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Hayes & Yeading Utd 2
Staines Town 1
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Hayes & Yeading’s academy side moved to the top of the Ryman Youth League West Division with a narrow and hard fought victory over neighbours Staines Town on Thursday evening courtesy of a late brace from top scorer Dylan Kearney.
The game started at a frenetic pace and could have been 3-3 after just 15 minutes as chance after chance went begging at both ends. The visitors did actually have the ball in the net after just two minutes, Terence Vancooten’s shot beating George Upton only to come back off the post for Taku Madhlazi to tap home, he was however ruled offside and the scoresheet remained blank.
Vancooten had a great chance minutes later when he latched on to a misplaced Upton pass only to fire across the face of goal and wide of the far post. First chance for United saw a Ross McKernan cross being met by Ben Slade who flicked his header over the challenge of ‘keeper Harry Churchill only for the ball to come back off the crossbar.
Former United man Nat Mensah then broke through for the Swans only to be denied by Upton who was quickly off his line while for United an excellent cross-field pass from Matt Marques picked out Dylan Kearney who got to the ball before Churchill but the ‘keeper managed to get his fingertips to the ball to divert it wide.
The Swans then went close again as Justin Scott turned past McKernan before hitting a dipping shot that just failed to hit the target. The opener was only two minutes away though, Staines were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal in a central position, skipper Callum McAllister stepped up and hit the ball over the wall and past Upton although the United ‘keeper will be disappointed I’m sure to be beaten in the middle of his goal.
United immediately stepped up their game and should have levelled on 24 minutes when Slade rose to meet a Charlie Mitchell cross only to head well over. Next to almost benefit from another Mitchell centre was Kearney, collecting the ball at the far post and getting away a shot from close range that Churchill did well to push around the post.
Hayes & Yeading came out in the second half immediately looking to restore parity. Mitchell again fundamental in a move that saw him pick out Cole Brown who took a touch into the area before seeing his shot pushed away by Churchill.
The woodwork was soon to keep United out again, this time Josiah Benjamin being denied as he attempted to hook a corner into the net from close range, the ball striking the underside of the crossbar before being cleared to safety by the Swans defence.
The half was not to be one way traffic though as Scott saw a volley just miss the target and Upton did well to block at the feet of defender Dino Miller who had advanced into the United box from the right side. Between these two attempts it was that woodwork denying United yet again as Kearney’s low shot glanced wide off the post.
Upton was again in action as the game entered the final ten minutes, holding onto a diving header from Vancooten. This save proved pivotal as United launched an attack that was to finally being an equaliser. Kearney’s shot on the turn was superbly pushed wide by Churchill although his defenders seemed a little lethargic as Marques crossed quickly from the corner and Kearney popped up at the far post to head home from close range.
Once again United showed that they have the capacity to battle to the end even though four of the starting XI had also started 48 hours earlier for United’s reserves at St Albans City and this brought just reward when substitute Timon Khyne-Sam picked off a poor back pass and rolled the ball to Kearney who slotted home his 20th of the season and eighth in the last three games.
In stoppage time he almost had another hat-trick, being denied by Churchill who pushed his effort wide of the post.
Report by Kevin Watts.
United Man of the Match: Ross McKernan.
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