Green's exquisite finishing is difference between Maidenhead United and Hayes & Yeading United

Maidenhead United (0 2, Hayes & Yeading United (0) 0

Two exquisite strikes in two second-half minutes from Danny Green decided this previously close contest between the York Road landlords and tenants.

The mercurial Green finished clinically from a narrowing angle, following a give-and-go with Adrian Clifton, to open the scoing on 72 minutes, and shortly afterwards collected the ball from Dave Tarpey in the right-hand channel, moved it onto his left foot and then drilled his instinctive shot into to the top left hand corner of the goal from 25 yards.

Those finishes were the two pieces of outstanding skill in a match in which neither side held the upper hand and largely cancelled out each other.

The Magpies seemed more assured on the ball with Adrian Clifton at the heart of most of what was good about their play, while Hayes were slightly more direct and were especially dangerous from set-pieces as Magpies keeper Will Britt was often hesitant about coming off his line.

However, it was the Magpies No.1 who prevented Hayes from taking the lead on 20 minutes when the he pulled out a low, one-handed save to push Isaac Lane's drive around the posts with his fingertips.

The Magpies clearest opportunity in the initial 45 minutes fell to Clifton who charged onto the end of a Devante McKain ball over the toop, but dragged his shot past the far post from 12 yards.

The first 25 minutes of the second half saw little creativity from either side, although it was Hayes who had more possession and the momentum.

So it as a surprise when Green's beautiful left foot turned the match on its head.

Hayes did threaten after this, as twice Mason Spence had chances to find the back of the net, but he headed over from close range as the Magpies failed to clear on their six yard line, and then defender Simon Downer made a precision, last-ditch tackle as the Hayes No.11 was preparing to shoot from inside the area withy just Britt to beat.

The contest actually unravelled quickly for Hayes after Green's goals, as highlighted by them finishing with 10 men on the pitch as substitute Dylan Kearney was dismissed for an elbow after only being ion the pitc for two minutes.

The reverse fixture at York Road on New Year's Day should make for interesting viewing.

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Maidenhead United: Britt, McKain, Soloman, Upward, Nisbet, Downer, Green, Clifton, Campbell, Hutchinson, Tarpey. Subs: Nicholls (for Upward, 80), Pritchard (for Tarpey, 83), Erskine (for Clifton, 87), Barratt and Putnins (not used).

Hayes & Yeading United: Smith, Ferrell, Everitt, MacDonald, Ruby, Inman, Morgan, Harriott, Elder, Lane, Spence. Subs: Murrell-Williamson (for Morgan, 73), Kearney (for Lane, 75), Artwell (for MacDonald, 82), Preddie (not used).

Attendance: 428.

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The Magpies are up to 12th in the Conference South with 26 points from 20 starts, leap-frogging Hayes & Yewading who are 14th with 25 points.

Only 13 points cover the 14 clubs between the play-off places and the relegation zone.