Match Report

Hayes & Yeading Utd 1
Hanwell Town 3

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Hayes & Yeading made it seven League games without a win as our injury crisis continues to rage as local rivals Hanwell Town jumped above us and out of the drop zone with a 3-1 victory at the SKYex on Boxing Day.

With three more reporting injured after Saturdays game at Winchester, Manager Mark Molesley was grateful to have Omar Rowe, Michael Fernandes and Luke Gambin all report fit after missing the draw in Hampshire.

The visitors who themselves had not had a three pointer in the League since beating Harrow in September started well and just four minutes in Mat McKenzie cross to the far post finding Jenson Wright who saw his volley just clear the United crossbar.

In the tenth minute the Geordies again put the United goal under pressure as the ball was worked inside from the left to McKenzie who from the edge of the box hit a fierce drive that Jacob Adams got behind but could not hold however the United stopper was quick enough to jump on the loose ball as Sam Evans advanced looking for a tap in.

A minute later United had a sight of the visitors goal as Omar Rowe and Michael Fernandes combined on the left, the latter’s cross arrived with Roger James beyond the far post and he set the ball off to Rowe who saw his effort go just the wrong side of the upright.

Wright tried his luck from 30 yards on 21 minutes with the shot only just clearing the United crossbar although Adams looked to have it covered and then in the 36th minute Cole Brown crossed from the right side, Fernandes got to the ball first at the near post but his back-heeled effort was saved on the line by Sam Beasant in the Geordies goal and the loose ball was scrambled away to safety.

United fell behind on 42 minutes though as Daniel Fosu collected the ball inside the United area to the left corner of the eighteen yard box with his back to goal, he turned instantly and drilled a low shot into the far corner beyond Adams’ dive and the half closed out with the visitors a goal to the good.

First opening after the break fell to United as Rowe met a Luke Gambin corner from the left, his header was blocked on the line with Rowe putting the follow-up wide of the post at full stretch.

Two minutes later disaster struck from United as Adams raced out to the right of his area to clear a throughball, unfortunately his clearance went straight to Wright who stayed composed and fired the ball from 30 yards into the now vacant United net to double the Geordies lead.

Just past the hour mark Rowe advanced to the edge of the box before being tripped, the ball ran loose to Cole Brown and with referee Kaya playing advantage the United man fired at goal but his effort was easily held by Beasant.

Four minutes later United were awarded a penalty after a surge from defence saw Marvel Ekpiteta into the opposition area where he was dragged down from behind and the referee pointed to the spot. Fernandes took change from 12 yards and duly sent Beasant the wrong way to halve the deficit.

United went close to levelling the game on 78 minutes when Paul Field fired in a cross from the left that just evaded the outstretched boot of Ben Heath with Beasant gratefully grabbing the ball to his chest.

With four minutes left we were to witness one of the goals of the season, sadly it came from the visitors as Jenson laid the ball off to Fosu and he struck a perfect half-volley from the corner of the box that flew past Adams into the far top corner of the net to effectively seal maximum points for his side.

A late chance for United saw Rowe work space for a shot but his effort went wide and 2023 closed out for United in extremely disappointing fashion.

However, we go again in 2024, see you all at Hendon on New Years’ Day.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.

Hayes & Yeading United

Hanwell Town

Jacob Adams	Half-Time: 0 - 1 Full-Time: 1 - 3 Referee: Mr O Kaya Attendance: 259 Goals: Hayes & Yeading United: Fernandes (69 pen) Hanwell Town: Fosu (42 & 86) Wright (54)	Sam Beasant
Cole Brown		© Isaac Olorunfemi
Marvel Ekpiteta		Bernie Tanner
Sanmi Odelusi ©		Fabio Sole
Jerry Wiltshire		Dwayne Duncan
Omar Rowe		William Hall
Luke Gambin		Jenson Wright
Ayo Faniyan		Mat McKenzie
Paul Field		Sam Evans
Roger James		Daniel Fosu
Michael Fernandes		Jacob Bancroft
Substitutes:		Substitutes:

	Lindrit Beqiri	Dan Carr
	Tarik Moore-Azille	Jack Moriarty
	Ellis Lawson (for Faniyan, 87)	Calum Duffy
	Ben Heath (for James, 59)	Elliot Benyon (for Evans, 83)
	-	Abdul Osman