Delroy Preddie's reserve side continued to climb the league table with a 5-2 victory over Cheshunt on a cold night in Hertfordshire.

Hayes and Yeading United started the game at a high tempo and kept the ball for long periods. Their first move culminated in Adetayo Osifuwa collecting a lay off from Solomon Ofori and unleashing a long shot which just cleared the crossbar. Then, Christopher Gerrard and Josh Odunwo combined to tee up Ofori, but his shot was cleared off the line by Dan Richardson. From the resulting corner, United took the lead in somewhat fortuitous circumstances as Cheshunt keeper Sonny Sheed-Ryan dropped the ball into his own goal unchallenged at his near post.

The home side almost had an instant equaliser. Rio Brotherton dispossessed Tom Marr on the edge of the area and had a clear run through on goal, only for Tyler Wootton to block his shot, and although United were hesitant clearing their lines, Wootton was able to keep out the rebound efforts.

United doubled their lead after quarter of an hour's play as under 18 players Odunwo and Arti Krasniqi combined down the left, and the latter dipped his shoulder to advance beyond the back line before finishing firmly into the far corner of the net.

Cheshunt responded with some decent approach play on a difficult surface, but found United's defence stoic and it was a swift move on the left flank involving Andrew Dean, Krasniqi and Prince Mbengiu which over stretched the home back line, but Mbengiu's low centre was just out of Ofori's reach as he dived in at the far post.

Cheshunt got a foot back in the game four minutes before the break. Wootton dived low to his right to palm Jack Clarke's low shot around the post, after Brotherton's persistence on the right hand side won his side possession, but from the resulting corner, Brotherton powered in a header to the roof of the net.

United stirred into action, with Taofiq Olomowewe looping a header against the bar and from the resulting scramble, the ball was worked wide to Ofori. His cut back was skilfully turned towards goal by Huw Johnson but Sheed-Ryan was able to gather comfortably.

The start of the second half was punctuated by a long delay whilst Sheed-Ryan received treatment, but when play did restart, a clever little Mbengiu pass found Johnson whose throughball put Ofori clear, only for the winger to slide his shot wide right.

In the 54th minute, the same combination brought about the third goal, as Johnson found Ofori in the right channel and although his angle was acute, he was able to finish beyond Sheed-Ryan, in off the far post. This was unfortunately the home keeper's last involvement in the game as he hobbled off, to be replaced in goal by defender Dan Ferrigno.

This might have had a destabilising affect on most teams, but Cheshunt quickly got a way back into the game as a half cleared corner was turned back into the danger area by Clarke and Ross Deadman was able to prod the ball in under the advancing Wootton.

Both managers made changes as players started to tire and United substitute Hamza Aalouache made an instant impact, finding space down the left before delivering a pinpoint near post cross to find Odunwo's flicked header past Ferrigno.

Aalouache almost got on the scoresheet himself soon afterwards as he volleyed Ofori's cross goalwards only for Deadman to block the ball on the line. Both he and Mbengiu were also involved in the next move which saw Mario Quiassaca have his shot charged down.

United stretched their lead to 5-2 on 79 minutes as Ofori got to the right bye-line before cutting the ball back for Quiassaca to apply a firm finish, settling the game to secure United's second victory over Cheshunt in recent weeks.

Report by Nick Bell.

United Man of the Match: Andy Dean.