United leapfrog Supermarine after Amartey winner
HAYES & YEADING MOVE UP TO THIRD IN THE TABLE
RISING Hayes & Yeading United moved up to third in the Southern Premier South on Saturday, leapfrogging Swindon Supermarine who they beat 1-0 at home, thanks to an 11th-minute Francis Amartey goal.
Boss Paul Hughes was rightly pleased after the game as his side continue to improve their promotion chances.
“It was a great result and another impressive start to a game by us,” he said.
“We’re certainly very quick out of the blocks at the moment. The way we played in those first 20 minutes was exciting to watch and I felt we would go on and control the game, but it didn’t quite pan out like that.
“They’re a good team and I think they played very well, which is why I’m very pleased we managed to get the three points.”
Analysing the opposition, Hughes added: “They set up to defend first and foremost, which is a compliment to us, and I think that allowed us to control possession early on.
“When we scored, it was deserved, but it then forced them to come at us and it became a much more open and competitive game.
“As always, I have areas of improvement I’d like to see in our play. We seem to take our foot off the gas when we dictate a game and go a goal up.
“We’ve shown, even against the best sides, that we’re good enough to control the play. With that control, when the breakthrough comes, it’s as if we take it down two or three gears and stop playing at the tempo that got us in front in the first place.
“Despite me moaning and looking for excellence from our players, I think they deserve a lot of respect for the form we’re in.
“They are winners, they’re humble and they’re all receptive to being coached and improving.
“We have good character in the team and a squad that understands how important they all are to the success of the group. We’ll need all of our players in these last 10 games and a strong bench is just as vital as a strong starting XI. The players coming on see the game out for us and can also make a difference. All of our subs strengthen the team in their own way. We’re very fortunate to have such a strong group.”
United host Walton Casuals on Saturday, before two more away games, at Hendon (March 17) and Blackfield & Langley (March 21).
Club officials and Hughes will be on hand to answer fans questions tonight (Wednesday) at a fan’s forum hosted in the club bar from 7pm.