CONFERENCE SOUTH Hayes & Yeading Utd 1 Team Bath 1

Hayes & Yeading United and Team Bath fought out a compelling draw on Saturday at Church Road which meant both lost ground on Blue Square South leaders Chelmsford City in the race for the title.

Despite missing out on the three points United still remain in second spot, but the gap between them and Chelmsford has widened to seven points.

Team Bath went close early on when Mark Cooper fired just wide from Dean Smith's pass and a minute later they had the ball in the net through Gary Warren's header from a corner, only to have the effort ruled out for pushing.

United took the lead in the sixth minute. Team Bath keeper Darren Chitty overran a throughball to Kieran Knight and dived back to collect it.

However, he was adjudged to have done so just outside his area, and Josh Scott bent the resulting free kick around the wall and into the net.

As United pushed for a second goal Knight got on the end of Will Hendry's throughball and attempted a lob, only for Chitty to position himself well enough to catch the ball.

Team Bath came more into the game and Takumi Ake collected a long ball from Marc Canham on 32 minutes and cut inside, before firing in a low shot which Aaron Howe palmed away.

Then before half time, a weak clearing header from Chitty outside his area almost brought H&Y a goal as Steven Gregory attempted to return the ball from 40 yards out, but got too much on his lob.

Just before half time, Smith forced Howe into a fine save, diving to tip the ball wide at full stretch.

Team Bath controlled the start of the second half and Ake and Cooper both tested Howe with low shots in quick succession.

They equalised on 49 minutes when Howe punched a corner clear and Ake sent the ball back into a crowded goal-mouth, which created mayhem before Benison tapped home from close range.

Again, the game settled down after the goal although Greg Lake's throughball to Benison almost put the Bath striker in again, only for him to lose his balance, and Howe blocked his shot.

Scott fired just over for United and towards the end, Cooper headed over for Team Bath.

United substitute Ram Marwa had the final chance, firing just wide from long range after a driving run by James Mulley had set him up.

But a draw was a fair result between two evenly matched teams on the day. Hayes & Yeading United: Howe, Allen-Page, Bull, Cadmore, Ruby, Hendry, James, Gregory, Knight, Scott (Marwa), Mulley. Subs: Perkins, Collins, Lovell, Preddie.

Attendence: 272