United did something they haven't done all season to come through a tricky FA Cup tie against Hayes and Yeading. Darren Patterson's side won back to back games for the first time, following up a league win over Burton with a 2-0 win over the Conference South side thanks to goals from strikers Jamie Guy and James Constable.

It was the visitors who had the first opening on five minutes as centre half Matt Ruby volleyed a corner just wide, and with United giving the ball away far too easily it was an uneasy start to the game. Indeed Hayes and Yeading should have taken the lead in the eleventh minutes as Ram Marwa wastefully headed a Danny Allen-Page cross over the bar when unmarked and eight yards from goal.

The U's had had two half chances from Jamie Guy and James Constable but were relieved to see the linesman's flag raised on thirteen minutes as  Will Hendry scored from an offside position.

Impressive as they were going forward the Conference South promotion chasers looked vulnerable at the back and Constable and Sam Deering might have made more of a swift break on seventeen minutes which saw both get past the keeper but unable to convert the chances as defenders threw themselves in the way in heroic FA cup style action.

The Ding's fast start had petered out a little by the half hour mark and the game was increasingly being played in their half, but the crisp passing which had marked United's last three home games wasn't quite happening and winger Josh Scott again tested Turley with a low shot before the break.

Two late chances for James Constable, both well saved by Delroy Preddie might have spared United from the tongue lashing that must have come their way at half time..

Whatever was said was certainly effective because United came out for the second half almost unrecognisable, showing far more hunger and pushing Hayes and Yeading back. Constable almost converted a Deering corner within five minutes of the start and on 56 minutes they finally found the breakthrough they needed. A Haldane ball in went right through to Deering who fed Clarke. His ball reached Constable who chested down for Guy whose shot ballooned up from a block from a desperate defender and keeper Preddie could only watch as it drifted up and over and into the net to make it 1-0.

Haldane then wasted two glorious chances to make the game just about safe, sandwiching an equally glaring miss from Guy, all three chances coming after the strikers had outpaced the tiring Hayes' defenders.

The game had turned from United under pressure to United struggling to convert their chances, but on 72 the tie was safe as sub Yemi Odubade's first contribution was a scorching run and low cross for Constable to tap home, unmarked for his sixth goal of the season to make it 2-0

Hayes had had a penalty shout turned down on 71 as Clarke and Knight tumbled in the box, and deserved a goal for their efforts up front, but Odubade and Deering had further clear chances and United really should have scored more goals after taking over the game in the second half. Odubade wasted another, sub Matt Taylor slipped with the goal at his mercy with five minutes left, and in 45 minutes United had made enough chances to win the FA Cup let alone one tie.

A late debut for young James Dobson was overshadowed by James Clarke leaving the pitch on a stretcher in plenty of pain in injury time after what looked a late tackle by the frsutrated Hendry, taking the gloss off a good result and a good game to watch.

United go into the draw for the next round. More importantly, can they make it three in a row against York at home next week? Come and see for yourself.

United

Turley, Clarke, Foster, Willmott, Carruthers, Deering, Murray, Trainer, Haldane (Dobson 90), Constable (Taylor 85), Guy (Odubade 70)

Subs

Hinchliffe, Day, Hutchinson, Groves.

Hayes and Yeading United

Preddie, Allen-Page, Collins (Fitzgerald 77), Cadmore (Saroya 83), Ruby, Marwa, Mulley (James 66), Gregory, Knight, Hendry, Scott

Subs

Perkins, Lovell, Solomon, Howe

Booked: Scott (20, foul), Hendry (90, foul)

Att: 2,521

Away: 259

Report by Chris Williams

See it all in Gallery, hear it all in Yellow World