Hayes & Yeading’s first ever visit to AFC Totton saw Mark Molesley’s side return home pointless after losing out by the odd goal in three against the high flying Hampshire side. The gaffer made three changes from the starting XI that drew a blank against Sholing on Saturday with skipper Sanmi Odelusi returning from suspension, he also gave a rare start to Roger James and a first start for 18 year-old striker Ben Heath. Making way were Amos Nasha, Michael Fernandes and Ayo Faniyan who all took places on the bench. Both sides started quickly with the hosts creating a good opening within the first sixty seconds as Leon Maloney played a corner to the near post where former Hayes FC loanee striker Scott Rendell got his head to the ball but his effort went wide of the target. Two minutes later United almost went ahead in spectacular style as Roger James collected the ball in the opposition half just outside the centre circle, having advanced to about 35-40 yards from goal he looked up to see the Stags ‘keeper Lewis Noice off his line and tried an audacious chip that sailed over Noice but sadly went just the wrong side of the upright. From almost taking the lead, with 30 seconds United were behind as a long pass up the Totton right flank was misjudged by Paul Field allowing Maloney to run forwards freely before cutting inside and flicking the ball past Jacob Adams to put the Stags ahead after just 3 minutes. United almost responded with five minutes as Ronan Silva clipped the ball forwards to Omar Rowe who cut inside and shot only for his effort to be well defended by Adam Tomasso who deflected the effort wide of the post. On 12 minutes the hosts could have had another as Rendell collected the ball on the left and pulled it back to the advancing Tomasso only for his effort from the edge of the United box to fly inches wide of Adams’ upright. After such a quick start the game turned into a pretty mundane game of cat and mouse with little or nothing being created until the 41st minute when Maloney collected a cross-field pass, took a touch to steady himself and fired for goal only for his effort to be well blocked by a sliding Marvel Ekpiteta. The half then closed out with the hosts a goal to the good. United made a double change at the break with James and Heath being replaced by Michael Fernandes and Ayo Faniyan. The changes paid dividends for United as within six minutes the scores were level. Luke Gambin fired in a corner kick, the Stags defence partially cleared the ball but only as far as Sanmi Odelusi who fired through a crowd in the box with the ball settling nicely in the far corner of the Stags net. Just before the hour mark another Gambin corner was played deep but with Jerry Wiltshire stretching he could only head the ball wide of the hosts goal. On the hour United were caught on the break as Stags substitute Ethan Taylor raced away down his left flank before putting in a cross that was met first time on the volley by Rendell who gave Adams no chance as the ball flew into the roof of the United goal and the hosts were ahead once more. With 81 minutes played United could and maybe should have levelled the game, Silva played the ball in from the right side, his cross sailed over Noice to Fernandes who met the ball on the volley close to goal but his effort flew over the bar and United remained a goal in arrears. Five minutes later another chance to equalise came and went for the visitors. Rowe and Gambin combined well on the right side with the latter’s chipped cross finding Faniyan in the centre but his header went the wrong side of the upright. Final attempt at goal came in stoppage time for the hosts as Taylor stepped up for a free-kick 20 yards from goal, his driven effort evaded the wall but flew wide of the target and soon after referee Barber drew the game to a close and United were beaten.
Report by Kevin Watts. United Man of the Match: Cole Brown.