United took a bashing tonight as one of their former players came back to haunt them. Two goals from Steve Basham in the first half earned Hayes & Yeading a memorable win despite Simon Clist's second half effort.

With Anthony Tonkin and Kev Sandwith unavailable Jake Wright moved in to the left back spot to allow Mark Creighton to return at centre half. There was also a recall for Sam Deering, fresh from signing his new two year contract and playing just behind the front two of John Grant and Matt Green.

Damian Batt  had United's first chance as he blazed a free kick over the bar from the edge of the box after six minutes, with Matt Green also exploring the car park with a fourteenth minute drive that span well wide of its intended target. The visitors meanwhile were looking very comfortable when on the front foot and had long periods of possession which culimnated in an opener on 24 from Basham. United had plenty of opportunities to clear but left acres of space for Craig Watkins to barrel in to and square the ball. Basham has scored many, many goal in front of the Oxford Mail end but none were greeted with quite the silence that his twisting volley from twelve yards out was met with on this occasion. 

The U's were stunned but used the goal to try and bounce back. Rhys Day had an overhead kick from ten yards scrambled round the post by keeper Masters on 28 before Day's evening was ended early with Ashley Cain replacing him on the half hour and accompanied by a change of shape to try and shake things up. Clist moved to left back, Cain went on to the right wing, Deering moved centrally and Matt Green went wide left as The U's searched for inspiration.

Deering scuffed a long range effort well wide on 37 but then two minutes from the break they were 2-0 down as Basham marked his return in style. A right wing corner travelled a long way and the former U's marksman made a neat run and then arrowed a magnificent header into the corner of the net to make it 2-0. Credit to Basham who will have been doing cartwheels inside but hardly celebrated in front of the United faithful.

The paint will have been blistering the home dressing room at the interval.

Changes had to be made and Lewis Chalmers came on at the break for Chris Hargreaves. Within a minute United had seen a Deering effort fizz just over the bar and within five were up against ten men as Esmond James tripped Deering and collected his second yellow of the evening. It might have been even better thirty seconds later as a stinging drive from the edge of the box hit a stray, but unnoticed, arm inside the box and with the crowd baying The U's were roaring forward for the first time.

They needed an early goal to get things really rocking and when it came it inside the first ten minutes of the second half the belief was starting to flow. It came with a looping cross from the right as Batt and Cain raided together and when it dropped out of the night sky the one man you would want to control such a difficult ball was right on the spot; Simon Clist smashing home a great volley for his first goal on home soil.

Matt Green saw a left footed shot tipped over by Masters and with half an hour to go all bets were off. Could United climb a mountain?

The ten men of Hayes and Yeading conceded just about 70% of the pitch to the Yellows and dropped deeper and deeper to try and hold out. However the impish Deering was everywhere and forcing his team forward, while Cain was dropping ever more dangerous crosses in from the right. Deering's low drive was saved again on 73, Grant's follow up was tipped round the post, Creighton nodded the resulting corner wide and all was set for a grandstand finish.

Chalmers was proving a calming influence in midfield, with his long throws also a new secret weapon, and the last fifteen minutes or so saw a five man attack of Cain, Midson, Deering, Grant and Green as the U's threw everything at it. Sadly they just couldn't find a way to chisel out a clear chance despite several efforts flying wide from long distance. When chances did finally come their way as a result of some dithering in the away defence Grant tried to jink round the keeper when the goal was at his mercy, then Green scooped another offering over the bar from ten yards. And that, as they say, was that.

Credit to H&Y, the better side in the first half and resolute in the second. United now need to bounce back immediately, and just as importantly they need your support. Don't stop believing...

Att:5,045

Away: 54

Report by Chris Williams

Fifty:50 winning number: (£1,115) 82239

See highlights and video reaction in Yellow Player