Date: Saturday 17th October, 2009
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: overcast, breezy
Goals:
Hayes: Fitzgerald 24', 49', Cadmore 63'
Cambridge United were humbled at Hayes & Yeading with a 3-0 defeat in a game that they never looked like leading. The home side hadn't won at home all season but they barely looked troubled after taking a 24th minute lead after a dreadful backpass.
Robbie Willmott shook off the effects of a virus, allowing Martin Ling to name an unchanged side with Jon Challinor included among the substitutes in place of the injured Andy Parkinson.
Hayes & Yeading manager Garry Haylock made three changes to the side beaten 4-0 at Stevenage last weekend, recalling Danny Allen-Page and Scott Fitzgerald from suspension and Matt Ruby from the bench in place of Sami El Abd, Esmond James and George Daly.
Hayes started well and Danny Potter got an early touch when former Stevenage and Cambridge City man Dale Binns curled a cross that floated over Sean Canham's head and into his hands, and in the third minute Binns cut in on his left foot and stabbed a shot from eight yards that was blocked by Paul Carden.
United responded with a great run by Chris Holroyd, beating four men and riding a challenge as he advanced down the middle and drove a shot towards the top corner, forcing Overland to tip it behind at full-stretch.
The home side worked hard to deny United any time on the ball and showed they would make it a physical battle as Scott Fitzgerald left Wayne Hatswell in a painful heap after ten minutes. But the U's caused some nervous moments on 13 when a good move involving Dan Gleeson and Robbie Willmott broke down on the edge of the area but was cleared to Reason whose shot on the turn was charged down.
The first booking arrived on 16 for Anthony Tonkin's late challenge on Binns as the winger prodded the ball past him, and a minute later Danny Crow buried a snap shot but Holroyd was standing in an offside position and the flag was raised instantly to rule it out.
The home side went close at a corner in the 21st minute when Potter made a reflex save to parry Cadmore's header and Fitzgerald's follow-up was cleared off the line by Courtney Pitt. The winger caused problems at the other end when he linked well with Tonkin on the overlap to earn a corner, which the keeper dropped under pressure from Brian Saah to spark a battle for the loose ball but the referee awarded a free kick against Saah.
But after those early chances, the noisy away fans were silenced when Hayes took the lead in the 24th minute. It was gifted to them by Hatswell's careless back pass towards Potter who raced out to try to meet it but was closed down by Scott Fitzgerald, Potter's clearance bouncing off the striker and rolling into the empty net for the simplest of goals.
Willmott had an early opportunity to level but fired just wide two minutes later as he was being closed down by two defenders, and the rejuvenated home side showed they were dangerous on the break against a uncharacteristically shaky United defence.
Danny Allen-Page overlapped and cut inside to draw a save from Potter with his cross-shot on 33, and two minutes later there were chances at both ends as Canham released Fitzgerald whose shot from the right of the area drew a great save from Potter, and United's swift counterattack saw Holroyd's powerful 20-yard drive saved low down by Overland.
United looked disjointed throughout the side, with the strikers toiling without reward and feeding on scraps as their team-mates failed to settle and impose themselves on the game, lifting too many aimless balls forward. Hayes & Yeading made the most of it, and when Little's cross was only half-cleared by Tonkin five minutes before half time James Mulley pounced to draw another save from Potter from the edge of the area.
A minute later Saah missed a looping cross that fell beyond him to the surprised Canham, who connected late to divert the ball just wide, and the half petered out with grumbles from the away fans at the poor first half performance.
Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"United have looked decent going forward but ropy in defence and Hayes & Yeading have profited. Half-term report - the U's simply must do better."
Second half:
United's hopes of getting back into the game early in the second half were dashed three minutes after the restart.
Mulley led a quick breakaway move through the middle before finding Scott Canham on the edge of the area and as the defence opened up the striker's shot flew across the goal and wide. But a minute later he made amends by latching onto a ball over the top and picking out a good pass to Fitzgerald who lobbed the advancing Potter to notch his second goal of the game.
Fitzgerald pulled up immediately after scoring with an apparent hamstring problem but returned gingerly to the action, and United had a spell of pressure with free kick and a corner but were unable to profit, going closest on 54 when Willmott's free kick was met by Crow with a downward header by Overland made a superb save.
The struggling Fitzgerald made way for teenage Wycombe loanee George Daly on the hour, and the home side, without a win at home all season, extended their lead three minutes later with an unstoppable strike by skipper Tom Cadmore. A free kick 30 yards out was touched to Cadmore who drove a rocket shot into the bottom corner.
Martin Ling responded immediately with a double substitution and change of formation, sending on midfielder Sam Ives and striker Lee Phillips in place of wingers Pitt and Willmott and switching to a 4-3-3 line-up.
In a game that drew unflattering comparisons with the recent capitulation at struggling Grays Athletic, United toiled without reward and looked nothing like the side that dismantled Ebbsfleet seven days ago, and even when a chance arrived the home defence were resolute and quick to respond.
Hatswell flicked the ball on for Crow in the 75th minute but the keeper was quickly off his line and forced the U's man into a hurried shot over the bar, three minutes later Tonkin chased a lost cause to keep the ball in and crossed towards Crow but the ball was intercepted and cleared by Cadmore, and seconds later the bustling Phillips worked the ball to Sam Ives just outside the area but his snap shot flew wide.
Lee Phillips was chasing and competing for everything and with ten minutes remaining he held off Allen-Page as he chased the ball down and got between defender and keeper but couldn't get the shot on target from 18 yards. Hayes had a couple of late half-chances at corners as Little who missed one chance then had another charged down by Paul Carden, with the defence nowhere.
United's final chance came when Crow played the ball across the face of goal to Phillips whose effort was bravely charged down by Allen-Page, the defender needing brief attention afterwards, and the final blow came in stoppage time when Gleeson was booked for bringing down Mulley.
The Hayes winger threw himself to the ground after the challenge and Gleeson's yellow card was his fifth of the season, meaning he will miss the FA Cup tie at Lincoln United next Sunday.
Hayes & Yeading:
Simon Overland, Danny Allen-Page, Tom Cadmore (c), Matt Ruby, Adam Green; James Mulley, Marc Canham, Toby Little, Dale Binns; Sean Canham, Scott Fitzgerald (George Daly 59').
Subs not used: Chris Baker, Sami El-Abd, Dan Mehmet, Robert Gradwell.
Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott (Lee Phillips 64'), Paul Carden (c), Jai Reason, Courtney Pitt (Sam Ives 64'); Chris Holroyd, Danny Crow.
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Jon Challinor, Laurie Walker.
Booked: Tonkin foul 16', Gleeson foul 90'
Referee: Mr Rob Whitton
Attendance: 744 (away 507)
Post-match summary by commentator Mark Johnson:
"A dismal day for Cambridge United, who once again failed to perform against one of the Conference's lesser lights. The U's had their chances early on but were second best from the moment Scott Fitzgerald profited from some calamitous defending midway through the first half. The same player doubled the lead soon after the restart with the defence again conspicuous by its absence, and Tom Cadmore's 30-yard free kick provided the margin the home side deserved. United's miserable afternoon was completed by a stoppage time booking for Dan Gleeson that means he will miss Sunday's ominous looking trip to Lincoln United."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"A poor team performance from which no one emerged with any great credit."
Ref: Mr Whitton - had a good game; tried to play advantage and communicated well with the players. 7/10."
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