Hayes & Yeading United 2 Leatherhead 2
A Kane Fitzgerald penalty and a close range finish from Ruben Bartlett-Antwi helped
Leatherhead secure a point in a hard fought 2-2 draw away to Hayes & Yeading
United on Saturday.
Fitzgerald wore the captain’s armband for the visitors while Tom Kavanagh served a
one-match suspension.
With a mix of heavy wind and driving rain on their backs in the opening half, Tanners
saw off an early scare. Goalkeeper Sonny Wheeler was called into action after only
two minutes of play to make a fine block.
But over the next ten minutes Leatherhead pressed forward and created several good
opportunities to open the scoring.
Alfie Huckle set up Seb Karczewski with a well-weighted cross that was headed
straight to United keeper Juliusz Pazio. Anuar Ceesay went close moments later,
sending a curling shot just wide of the post. Fitzgerald then forced another good save
from the keeper, who turned his shot behind for a corner.
The match turned unexpectedly in United’s favour with a goal scored on 17 minutes.
With Fitzgerald in possession in the centre circle, the midfielder collided with the
referee and the ball ran loose.
Instead of blowing for a dropped ball to the visitors, the referee waved play on.
United striker Kaylen Hinds skilfully latched onto the loose ball, pressing forward and
beating Wheeler with a well-directed shot from the edge of the box.
Tanners responded well. Kelvin Manuel Massango forced another good block from
Pazio before the visitors drew level from the penalty spot on 25 minutes.
Leatherhead’s Ruben Bartlett-Antwi raced towards a loose ball in United’s box and
was up-ended in a collision with the advancing keeper. The referee blew for a penalty
and Fitzgerald calmly stepped forward to plant the ball firmly past the keeper.
Karczewski almost put Tanners ahead on 34 minutes but his well struck shot was
turned away by Pazio for another corner.
As the match moved into first half stoppage time United restored their lead. Tanners
lost possession at the half way line and Hinds broke forward to beat Wheeler for his
second goal of the match.
The swirling wind and rain made playing conditions much harder for both sides in the
second half but Leatherhead got back on level terms on 79 minutes. The United
keeper did well to block another long range Tanners shot. But this time Bartlett-Antwi
was well-placed to latch onto the loose ball to fire home from six yards out.
With playing conditions rapidly deteriorating, neither side was able to add to the
scoring in the final minutes.
The draw sees Leatherhead move up two places to fourteenth in the table with
seventeen points from fifteen matches.
Tanners are back in action on Tuesday evening when they host Abbey Rangers in the
Southern Combination Challenge Cup at Fetcham Grove. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Hayes & Yeading United: Juliusz Pazio, Jack Williams, Keano Robinson, James
Richmond, George Sippetts (Cole Brown 89), Kaylen Hinds, Jonathan Hippolyte
(Rocky Williams 70), Adrian Clifton, Will Salmon, Herson Alves (Jordan Ibe 90+4),
Hani Berchiche
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Kelvin Manuel Massango, Alex Pearce, Niran Butler,
George Hedley, Marco Haigh (Rhys Murrell-Williamson 56), Kane Fitzgerald, Alfie
Huckle, Anuar Ceesay, Ruben Bartlett-Antwi, Seb Karczewski