That’s three rounds of the Buildbase FA Trophy completed, three away draws, three away victories and three away clean sheets as Paul Hughes’ side put in a thoroughly professional performance to knock out Southern Premier side Banbury United in Oxfordshire this afternoon courtesy of goals from Lee Barney and Roddy Collins.

It could have all been so different however as in just the fifth minute of the game Jack Smith pulled off probably his best save of the season to keep the scoresheet blank. Greg Kaziboni got free on the right flank and crossed deep to Steve Diggin who connected sweetly on the volley only for Smith to show his speed and agility to push the ball onto the woodwork with Liam McDevitt completing the clearance.

Ten minutes later with the home side still in the ascendancy, Keano Robinson was dispossessed just outside his own box to the right side by Jack Self who got to the bye-line before firing the ball across the United six yard box but beyond the reach of the in-coming Kaziboni.

Having conceded a lot of possession in the opening 20 minutes, Hayes & Yeading started to take control of proceedings. Roddy Collins, Scott Bridges and Toby Little combined down the left side with the latter firing in a first time centre to Duncan Culley, the strikers’ effort going over off the crossbar although he would have been denied anyway by the raised assistants flag for offside.

Less than 10 minutes later United were ahead though, Collins sent Little away on the left once more, the United wing-backs low driven centre being turned home from close range by Lee Barney for his nineteenth of the campaign, 20 behind last year’s record breaking Manny Duku who was watching on from the terraces.

Only one further opening came in the half and again it fell to the visitors when a superb cross-field pass by Robinson picked out Little who crossed to Bridges but his header was a little too high to trouble Manny Agboola in the Puritans goal.

Coming out after the break United got off to the perfect start by doubling the advantage in just over a minute. United were awarded a free-kick just outside the Puritans box on the right side, Bridges curled the dead ball into the box with Collins stooping to power home a header for his first United goal.

United immediately pushed for another as Little raced away once more down the left, his pull back finding Bridges who saw his drive deflected over the top by Charlie Wise.

Ten minutes into half a run from halfway by the home sides’ Kaziboni came to nothing when he pulled the trigger from 18 yards but his effort was well off target without troubling Smith.

Twenty minutes remained and United remained in the ascendancy, a long punt upfield by Smith was flicked on by Culley to substitute Hassan Jalloh who escaped Wise’s clutches despite having his shirt pulled, his deep cross found Little but Agboola held his effort.

A minute later the home side almost fluked a way back into the game when the impressive Oxford United loanee Matt Taylor broke away on the left and his cross forced Smith to tip the goalbound centre over the crossbar with the corner kick being easily cleared by the well marshalled United defence.

Two more chances of note came before the end, both to Paul Hughes’ side. Substitute Lewis Toomey collected in the left channel, his shot from the acutest of angles flying across the face of goal and out for a throw-in on the far side. Then in stoppage time Collins headed a clearance back toward the Puritans goal, Wise stepped on the ball which presented it nicely to Scott Donnelly but his drive was held by Agboola and United progressed soon after with an eleventh consecutive victory in all competitions.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

United Man of the Match: Roddy Collins.