Manager Paul Hughes’ 200th game in charge of Hayes & Yeading saw United earn a point against fellow play-off contenders Taunton Town at the SKYex on a windy Saturday afternoon as the hosts were twice pegged back by the visitors from Somerset.

With a strong wind blowing across the SKYex pitch, the first opening came the way of the home side in the fifth minute when Karl Cunningham played a neat pass forwards with the outside of his boot, Omar Rowe collected and ran at the Taunton box but his drive was just too high to trouble Lloyd Irish in the visitors goal.

United were to take the lead just five minutes later however when Taunton defender Jamie Short played an attempted clearance straight in the air, Cunningham did well to “kill” the dropping ball with James Clark playing it instantly to his right where Manny Duku collected, his initial strike was blocked by Nick Grimes but the United man was quickly onto the loose ball and fired across Irish low into the far corner.

Another chance came and went for United soon after as Matt Hall collected the ball on the right, his first time centre found Duku at the far post but he couldn’t keep his header down and this was shortly followed by an opening for the visitors at the other end where a long ball over the top found Dan Demkiv, Callum Buckley did well to hold him up forcing the Taunton striker to rush a snapshot that was well wide of the target.

Demkiv was not to be denied though and on 23 minutes he had his side level. Short broke away down the right side and played the ball in to Demkiv who with the deftest of touches at the near post guided the ball beyond Dan Lincoln into the United net.

Two more good chances came forth for the visitors in the minutes that followed, Ollie Chamberlain tried his luck from 20 yards but the effort was comfortably dealt with by Lincoln and then with six minutes to go to the break, hesitation in the United defence allowed visiting skipper Matt Wright to break through, Lincoln was quickly out to kick clear but only as far as Chamberlain who again tried his luck from distance but Lincoln was quick enough to regain his position and dived down on the goalbound shot.

Soon after Rowe collected the ball on the left flank and fed Sanmi Odelusi who found himself in an advanced position, his effort being dealt with easily by Irish and then as the game entered additional time at the end of the half, Rowe popped up with another stunning finish to put United ahead once more.

Francis Amartey received the ball on the left side, his quick feet left Adelsbury and Chamberlain flat footed as the United man advanced into the left side of the area, his low centre was cleared to Dan Sullivan who had his pocket picked by Odelusi 20 yards from goal, as the ball ran loose another attempt to clear by the visitors was blocked by Cunningham just outside the area with Rowe arriving to curl the ball beyond Irish with the outside of his foot for what must be a contender for “goal of the season”.

United were forced into a change at the break with Hassan Jalloh replacing Cunningham who had been treated for a knock just before the half-time interval.

The home side were on the attack looking for another shortly after the re-start, Duku laid the ball back to Clark who clipped the ball perfectly over the Taunton defence to Jalloh but his well struck first time effort was straight at Irish who held the ball tight in his midriff and the chance went begging.

As we passed the hour mark it was the visitors who were starting to push more and more toward the United goal, with efforts from both Sullivan and Chamberlain flying over the United goal without troubling Lincoln and then on 68 minutes they did get the equaliser that in all fairness they probably deserved. A quick throw-in on the right found Wright with his back to goal on the edge of the six yard box, his overhead cross from there finding Sullivan who had timed his run to perfection allowing him the easy task of heading past Lincoln from close range.

This equaliser seemed to fire the visitors more than United as chances came from the visitors in quick succession, Liam McDevitt did well to slide a low Sullivan centre wide of the goal when an own goal was a distinct possibility and then on 78 minutes Wright had the ball in the United net after he followed-up a Luke Spokes drive that Lincoln had palmed away, the effort being ruled out by a raised offside flag from the referee’s assistant on the far side.

The final ten minutes saw chances at both ends. Odelusi tried his luck from fully 30 yards but Irish handled the effort with ease and then with just three minutes remaining Sullivan picked out Spokes in the centre for the visitors but he headed over the United goal.

The final two openings again came and went, one apiece in the dying embers of the game. Firstly for United Rowe fed Jalloh from the right side, the United man’s effort being held by Irish and then deep into stoppage time a quick raid by the visitors saw a corner hang up in the wind, Adelsbury rose highest to the ball but headed wide and as referee Enstone drew the game to its conclusion it was a hard earned point apiece as we head into two tough away games in the coming week against Swindon Supermarine and Poole Town, both weather permitting of course.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Sanmi Odelusi.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.