Football returned to Priory
Lane with the arrival of old foes from Conference South
days Hayes & Yeading United. Following Boro's defeat
on the previous Saturday at Oxford striker Andy Atkin
failed a fitness test, Liam Enver-Marum stepping off the
bench to fill the position up top on Saturday and again
for this fixture. He was to have an excellent evening
- at the heart of the action for The Sports.
On a warm but blustery evening Boro started
with the wind on their backs attacking the River End.
In the opening minute Enver-Marum's persistence and a
blocked Matt Crabb effort allowed Simon Weatherstone sight
of goal from 20 yards. His shot was through a crowd of
players and wide as Boro tried to make a flying start.
Enver-Marum's strength again forged a half-chance but
Nathan Crabb's cross was cut out on it's way towards Weatherstone
on 4 minutes. Esmond James shot high and wide for the
visitors as they finally managed to push Boro back, and
their pressure was rewarded with a corner after 8 minutes.
The left sided delivery was flicked goal-ward by Sean
Canham; no panic in the Boro defence. Dan Brown did well
as the home side broke and his deep cross caused problems
for Adam Green with Jamie Taylor waiting to pounce; the
resultant corners maintaining the pressure. Hayes &
Yeading responded with corners of their own and Justin
Cochran's shot through the crowded box was saved by Michael
Jordan on 13 minutes.
A fabulous touch from Taylor set Weatherstone
away on 16 minutes but the decision to play out wide wasn't
taken; the harder ball to Enver-Marum just over hit. Boro
cheers were loud just seconds later as Gary Elphick nodded
home a Neil Jenkins pin-point free-kick.
The cheers were silenced however as the referee awarded
a foul against Elphick for out jumping his marker !!!
On 21 minutes Matty Crabb's corner was driven across the
box and Elphick met the ball but couldn't direct it home
- The Sports pressure almost relentless for 10 minutes.
A deep corner for the visitors evaded the Boro defence
and Ram Marwa must have taken his eyes off the ball as
he simply let it fly past him; only a touch required to
finish.
Hayes & Yeading worked their way back
into the game and the action swung from end to end with
no real demands on either keeper until on 43 minutes Enver-Marum's
pressure on the Hayes & Yeading back-four told, and
the ball was toe-poked home by Matt Ruby for an OG after
a long clearance on 44 minutes - 1-0 The Sports.
Boro came out of the traps smartly for
the 2nd 45 as Enver-Marum sent Nathan Crabb away wide
right; the low cross too far in front of the Boro strikers
closing in on the H&Y goal. Ex 'Rook' Dale Binns shot
weakly on 48 minutes with Jordan collecting the ball easily
and on 49 minutes Boro extended their lead. If there was
any doubt over the finish for the 1st goal there was none
over the 2nd. Enver-Marum's presence again upset the United
back-four, and as he claimed the ball he strode forward
and smashed the ball home past Overland for 2-0. Enver-Marum
was at the centre of most attacks and on 51 minutes he
'teed' up Matt Crabb but his low effort was saved by Overland
low to his right. Canham headed down and wide from a right
sided free-kick and before on 55 minutes Enver-Marum's
strength again provided him with a goal as he fired home
at the near post for 3-0. 'Matty' Crabb broke with pace
on 57 minutes after a United corner, Enver-Marum and Taylor
keeping pace, but the defence caught up and delayed the
winger just enough to break his stride and prevent a cross
or shot.
On 60 minutes, and with Boro down temporarily
to 10 men with 'Crabby' off injured, Marc Pullan defended
brilliantly with the goal at United's mercy. Dan Smith
joined the fray and his 1st action drew a save from Overland
after a great run through the heart of the Hayes &
Yeading midfield. The 3rd goal against seemed to inspire
the visitors and Green twice tested Jordan from distance
inside a minute; both times the ball around the woodwork
for corners. Neil Jenkins struck the frame of the goal
on 70 minutes with a deep free-kick and Binns shot across
Jordan's goal just seconds before he was removed from
the action. A short back-pass on 72 minutes gave the visitors
a foothold in the game as Canham rounded Jordan for 3-1.
Tom Cadmore fired over on 76 minutes from
distance but the Boro nerves steadied and Weatherstone
pulled a low save out of the United stopper with a difficult
volley 10 minutes from time. Green 'tried' a penalty appeal,
going over in the box. and 6 minutes from time Enver-Marum
again got in front of the last man but his effort was
well over. Green had tested Jordan earlier in the half
but on 88 minutes his free-kick from distance sailed over
the stand safely. A quick Boro break, led by Ben Austin,
pulled an easy save from Overland before the clock ran
down with no further drama.
It was not always easy on the eye but
the 90 minutes saw a battling display by The Sports; and
possibly the emergence of Liam Enver-Marum as a force
in the squad on an evening where he not only scored 2
of his sides goals and forced the error for the 1st, but
also made important contributions all over the park to
earn an MOM award.
Words : Lee Peskett
