Hayes & Yeading moved into the play-off places with a hard fought 2-1 victory over basement boys Arlesey Town at the SKYex on Saturday afternoon, a double strike from Toby Little earning the points for Paul Hughes’ side.

With first choice 'keeper Jack Smith passed fit, newly signed Xavi Comas had to be content with a place on the United bench for this one.

The first ten minutes of the contest were evenly contested with no scares for either defence until Duncan Culley latched on to a poor kick by visiting ‘keeper Lewis Elsom near the half way line, he advanced forwards and played the ball forwards to Andrew Ofosu who was off balance when he shot and sliced the ball wide of the target.

Two chances in quick succession for the visitors saw Harlem Sambu break up the right side, his low centre aimed for centre-forward Kim Forsythe being intercepted and cleared by a fine Danny May sliding challenge. Two minutes later the same two pushed on again, this time Sambu finding Forsythe with a pull-back from the bye-line only for the striker to fire over from just inside the United box.

Two minutes later the deadlock was broken, by United. Scott Donnelly fed the ball forwards to Culley, he in turn ran at the heart of the Arlesey defence before sliding the ball through to Toby Little who took a touch and slid the ball under Elsom’s dive (below right).

Just seven minutes later United and Little had two. May played the ball long from defence, Culley flicked on to Little who with the ball on his left foot never looked like failing, and he duly slid the ball once again past Elsom’s dive.

The next opening again fell to Little, this time May lofted the ball forwards direct to Little who brought it under control but tried his luck with his weaker right foot and Elsom saved comfortably.

As the final few minutes came and went, it was the visitors who looked the more likely to trouble the scorers. Sambu fed the ball to Elias Moses, his shot going just the wrong side of the upright, the same result came from a 25 yard effort by Forsythe after good build up work from Moses and Moses himself blew a great chance in the final minute of the half, firing over from just 8 yards having received yet another Sambu centre.

From a United perspective, the second half was somewhat flat as the visitors were to see a greater amount of possession although notable chances were on par. Eight minutes after the re-start, Danny Hutchins and Culley combined well with the defender running onto the ball but flicking it side from close in just outside the left upright.

Two more openings came just after the hour mark, the first falling to United, skipper Spyros Mentis played the ball wide to Luke Joyce-Dwarika, his low centre found Ofosu who saw his goalbound effort deflected wide courtesy of a well timed defensive interception.

A minute later though the visitors got themselves back in the game as substitute Fabian Brown-Johnson collected the ball on the left side, he cut past Keano Robinson in the box and pulled the ball back to Tony Williams who slotted the ball confidently past Jack Smith in the United goal.

Sadly for the spectators this was really the last note worthy chance of the game, Arlesey belied there place at the foot of the table by playing some neat controlled football however United stood firm at the back while offering little in attack and the game faded out but the end result was a vital three points for United that pushes us up to fifth in the table.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Toby Little.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.