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Boro welcomed the ‘amalgamated’ Hayes & Yeading United Football Club to Priory Lane for the 1st time. The 2 clubs only previous encounter was at ‘Hayes’ earlier in the season where, in a game that swung from end to end, Boro could possibly count themselves lucky with a point after taking a lead; United having struck the post late in the 2nd half. A welcome increased crowd saw an entertaining game with plenty of incident but again ‘The Sports’ were worthy winners over the 90 minutes.
Andy Atkin headed inches wide of the post as early as the 4th minute but United were lively in attack and solid in defence, Staforde Palmer and skipper Nevin Saroya superb all match. Andy Ballard was called upon to block a Palmer effort on 10 minutes but also played a superb through ball to Scott Ramsay on 13 minutes; Ramsay’s shot from an acute angle over the bar.
Palmer provided an excellent cross on 15 minutes, no team mate was able to capitalise, that only served to herald a period of intense home pressure. Alessio De Angelis made a string of wonderful saves from Pat Harding, Atkin, Ramsay, Matt Crabb and Ballard. The Boro bench and crowd must have considered at this point if it was to be their night !
Having weathered the storm Saroya looped a free-kick off Lee Hooks bar on 25 minutes but home skipper Paul Armstrong provided a ball across the goal at pace; Atkin turning the ball wide with the goal at his mercy; but Boro only had until the 31st minute to wait to open the scoring. In total contrast to the ‘long-ball’ tag perpetrated by some witnesses to Boro’s season an outstanding passage of ‘pass and move’ football that shifted the well structured visiting defence and midfield saw a right-wing delivery headed back across goal by Ramsay for Pat Harding to cooly delay his close range half-volley high into the net for 1-0.
On 40 minutes the outstanding Atkin teed up Ramsay but Scott’s effort was again high before United drew level from the penalty spot. Marc Pullan’s foot looked to have nipped the ball behind for a corner but Mr. Smith disagreed for Saroya to beat Hook from 12 yards for 1-1. Then on the stroke of half-time the visitors were calling for a further spot-kick, the referee looked to his right for assistance from the linesman but with no encouragement from his colleague allowed play to continue.
Boro almost grabbed a goal early in the 2nd half for the 2nd game running, De Angelis again keeping his side in the game with a fabulous save from Armstrong and late gather to deny the closing Atkin. Hayes & Yeading were very much on the back-foot as the home side looked to open up a lead at the top of the table and Robbie Kember was denied his 1st for the club on 66 minutes his effort blocked then wide.
On 69 minutes Garry Wilson & Nick Greenwood demonstrated the art of shrewd substitutions when blessed with a strong bench and competition for places. Ramsay and Kember, both tireless and effective contributors to Boro’s cause on the night were replaced by Allan Tait and Matt Smart respectively, and both were to have a spectacular impact on the games outcome. On 70 minutes Ballards ball into the box was not dealt with by De Angelis or his back four and as Atkin flicked the ball on Smart slid in at the far post to ensure the ball crossed the line for 2-1.
2 minutes later Tait was to have an opportunity to emulate his colleague but committed defending denied him his chance to strike from 18 yards. However his contribution to Atkin’s goal cannot be understated. He was strong against a back-four that had dealt with most Boro could throw at them, stormed to the bye-line and provided a perfect cross for Andy to finish from a yard for 3-1. Atkin provided a chance for Tait on 86 minutes but the difficult 1st time effort was high, Hook untested for most of the half as the side skillfully ran down the clock for a deserved but hard earned 3 points.
Hayes & Yeading provided one of the sternest league tests at Priory Lane this season but again the squad have shown skill, determination, pride, passion and teamwork to get a result. The 2 Sussex sides at the top of the table are now level on games played but who would have thought at this stage of the season Boro would hold a 4 point advantage and +12 goal difference ? The final weeks of the season are set up to provide previously unimagined excitement - hold onto your hats ladies and gentlemen !
Match Details - Webmaster.
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