The third of three straight home games, and the first of two games in three days over the August bank holiday weekend, saw the visit of Hayes & Yeading United to the John Jenkins on yet another beautifully sunny Saturday afternoon on the south coast.

A number of enforced changes were made to the Moneys team, which resulted in a starting eleven consisting of only three players who made appearances in the league last season. James Franklyn captained the side, looking to get back on track after last weekends FA Cup exit.

Sadly not the start Callum Glen and his staff were looking for as United took the lead inside ten minutes. A corner wasn’t cleared and landed at the feet of captain Calum Duffy who slotted into the corner.

Not too long later and Moneys were level. A trend of the new-look Moneyfields has definitely been pacey counter attacks and confident transitions in numbers. Louis Gates’ attacking work in recent games finally paid off as he broke free and slotted calmly around the Hayes & Yeading keeper, to make it one a piece with twenty minutes gone.

Only five minutes later, the West London visitors re-took the lead. Moneys keeper Firman saved from another effort by the visiting captain Duffy, only for Sam Ashton to feed on the scraps and again place the ball bottom corner of the net.

This time it only took Moneys three minutes to equalise as Rudi Blankson scored his first competitive goal for Moneys. Rudi screamed for the ball a few yards outside the box as he could see space to move forward with the ball. He received the ball, pressed forward to just outside the edge of the box, fired a shot across the face of goal and into the net off of the far post. A fantastic finish from the former Horndean forward to bring Moneys level, all before half an hour had been played.

Just before half time, it was the turn of Adam Payce to get his first competitive goal for Moneys. A through ball put the former Pompey academy captain through and he finished very calmly around the keeper to give Moneys a slender lead heading into the break.

Half-Time: Moneyfields 3-2 Hayes & Yeading United

Just four minutes into the second half, Moneys could have taken a two goal advantage as Rudi broke free onto a bouncing ball and tried to lob the keeper. He succeeded in lobbing the keeper, but didn’t find the target as the ball narrowly went past the wrong side of the post from a Moneys perspective.

The first change of the afternoon saw Asad Ssemwogerere come on for Rudi just before the hour mark. Then just after the hour, Moneys extended their lead through another fantastic counter attack. Louis Gates again putting the finishing touch to the move, with the kind of confident finish any forward would be proud of. Gates undoubtedly on a confidence high from the first half goal.

After the goal, a double sub was made by the Moneys coaching team, with Kieran Alcock replacing Louis Gates and Ethan Gee replacing Faris Khallouqi. A further sub of Karol Skoczen replacing Adam Payce was made on the seventy minute mark.

Just two minutes after that, Hayes & Yeading got themselves back into the game after a long throw in, with Sam Ashton again picking up on a loose ball inside the six yard box.

With just under fifteen minutes to go, the visitors had a free kick just outside the box. Jack McKnight took the free kick and bobbled it low, just inside the post where it beat the Moneys keeper. Four goals a piece with roughly ten minutes plus added time to go.

One final sub was made in an attempt to freshen up midfield with Mikey O’Connell replacing Jordan Pile. Mikey did look sharp and brought some calmness into the attacking part of midfield which was needed, as most players on the pitch began to look tired with bodies and minds running out of energy.

Sadly despite a frantic last ten minutes or so of play, neither team could find a ninth goal of the game and it ended honours even in PO3.

Full-Time: Moneyfields 4-4 Hayes & Yeading United

Springroad Tyres Man of the Match: Louis Gates