UNITED KNOCKED OFF THE TOP BY TITLE RIVALS
HAYES & Yeading United suffered only their second defeat in the Isthmian League South Central Division this season when they were defeated at Marlow, who leapfrogged United to go top of the table.
United’s 11-game winning streak ended in a tough game on a tough pitch with leading scorer Lee Barney on the sidelines through injury.
Both sides had chances in the opening half, but with United below par it was the home team who led at the break after a goal on 37 minutes.
Although United’s Liam McDevitt appeared to be fouled by a lunging Marlow tackle, the ref played on and that ball ran nicely to Marcus Mealing, the striker picking out OseiTutu in the middle, who managed to force the ball home.
Following a half-time tactical change, with Roddy Collins replaced by Lewis Toomey, who moved up to join Duncan Culley in attack with Hassan Jalloh moving back a little to the front of the United midfield, the visitors came back into the game.
On 54 minutes they got themselves level when Jalloh collected the ball and chipped a perfect ball over the Marlow defence to Culley who, seeing keeper Simon Grant off his line, planted a perfect lob over the stranded keeper.
Further chances came and went but United did not have the killer blow. With just two minutes to go United were undone by a pair of the many former United men in the Marlow side. Substitutes the Bossman brothers combined with Kelvin, firing the ball across to Allen on the right hand corner of the United box. The midfielder picked his spot and curled the ball beyond Smith into the top far corner.
On Saturday Hayes are back at the SkyEx for the visit of Premier Division Brightlingsea Regent in the FA Trophy. On Tuesday November 27, United travel to CB Hounslow in the next round of the Middlesex Charity Cup.