Hayes & Yeading United 0-0 Sholing

Date: Saturday 16 December 2023, 3pm – Southern League Premier South

Venue: SKYex Community Stadium   Attendance: 205

Hayes & Yeading United: Jacob Adams, Cole Brown, Marvel Ekpiteta ©, Jerry Wiltshire, Omar Rowe, Luke Gambin (Ben Heath 90), Ayo Faniyan (Norman Wabo 68), Paul Field, Ronan Silva, Amos Nasha, Michael Fernandes (Roger James 68).  Unused Subs : Tarik Moore-Azille, Luke Warner-Eley

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, George Milner Smith, Marv McLean (Jake Cope 46), Keane Anderson, Owen Roundell, Karlos Gregory (Charlie Wagstaffe 61), Mathias Tepe,  Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason, Jake Hesketh (Luka Chalwell 73), Charlie Davis.  Unused subs : Dan Miller, Rob Flooks

Man of the Match : Byron Mason

Match Stats (home side first) : Possession : 47% / 53% - Shots on Target : 8 / 4 - Shots off Target : 10 / 5 - Final Third Entries : 49 / 18

Boatmen came away with a point on our first ever visit to Hayes & Yeading United. 

Team News : Marv, Karlos & Owen all returned to the starting line-up, but Jake Flannigan missed out through injury and Brad Targett was serving a one match suspension.  Dan Mason was making his 550th appearance for the Boatmen.

Another new ground ticked off and on the face of it, a very impressive one with a huge 1,000 seat main stand. However, the 6 year old stand still hasn't been fitted out inside, with players using the old Yeading changing rooms out back and very limited facilities inside the new structure.  A chat with one of the home directors revealed yet another club being hamstrung by an uncooperative local council.  No better example of that than a new terrace behind the goal, being taped off because the council says it's too high.  Bizarre when there's a massive unfinished 7 storey office block behind the other goal.

Anyway, to the match and Sholing almost took the lead in the 4th minute when Keane Anderson's shot from the edge of the box squirmed under the keeper, but he was able to reach back and grab the ball before it went over the line.

The home side had a shot whistle wide and then a header go over, before Dan Mason had an angled shot smothered by the keeper at his near post.  We were playing incisive football in fits and starts, but from one good move, we probably should have scored.  A lovely lifted pass by Jake Hesketh found Karlos running in behind and into the box, he decided against a shot, knocked the ball to the side where Charlie Davis seemed to be taken by surprise and he could only hook the ball well over. 

Another nice passing move saw Marv released down the left and his ball into the box was met by Mathias Tepe, but his header lacked the power to bother the keeper.   Earlier in the half, Jake Hesketh appeared to be clipped in the box, but he stayed on his feet and no pen was given.  The decision was sort of evened out, when right on half time, Hayes & Yeading had strong appeals for a penalty turned down (as you'll see in the video below, we got away with one).  HT 0-0

Marv went off at half time and Jake Cope came on. A remarkable bit of control by Hesketh on the edge of the box saw him keep possession while on the floor and then get up to curl a shot narrowly wide.

Tempo of the game was frustratingly interrupted by multiple stoppages, but Hayes & Yeading looked the more dangerous going forward for most of the second half.   A great challenge by Byron stopped an attack in its tracks and then Gosney made a double save and followed it up with a diving tip round the upright.

Jake Hesketh's ability to pick a pass was highlighted when he spotted the run of Jake Cope and found him, Copey controlled well and opened up his body for a sidefoot effort that beat the keeper, but also the far post.  Copey had a shot from distance that deflected wide for our only corner of the game.

Gosney pushed up a strong hand to spectacularly push over a goalbound effort and Hayes & Yeading went close with a cross/shot that whistled through the 6 yard box and wide.  The home side also had a rocket shot from 25 yards go a yard wide, meanwhile, the Boatmen couldn't fashion a smash & grab up the other end as the game finished in a stalemate as we made it 4 clean sheets in our last 7 games.   FT 0-0

Marc Diaper : "Another good shift from the lads away from home against a very good Hayes and Yeading side."

"I thought we started brightly with a lot of possession and Marvin caused them problems numerous times down our left. It was really unfortunate he had to come off at half time through illness. As expected they played direct and I thought collectively we defended very well and I thought Byron was outstanding alongside George and Owen who dealt with a very lively front 3 brilliantly."
 
"I’d say it was a pretty fair result in the end with us probably edging the first half and them the second."
 
"We’ve got a week to recover and prepare for Merthyr at home next week and we’ll also hopefully have Flans and Targett back into the squad who were missing today. As always thanks to the travelling fans who were superb"
 

Next Game : Sholing v Merthyr Town - Saturday 23 Dec 3pm - Southern Premier

Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view