Paul Hughes' Hayes & Yeading side entertained Hendon for the second time in less than two weeks at the SKYex with the same result, a United win by the smallest of margins, this time by the odd goal in five rather than nine as the points stayed with United.

The gaffer made a single change from the side narrowly beaten at Taunton three days previous with Lyle Della-Verde coming in for Toby Little, who dropped to the bench for this one.

The first effort of the game came from United on six minutes when Hassan Jalloh collected the ball 25 yards from goal, cut inside and tried his luck from just outside the box only for his effort to go wide of the target without troubling Chris Grace in the Greens goal.

This however was not to be the precursor of things to come, certainly for the next 25 minutes anyway as the visitors took the lead, had a goal disallowed and struck the United woodwork twice in this period of play.

On eighteen minutes the Greens took the lead through a route one move that saw a long ball pumped forwards to on-loan Slough striker Francis Amartey, Liam McDevitt looked to have him covered only to be out manoeuvred by the Hendon man which saw him take the ball and fire past Jack Smith from inside the box.

On and just beyond the half hour mark the United woodwork was rattled twice. On 29 minutes a long throw-in from Greens skipper Lee Chappell dropped to Amartey eight yards from goal, his shot was deflected onto the post before going along the line with Smith doing very well to claw the ball away to safety.

Soon after the visitors had a goal disallowed when a cross from the left was slapped into the United net deliberately by the hand of Obina Ogbonna, earning the Hendon debutant a deserved yellow card from referee Warren.

It was not long before the woodwork saved United again though, a break away down the left saw the ball fired across the United box to Ogbonna, who this time used his foot instead of his hand, but the shot came back off the crossbar to safety.

Having almost been two or maybe three behind, United moved forwards and on 36 minutes found an equaliser as Omar Rowe collected the ball from Jalloh 20 yards from goal, his quick turn set up the chance of a shot that he took without hesitation, the ball ending up nestling in the corner of the visitors net courtesy of a small deflection.

Another defensive slip five minutes from the break almost let Amartey in again, a long ball upfield saw McDevitt’s attempted stooping head back lack pace, Amartey sharply nipped in only for his effort to be touched wide by Smith.

The final chance of the half fell to the home side as a James Clark free-kick flew past the wall but comfortably into Grace’s arms and somehow the half closed out all square at 1-1.

Not surprisingly changes were made by Paul Hughes at half-time with Della-Verde and Joe Grant being replaced by strikers Phil Roberts and Ogo Obi as the side was re-shaped.

These changes paid off within three minutes too as Obi collected the ball on the left side of the Hendon area, his perfect pull-back to Jalloh allowed the United number 10 to take a touch to control the ball before firing past Grace to put United in front.

This signalled the start of a good spell of pressure from the home side as minutes later Jalloh collected the rebound from his own corner kick on the right side, his cross found Rowe in the area but he dragged his shot wide of the target. Minutes later Jalloh was again in creative mode, this time a fine cross-field pass picked out Obi, the former Hendon striker moving into the box only for him to be denied by a key interception from Chappell that saw the shot go wide.

Just past the hour mark Smith had to be alert to turn away a shot from distance by former United man Sam Corcoran and from the resultant corner the same player picked up the ball 20 yards out but this time his effort was well wide of the United goal.

Rowe then volleyed a Jalloh corner wide of the goal before on 76 minutes a very neat double exchange between Jalloh and Obi saw the latter upended just inside the box and referee Warren pointed to the spot. Obi himself took charge of proceedings and duly crashed home his seventh of the campaign to give United a little breathing space.

Minutes later United almost had a fourth when Rowe fed Roberts on the right corner of the box, the striker hitting a low shot that Grace did well to keep out with an outstretched right boot.

The aforementioned breathing space was again to be required, much like the recent FA Cup tie between the sides, as with just two minutes of normal time remaining Amartey collected the ball 35 yards from goal before racing past Ismail Yakubu and firing low past Smith.

In stoppage time the visitors went close to a leveller when a 20 yard effort was deflected into the path of 45 year-old veteran striker Scott McGleish, Smith was quickly down to thwart him although the assistant referee did appear to have an offside flag poised anyway and United closed out the game to earn a hard 3 points that sees Paul Hughes side move up to 14th in the table.

Report by Kevin Watts.

United Man of the Match: Omar Rowe.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.

© Lee Chappell