Hayes And Yeading Take Out Cup Frustration - Hayes And Yeading United vs. Northwood

Hayes and Yeading aim for the moon

As I was attending two Scunthorpe United away days in three weekends at AFC Wimbledon and Burton Albion, I was keen to get a non league midweek game in. Luckily I was able to do one in London that was also a new ground. After numerous delays Hayes and Yeading moved into The Skyex Community Stadium last season and tonight they were hosting local rivals Northwood in a match that would see me complete The South Central Division of The Isthmian League. The aforementioned frustration relates to Hayes and Yeading losing out to Moneyfields the previous Saturday in The FA Cup. In the league, Hayes and Yeading were just outside the play offs with tonight's visitors a couple of places back. I visited Northwood almost ten years ago for a match with Wingate and Finchley.

Kick off at The Skyex

The first half of the opening period is pretty scrappy with both sides having half chances that go wide of the target. The home side take the lead in fortuitous circumstances when the Northwood defender inadvertently deflects a cross past his own keeper. Hayes and Yeading have another chance just before half time but the shot on the turn goes well over the bar.

Hayes and Yeading get a first half cross into the box

Northwood come close at the start of the second as a wicked corner manages to elude everyone before things go down hill very quickly for the visitors. The midfielder chops down the Hayes and Yeading attacker to earn his second yellow and the subsequent red. It doesn't take long for Hayes and Yeading to make the advantage count as the ball finds its way to the back post where it is lashed in to make it two nil. The third comes when the forward is played in on goal and he smartly slots past the goalie. The fourth isn't long in coming as the forward is poorly marked at a free kick and heads home. Hayes and Yeading get two further goals to win six nil. Extended highlights can be watched here.

Hayes and Yeading looking for more goals

I got to The Skyex by taking a train to Southall from Paddington which takes around twenty minutes. From here it is a short walk to The Broadway where you can catch the 207 or 407 to close to the ground. In terms of pubs there is literally nothing in Southall therefore it is best to have a drink near Paddington or Ealing where I think you can the bus to the ground. The bar under the stand which has just opened had the usual selection drinks and was very welcoming. The ground is still a work in progress but the volunteers make it worth the trip out to West London.

There's an excellent programme too

Another view of the stand

Battle Of The Double Barrelled Names - Hayes And Yeading United vs. Rushden And Diamonds

Match action with the main stand in the background.

I had intended to watch Thurrock in the South division but their game fell victim to the weather and so I headed to the opposite side of London to watch Hayes and Yeading at home to Rushden and Diamonds in the conference national. Hayes and Yeading were formed in 2007 following a merger of the once former rivals. They won promotion to the Premier Division in only their second season. My first encounter with Rushden was when they beat Scunthorpe in The FA Cup. Scunthorpe at the time were in the old second division and Rushden were top of the conference. It was always going to happen!.

The view from the main stand.

The heavy rain had made the pitch very slow and it was a scrappy start. Despite this, the first Hayes goal was a cracker. Following a lofted ball forward, Buchanan strikes the ball home on the half volley. Rushden have a lot of possession and pass it around a lot but fail to do anything with the ball. Hayes miss a great chance to go two up when the striker fires straight at the goalie when clean through. They do make it two following a flurry chances one after the other.First the Rushden goalie makes a good save from close range and then Hayes hit the post and Buchanan is there to force in the rebound. There is barely time for the restart and Hayes go in two up. 

The terrace where the more vocal home fans stand.

Rushden push from the start of the second half and are caught out on the break for the third goal. Buchanan completes his hat when he pokes the ball home following a cross in to the box. Hayes look in complete control until Rushden get a goal with twenty minutes to go and you can feel the anxiety grow from the home fans. This isn't helped when Smith helps himself to Rushden's second to set up a tense finale. With five minutes left the Hayes keeper drops a corner and the Prosser can't miss to send the away fans barmy. Neither team can find a winner and the games ends as an entertaining 3-3 draw.

Rushden push for the equaliser.

The closest station to the ground is Hayes and Halington, which is twenty minutes away from Paddington. Trains depart on a regular basis. The 195 and H98 buses depart from outside the station and stop just outside the ground. Unfortunately for me the road was close due to resurfacing this particular night! Alternative the ground is only a fifteen minute walk from the station. There is a pub a few minutes from the station and there is a Weatherspoons in the town centre. However, I can not recommend the club house enough.It is in effect the ground floor of a house but is spacious and has a good range of drinks.

First half action.

A concise match report can be found on The BBC Website.