Hayes & Yeading’s title hopes took a knock at the SKYex on Saturday afternoon as Walton Casuals became only the second side to stop United scoring in a league match this season, the first at the SKYex, as a Jordy Mongoy strike on the stroke of half time saw the visitors snatch all three points in what can only be described as an under par United performance. Manager Paul Hughes gave debuts to new arrivals Josh Payne and Shayon Harrison but in a game of little real action it was more the apparent non-decisions that had more of a bearing on the result than what actually happened. With United playing into a fierce wind, the first moment of controversy came with just 9 minutes played as a defensive header back towards Casuals stopper Harvey Collins saw Jordan Norville-Williams get to the ball first and with all hands going in the air for a penalty as the United man appeared to be tripped, referee Torz-Brown waved away United’s protests. Almost half an hour had passed before anything of note showed itself, again the half chance was for United as Shayon Harrison brought the ball down well and set it aside for Norville-Williams but his shot was comfortably held by Collins. With the game itself being played out mainly in midfield it was the final minute of the half that saw United almost score and the visitors actually score. A deep ball across the Casuals area was collected by Jordan Ngalo, the United midfielder cutting back past his marker before curling the ball past Collins only for it to strike the upright and come back into play. From nearly going behind a long punt upfield saw United collect the ball only to concede possession on the halfway line with John Gilberts challenge seeing the ball run kindly to Jordy Mongoy who raced ahead and with United appealing vehemently for an offside flag, the striker “played to the whistle” as he should and advanced to fire the ball past Ravan Constable and the visitors went in a goal ahead at the break after Collins had easily fielded a Josh Payne free-kick in stoppage time. If the first half was slow for chances, the second wasn’t much better with Constable pretty much redundant in the United goal and the visitor’s defence showing amazing solidity which stopped United creating an awful lot going forwards. Seven minutes after the re-start Payne’s corner from the right was met at the near post by Harrison but his header was off target and then just before the hour mark Cole Brown and Ngalo exchanged passes on the right with the latter playing the ball to the near post where a sliding Harrison sent his effort inches wide of the upright. We were now at the midpoint of the second half and another United move was snuffed out by a well-timed interception at the back by the visitors as Omar Rowe broke free on the left and fired the ball low across in the direction of Francis Amartey but the cross was cut out by fine defending from Jerry Wiltshire. With all substitutes used, an injury to Charlie Wassmer in the 78th minute saw United having to chase a leveller with ten men on the field however with nine minutes remaining Kadell Daniel appeared to be brought down just inside the Casuals box only for the referee to again deny United a spot kick by awarding a free-kick about a millimetre outside the area. Payne took the kick and despite beating the wall, his effort hit the side netting. With United being a man short the remaining time was swallowed up by the visitors playing the ball into spaces without any attacking intent but by this time they had done their job and for the first time this season United had been “doubled”. Report by Kevin Watts. Photos by Stacio Fernandes ©. Print the Teamsheet: Here.