Uxbridge were brought down to earth with a rather large bump at Honeycroft on Saturday. After sitting proudly on top of the Division before the game, and having knocked eight past Barton Rovers in midweek, the last thing the club expected was to be given a deserved beating by local rivals Yeading. But that’s what happened and though the Reds were a pale imitation of themselves, credit shouldn’t be taken away from Yeading who appear to get better the longer Jon Turner manages them. Although Trevor Canoville shot wide and Dean Clark’s free kick was comfortably saved by Jim Bannatyne in the opening exchanges there was never any danger of the sort of fireworks that had happened the previous Tuesday when three goals had gone in during the opening eight minutes. Canoville looked to have created a chance for himself in the seventh minute as he shrugged Kevin Cleary off the ball but the Uxbridge defender recovered well to avert the danger. Midway through the half a clash of heads between Chris Moore and Danny Lavender resulted in the latter having to go off with a nasty looking head wound, and the ‘Ding brought on ex-Uxbridge defender Danny Hawkesworth as his replacement. Steve Ashley wasn’t far over with a thirty yard effort in the twenty fifth minute as the visitors began to get on top but eight minutes later he had a much easier chance when he completely mistimed a free header from only ten or so yards out. The Reds rarely looked like breaking down the well-marshalled Yeading defence but just after the half hour had their best spell of the match. Firstly Clark’s quickly taken free kick created space for Moore and his shot was deflected over the bar by Hawkesworth. >From the resultant Clark corner Mark Gill headed the ball on into the path of Stuart Bamford and his header was grabbed at the second attempt by Bannatyne. Then, three minutes later a swirling cross from Stuart Bamford was met at the far post by Nicky Ryder but his header was just wide. However, with the Reds beginning to find their feet Yeading pulled the carpet from under them by taking the lead. There seemed to be no danger when Leon Woodruffe gained possession on the left hand touchline but his tremendous cross was met by a diving header from Warren Bayliss to put Yeading in front. It should have been two deep into first half injury time when Canoville shot straight at Sean Dawson from close range. Lee Tunnell had a shot saved by Bannatyne early in the second half but the game was effectively over in the fifty second minute when Canoville’s cross slipped through Dawson’s hands leaving Grant Eaton with a simple tap in from six yards. A minute after the goal substitute Hawkesworth had to be replaced himself after sustaining a head injury in a collision with Tunnell but it didn’t affect the Yeading defence who remained solid throughout. Moore tested Bannatyne with a decent shot in the seventieth minute after good work from Gill and Gavin Bamford and then Gill himself wasn’t far away with a thirty-yard effort. By then though there was little hope of the Reds salvaging something from the game. In the closing minutes Jamie Cleary’s goal bound shot was deflected wide but that would have only provided a consolation. The real prize had already gone to Yeading and Uxbridge’s dream start was over.

UXBRIDGE: Dawson, S.Bamford, Granville (J.Cleary 70), K.Cleary, Weedon, Mills, Tunnell, Gill, Ryder (Jordan 77), Moore, Clark (G.Bamford 57).

YEADING: Bannatyne, Eaton, Lavender (Hawkesworth 22 (Edwards 53)), Lee, Ashley, Denton, Shafer, Lake, Canoville (Bissah 85), Bayliss, Woodruffe.