TEN-MAN Hayes & Yeading showed true grit as they battled their way to point against AFC Telford this afternoon.
United played most of the match without Phil Walsh following the defender’s dismissal for a moment of madness as he lashed out at Kyle Perry.
New signings Dan Evans and Piero Mingoia had to settle for a place on the bench at Kingfield after their arrival on Thursday evening.
Danny Wishart forced the first save of the match from Ryan Young, trying his luck from the edge of the area with a curling shot that had the Telford keeper at full stretch.
Five minutes later and it was the visitors who nearly found themselves in front as Will Salmon’s deflected shot hit the bar and Marlon Jackson saw an effort blocked.
And there was chances galore in the opening stages with Jamie Hand next to go close and Wishart failing to hit the target with a free header in the six-yard box.
But then came the moment of madness from Walsh, the defender raising his arms to the face of Perry and giving the referee no choice but to issue the red card.
Already unpopular with the home fans, Perry made himself public enemy with his theatrics and was then hauled off by boss Andy Sinton before the striker also saw red.
The forward was far from happy with the decision and was involved in an angry confrontation with Sinton before marching off down the tunnel.
United sensed the shift in momentum and responded well, however they almost fell behind in first-half stoppage time when Steve Arnold spilled a routine catch but it remained level at the break.
Half-time gave both sets of players the chance to cool down and the second period started at a far slower tempo than the first.
Jackson again went close for The Bucks after the hour as he rose highest to meet Adam Proudlock’s cross but his header grazed the top of the bar.
United boss Nas Bashir did eventually hand on-loan Watford man Mingoia his Hayes & Yeading bow inside the last ten minutes, replacing Wishart who had run himself into the ground at Kingfield.
And the substitute was involved as United could have won the game late on, linking up well with rampaging full-back Dan Spence who forced a smart save from Young.
The ten-men rode their luck in the closing minutes as Jackson threatened once more but Bashir’s men held out for a vital point in their quest to avoid the drop.
