HUGHES’ UNITED KEEPS CONTROL OF TITLE RACE
HAYES & Yeading United continue to apply the pressure on their title rivals in the Isthmian League South Central Division.
Their point at Bracknell Town in Saturday’s 3-3 draw keeps them in the driving seat should they win their games in hand.
It started brightly for third-placed United, who were ahead inside a minute when Scott Donnelly despatched a penalty after Scott Bridges had been brought down.
The game then turned on its head with Bracknell leading 2-1 at the break, but goals from Toby Little and Hassan Jalloh looked to be enough for United to grab a win, before former United man Harrison Bayley notched the equaliser for the home side in the 85th minute.
Disappointed not to have secured all three points, but upbeat about the place the club now sits in the league, Hayes boss Paul Hughes said: “We knew that they would play with two in midfield so we tried something different at the outset, but that wasn’t working so we quickly changed back to our usual formation and in the second half we certainly got what we asked them to do and we got a result.
“To come away from home against one of the fancied teams when perhaps we weren’t fully at the races is good and the sort of thing we need to be doing if we want to be challenging for the title.
“We all know football is not easy. You look at the other results in the division and nobody is romping Hayes boss Paul Hughes (right) said it was important not to lose away. We’ve got a great goal difference and games in hand, but they need to be won. Importantly we haven’t lost here and given one of our rivals a two-point advantage. If we apply those right energy levels every game, we will build results and we build success.”
“We’ve got a 100% record at home in the league this season and we’ve got a couple of home League games now ahead of us. We now need to continue that form and take that record into the Christmas period and beyond.”
United face FC Romania on Saturday, followed by Westfield at home on Tuesday December 11.
Meanwhile, Wealdstone were beaten 3-0 at home in National League South by Eastbourne Borough as Ryan Hall scored a brace.
Christian Smith was sent off just before half-time for a rash challenge which hardly helped the hosts’ cause, while short-term loanee from Reading Myles Roberts was a significant change in goal as he came in for regular keeper Jonathan North.
Wealdstone’s defensive unity seemed to be upset by the change and they failed to take a crucial chance too when Bradley Bubb earned a penalty in the 57th minute, only for Danny Green’s kick to be saved.