Two late United goals saw Paul Hughes' Hayes & Yeading side progress to the final qualifying round of this year’s Buildbase FA Trophy with a 4-2 victory over Soham Town Rangers at a cold and wet SKYex on Wednesday evening .
An early effort from Liam McDevitt was marginally off target and then in just the sixth minute the visitors struck when a Ryan Auger free-kick from the right corner of the box deceived Jack Smith and ended up in the back of the United net.
United were soon back on the attack though. Joe Grant started a move up the field, he fed Ogo Obi who slid the ball left to Toby Little and he picked out Grant in the middle who had continued his run but sadly his header was off target.
Hassan Jalloh then forced a save from Josh Pope in the Soham goal, the 'keeper grabbing the ball at the second attempt as Omar Rowe closed in. Soon after Jalloh and Elliott Buchanan combined to create an opening for Obi but having beaten his marker he fired into the side netting.
With 23 minutes played Rowe dispossessed Auger in midfield and raced at the Soham box, drawing out the defence, before playing in Buchanan who coolly slotted past Pope to deservedly bring United level.
A couple of minutes later Scott Donnelly sprayed the ball perfectly across the park to Little, he picked out Obi at the corner of the area but the striker's curling effort went the wrong side of the far post.
Chances were coming regularly for United. A quick free-kick routine between Little and Donnelly ended with the former's cross come shot being tipped over by Pope.
Ten minutes from the break a miss hit shot from 20 yards by the visitors was flicked goalwards by Callum Russell, Smith pushed the effort out and reacted quickest to the loose ball as Cameron Watson closed in and the sides went in level at the break.
Just under five minutes after the restart the visitors had another good chance when Russell met a corner but his volley thankfully went wide of the post.
Almost immediately United sprung forwards and indeed took the lead when Obi collected the ball on the left, outpacing Lewis Clayton before firing past Pope from the left side of the Soham area.
On the hour Rowe's excellent through ball sent Buchanan on goal, his chip beyond Pope drifting wide of the post and within a minute a similar close shave saw Jalloh fire across Pope with the ball just missing the bottom corner. Pope soon after raced from his goal to beat Buchanan to the ball, his clearance going straight to Little who lobbed the ball back only for the retreating Watson to dive and head the ball wide of his own goal.
These close shaves sprung the visitors to life once again and with a touch of fortune they were soon level when a curling free-kick from the left touchline was inadvertently flicked beyond Smith by the unlucky Rowe for an own goal.
With 16 minutes to go Rowe had a 20 yard drive saved by Pope and within a minute a perfect Donnelly pass found Jalloh, he lifted the ball over his marker but just failed to get a touch as Pope gathered.
Six minutes from time and with a replay very much on the cards, Donnelly fired a free-kick goalwards from 25 yards out only to be denied by Pope who pushed the ball wide and then just a couple of minutes later the impasse was broken, Donnelly brought the ball forwards before finding Jalloh on the edge of the area, his instant touch inside found Buchanan who fired home his second of the game.
In the third minute of stoppage time a long Smith punt was flicked on by Buchanan to Jalloh, his initial effort was saved by Pope but the United man quickly recovered the ball, dodged a pair of defenders and fired home to see United through.
Report by Kevin Watts.
United Man of the Match: Omar Rowe.
Print the Teamsheet: Here.
