Hayes & Yeading returned from a wet windswept Brighton on Tuesday evening with maximum points from a comeback victory over Whitehawk at the Enclosed Ground.

An early opening for the home side saw Scott Neilson make space for himself to cross from the right, Shepherd Murombedzi helping his defence by nipping in front of the ever dangerous Danny Mills to clear the danger.

A run on the left side this time by Neilson soon after set up an opening from distance for former United man David Ijaha, his effort clearing James Hamon’s crossbar with a few inches to spare.

United started to push on themselves with Ashley Lodge collecting a throw-in on the left before picking out Murombedzi, his header being saved by Craig Ross diving to his left.

A well constructed passing move around the middle of the park made an opening for skipper Adam Everitt, his low shot from 25 yards being comfortably swept up by Ross.

The Hawks thought they had the lead midway through the half as Mills arrived at the far post to tuck home a David Martin free-kick only to be denied by the raised assistant’s flag signalling that he was offside.

Murombedzi held the ball up well on the right before feeding the overlapping Elliott Simpson, his cross towards Everitt and Max Worsfold in the centre would have dropped in but for Ross who tipped the cross over at full stretch.

Neilson had a shot from the edge of the United box that went just wide of the upright and that was it for an even but scoreless first 45 minutes.

The Hawks came out looking a little sharper after the break and broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute. Nick Arnold’s cross from the right took a bounce in the United box and Dean Leacock nipped in front of the covering Olumide Durojaiye to place his header downwards and in off the far post giving Hamon no chance.

United gave an instant response to this and within two minutes Garry Haylock’s side were level. A weak headed clearance from Hawks skipper Sergio Torres was controlled by Lodge who moved the ball to his left and hit a curling 20 yard shot that beat Ross’s dive and nestled in the bottom corner of the Hawks net.

After a couple of half chances at each end, United took the lead in the 75th minute. Lodge started the move on the left, dancing past Torres tackle before finding Worsfold, the wide man in turn found Simpson on the right, his cross seeing Elliot Benyon outleap the taller Leacock to plant a perfect header in to the top corner of The Hawks net as referee Kaye waved away the Hawks offside appeals.

United were now pretty much in control of proceedings, Murombedzi did well on the right, his low cross being cut out by Ross with Benyon arriving although at the other end, a double block was required to deny Torres a route to goal for the hosts.

A ball out of the United defence as the game approached its conclusion was collected by substitute Ismael Ehui, he turned and teased his marker before playing the ball left to Murombedzi who swept past Ijaha in the box and crossed low past Ross to where Ehui had arrived unmarked to wrap up a deserved and crucial victory for Garry’s side.

Report by Kevin Watts.

United Man of the Match: Adam Everitt.

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