Hayes & Yeading 0-3 St Albans City
Hayes & Yeading are safe for another season in the Conference South but suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to mid-table St Albans City on Saturday.
Tristan Lewis’ men finished 19th in the league at the end of the campaign, 12 points above the bottom two, winning four games from their last ten matches.
Michael Malcolm gave the visitors the lead late in the second half, before substitute James Kaloczi doubled The Saints lead followed by a third in stoppage time through John Frendo.
United started the stronger team in the first half, with Luke Williams looking dangerous on set-pieces; whipping in a cross for the unmarked Christian Smith whose header flew straight into Joe Welch’s hands.
Malcolm then came close with an exuberant overhead kick which ended up being an easy save for Grant Smith as the first half was short on chances.
In the second half the Saints started on the front foot and nearly took the lead as Dean Inman’s header nearly creeped into his own net, only to be cleared off the line by Hayes & Yeading’s players’ player of the year Jim Fenlon.
But with the game coming to a close, Lewis gave under 18’s captain Jack Thomson-Wheeler his debut before the hosts conceded; a deflected Lee Chappell free-kick fell kindly for Malcolm who guided his effort past Smith in front of the traveling fans.
With the game coming to a close Hayes were pushing forward, leaving gaps at the back, and were punished; Jamal Lowe winning possession in his own half before making a great solo run to only see his effort bounce off the post into the path of Kaloczi who capitalised to score.
Six minutes were added on at the end of the game and the win was sealed through number nine Frendo; rounding Smith before slotting his shot into the empty net.
Hayes & Yeading couldn’t repeat their glory of beating St Albans 1-0 earlier on in the season, but had nothing to lose while Graham Golds and James Gray’s men finished 13th in the Conference South.
There was a trophy to celebrate for the club's U18s as chairman Tony O'Driscoll presented the United youngsters with the Ryman Youth League West title.
