Skrill South

Hayes & Yeading 1-0 Concord Rangers 0

A stunning Freddie Ladapo half volley gave Hayes & Yeading a first win in 11 games on Saturday to ease their relegation fears.

The Kidderminster Harriers’ loanee struck on 22 minutes from former Arsenal man Samir Bihmoutine’s excellent cross to give United a narrow but deserved win in a tense and fractious encounter which boiled over in stoppage-time.

Phil Babb’s side are now three points clear of the drop zone ahead of Thursday’s crunch trip to fellow strugglers Tonbridge Angels.

In response to Thursday’s draw at Bishop Stortford which ended a nine-game losing streak, Babb named an unchanged team for the visit of the ‘Beach Boys’ and the XI responded to his faith with a high-octane start.

Just four minutes in, Bihmoutine played a chipped ball up to home debutant Pat Cox and when he nodded it back into the youngster’s path the Bournemouth loanee forced a smart stop from Rangers’ keeper Jamie Butler.

Nine minutes later United thought they had the goal they craved when Jack Mills’ long corner was headed back across goal by Ben Gerring for Cox to head in.

However, celebrations were cut short when referee Wayne Porter, who had an excellent game, ruled Cox had fouled Butler in the act of scoring.

Concord responded with a Steve Cawley shot straight at Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz, but United’s reward for their positive opening came on 22 minutes.

As with most of their best work Bihmoutine was at the heart of it, racing outside his marker before playing the ball into Ladapo who took a touch to control before lashing a half-volley beyond Butler’s right hand and inside the near post.

Much of the rest of the first half was scrappy with the ball in the air more than it was on the floor and while Cox revelled in the physical scrap, giving the attack a much-needed focal point, Bihmoutine provided what little artistry was on show with a few lovely touches.

The second half saw him withdrawn to a more central midfield role as understandably United put the emphasis on holding on to their slender but precious advantage.

The plan could have come undone within four minutes but for a magnificent clearing header from Frankie Merrifield to deny James White a clear sight of goal following a superb cross from the right.

That was the best of Merrifield, but it was shortly followed by the worst as he earned a yellow card for a poor challenge which conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position. Fortunately for United the set-piece came to nothing.

Cox was still proving a terror to the visitors’ defence, requiring up to four defenders at times to keep him quiet. He managed to lose the lot just beyond the hour to get a glancing header to Mills’ long throw, but Butler denied him with an outstanding save at the near post.

Bihmoutine’s inexperience showed three minutes later as he earned a yellow card for kicking the ball away in frustration at a free-kick being awarded. He was back at his best soon afterwards, stepping inside his marker to get in a shot, but a defender’s touch took the pace of the effort and it dribbled through to Butler.

Rangers’ best spell followed, during which Adam Everitt had to deflect a free-kick over the bar, while Lewis Taffe sent a cross from substitute Tony Stokes onto the roof of the net.

Jaimez-Ruiz fisted another free-kick to safety before most of the second-half drama unfolded in stoppage-time.

First came the visitors’ best chance of the game when substitute Joe Gardner found space on the right before crossing to skipper Steve King in acres of space just eight yards out.

United followers held their breath, but King spurned the chance failing to get the header on target.

Then came the flare-up as United sub Ben Brown made a meal of a hand to the face right in front of the home dugout provoking angry scenes between players and coaching staff as the tension of so many winless games boiled over.

When calm was restored United produced a glaring miss of their own when Ladapo somehow shot wide, but then came the whistle to signal the first three-point haul since December 7 last year.

The accompanying sigh of relief was audible.