as Coles collected a flick on and under pressure from Yakubu he delayed his shot allowing Smith to close him down and block the effort before grasping the loose ball.

The game was finally put to bed in stoppage time when United substitutes Ogo Obi and Lyle Della-Verde combined to double the lead. Obi collected the ball just outside the centre circle in the ‘Boro half and advanced to the left corner of the box before pulling the ball back to Della-Verde who slid it first time beyond Beach (above left) to seal United’s first points maximum of the campaign.

Congratulations also to Jack Smith who today equalled coach Delroy Preddie's club record with his 22nd clean sheet.

Report by Kevin Watts.


Photos by Montimagemedia ©.


United Man of the Match: Jacob Cook.


Print the Teamsheet: Here.

Bryan Akongo