LEAGUE LEADERS MISS HOST OF CHANCES IN DRAW
LEAGUE LEADERS MISS HOST OF CHANCES TO DRAW WITH STRUGGLING EGHAM
PAUL HUGHES admitted Saturday was an “off-day” for runaway Isthmian League South Central Division leaders Hayes & Yeading United after they were held to a draw by lowly Egham Town.
Hayes & Yeading remain 14 points clear at the top of the table and one shy of 100 league goals but only managed a point at bottom of the table Egham after hitting the woodwork several times and having a Lee Barney penalty saved by man of the match Josh Bramwell in the Sarnies goal. After falling behind in the first half, substitute Rylan Myers netted the equaliser, his first for the club, midway through the second half but the winner would not come for Hughes’ men.
“This game reminded me a lot of the frustration we felt here last season,” the Hayes boss said. “An inability to put the ball in the back of the net coupled with a lack of quality for large periods that allowed Egham to gain confidence and earn a foothold in the game.
“We started quite sharp, which is typical of how we’ve been this year, and we should have been two up inside the first 10 minutes. Those chances were not taken and it would eventually cost us when their striker outpaced us at the back and they got their noses in front at half time.
“Losing Nick Elliot in the first 10 minutes was also a big blow as he’s looked good for us since arriving from Welwyn Garden City.
“It is very hard to keep that clinical and ruthless scoring streak we’ve consistently shown this year and today was simply an off day in that department. Our passing was a bit hit and miss, and the pitch didn’t help, but we can’t expect to play on a carpet each week.
“It’s tough conditions that we need to excel in and we have done that on numerous occasions this season so it’s not a critique we can aim at our group. They’ve dug in and won games away from home on poor pitches and this is why this game was so frustrating. It was simply not our day.
“The positives were seeing young Rylan Myers on the scoresheet and also having our U18 captain play the entire 90 minutes. He certainly showed everyone how good he is and how good he can become.
“Elliot Benyon returning and playing the lions share of the game was also a big plus. He is an excellent player and someone we want to get back fit as soon as we can to help us in the run in. To look at things in the right frame, a point away from home is never a bad thing and it’s another point towards our end goal.
“The fact we created so much while not being at our best is another good takeaway for me.”
United were back at the SkyEx on Tuesday for the Middlesex Senior Cup semi final visit of Harrow Borough and, on Saturday, welcome promotion-chasing Ware in the league, hoping to protect their 100 per cent home league winning record and to score their 100th league goal of the season. Next Tuesday then sees the league visit of Reigate’s South Park.