UNITED BOSS PROUD OF TEAM DESPITE FA CUP EXIT
UNITED BOSS URGES FA CUP CROWD TO KEEP UP SUPPORT
A BUMPER crowd of more than 1,500 saw Hayes & Yeading United’s FA Cup run end on Sunday in the sunshine at The SkyEx Community Stadium and live on TV.
It was a valiant effort against a League One Oxford United side four levels higher in the pyramid, who ended 2-0 winners in the First Round tie.
After a somewhat frustrating first half with some great goalkeeping from Jack Smith keeping the home side in the tie, Paul Hughes made a switch in formation and personnel for the second-half and saw his side more than match their professional visitors.
He was pleased with the reaction and the occasion.
“The lads can be pleased with their performances,” he said.
“I think the club can be proud of them and I think to have such a good team come and dictate to us in the first-half we could have easily folded, but the response at half-time was superb.
“The fight and belief that we showed, believing we could actually win the game was clear and we were absolute Trojans in that second half and deserved a goal.
“Oxford had a few things to think about in that second half.
“They are a very classy team and I am just pleased our lads put in such a great second-half performance.
“We changed at half-time because in the first half we simply couldn’t get out of our half.
“We changed it up with two up front in a 5-3-2 and it matched them up all over the park and they found it difficult. We executed it really well. I’m just disappointed we didn’t get a goal.
“It was nice to see a full stand. It shows where the club could be, if the fans make the choice to come and watch their local club.
“The club needs them. The hard work and dedication by a handful of people to get this game on here and with TV cameras means the club probably deserves them too.
“We play good football, we produce a good product on the pitch and, as people have hopefully seen, there is great potential to further build this as a community club and for people to come and watch some football and have a great day out.
“It would be great to get their support week in, week out.”
Despite exiting the FA Cup, United still remain in the other cups they entered this season, leaving quite a fixture backlog.
On Saturday, Salisbury are the visitors in the Southern League Premier South as United look to climb back up the table with several games in hand over those around them.
On Tuesday November 19 they travel to Hendon in the League Cup, before the lengthy away day to Merthyr Town on Saturday November 23, pending FA Trophy results.
Following the postponement of the Middlesex Senior Cup tie at Wealdstone last Tuesday evening, this fixture has now been rearranged for Tuesday November 26, replacing the previously re-arranged home game against Poole Town in the league.