Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
MISSED CHANCES COST UNITED DEAR
IT WAS a case of missed chances on the pitch and a massive opportunity squandered off it, as Hayes & Yeading United slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Aylesbury United – missing out on the chance to go top of the Southern League East Division.
United manager Paul Hughes stuck with an unchanged side and it was the visitors that were quickest out of the blocks, as Scott Donnelly slid the ball through to Manny Duku before Aylesbury keeper Jack Hopwood smothered the danger.
Minutes later a snapshot from the Ducks’ Ben Seaton came through a crowd of players and was well held by United’s Zaki Oualah.
The pivotal moment came on 27 minutes as United’s Tom Smith was felled by a head injury. With the United player prone in the box, the referee waved play on and the ball ricocheted in the box before a trip was adjudged and a spot-kick awarded to Aylesbury.
Ollie Hogg beat Oualah from 12 yards.
Minutes later Duku knocked the ball down to Spyros Mentis, who fed Duncan Culley and his first-time shot beat Hopwood but was inches wide of the far post.
The visitors dominated possession after the break but could not break down a resolute Ducks defence.
On 58 minutes, a Donnelly freekick from halfway was met by Duku and his glancing header went the wrong side of the upright.
Hayes & Yeading’s Toby Little then collected on the left and swung over a deep cross that found Duku, whose effort was bundled wide by the Ducks keeper.
As the game went into stoppage time, Little sent in a cross that was fumbled by Hopwood, the ball falling to Ismael Ehui who, from a yard out, headed against the bar before Callum Mapley cleared.
“It was a frustrating day on a difficult pitch with neither side creating much,” said Hayes & Yeading manager Hughes. “A soft penalty decided the game. We had a great opportunity to equalise in the first half when Duku put Culley in, and another great opportunity late in the second half, when Ismael hit the bar from a yard out.
“These are the margins we’re talking about. Take those two gilltedged chances and we win the game and sit top of the table. Miss them and we lose the game with a record of one point in the last two games and, unfortunately, it starts a negative and nervous stir around us.
“Critically speaking, we feel our quality on the ball has let us down in our last two league games. Given our passing style of play, it means we have to sometimes find a way of digging victories out.
“We’ve proved we have those qualities and when you combine that with confidence and quality on the ball, we are a strong outfit.
“This group of players need to continue to rely on, and have confidence in their quality on the ball.
“As a management team, we need to reinforce this and give the players a fearless approach to the next three games. The key is for everyone, including fans, to relish and enjoy a promotion push and appreciate the opportunity we’ve all worked hard to earn.”