Hayes & Yeading manager Garry Haylock felt his side's luck changed on Saturday against Cambridge United and they got the rewards they deserved.

Both sides had early chances to take the lead but after Scott Fitzgerald was gifted the first goal midway through the first half United rarely looked like getting back into the game. Fitzgerald netted again soon after the break and captain Tom Cadmore's 30-yard strike put the game beyond reach on 63.

"I do think we got the breaks today," said Haylock afterwards. "We played our best performance of the season against Kettering and in the last five minutes of that game got beat two-one and that summed up how we have not been getting the breaks and the ball hasn't been running for us.

"But today that changed; the first goal was fortunate and we got the second at the right time in the second half. I really thought there was going to be an onslaught from them in the second half, but getting the goal when we did put them on the back foot. So I think everything went for us today in the same way that it hasn't in previous games, but it evens itself out over the season."

Haylock referred to the angry reaction of United fans at the final whistle, but felt the result was due to his own team's performance rather than the U's.

"I heard people in the stand at the end abusing the Cambridge manager and I think that is a little bit disrespectful to ourselves," he said. "We played really well and worked really hard and stopped them from playing.

"Scott Fitzgerald deservedly got the man of the match - he's been fortunate with the first goal but he must have done that (chased down the goalkeeper) over 250 times and got nothing. Even when he's got nothing I've told him to keep trying because it will get him one or two a season, and today he's done it and I'm really pleased for him.

"It was also a good solid defensive performance; we didn't make any individual errors like we have been doing that have cost us goals at crucial times. If you don't do that, you stay in the game and you always have a chance."

Haylock concluded, "Cambridge are a good side, they have caused us problems and we defended solidly like we haven't all year. I think that is only our second or third clean sheet but the performances have been coming. People have been down and it's my job to pick them up and remind them of how good a team they can be, and they have shown that to everyone here today."

Interview by David Gray

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