The visitors exploited gaps in the home defence though, and in the 15th minute United had a lucky escape when Welsh flexed his neck muscles to power a head over Tim Garner, but the ball rebounded off a post back to the keeper. Garner did well shortly afterwards, racing out of his area to save at the feet of Crawford, and moments later was called upon to make a similar save to foil Whiskey.
At the midway point Kevin Day made a strong run upfield before finding Hercules unmarked, this time Mackenzie raced out and did just enough to foil him. Five minutes later Hercules met an Andy Robinson cross and his header looked destined for the top corner, but the ball smacked against the woodwork before being cleared.
Yeading went in front with a gift goal. Ardren crossed into the area, Simon Mason attempted to head clear, but to his horror the ball deflected over a helpless Garner and into the net. Two minutes before the interval a delightful backheel by David Sansom found Darren Seabrook with only Mackenzie to beat, and from six yards his shot cannoned away off the keeper.
United levelled after 57 minutes, Mason redeeming himself and heading in a far post Steve Grenfell cross.
Darren Collins was introduced to the fray and his attacking forays down the flank enabled the home side to dominate the closing stages. In a pulsating finale Mackenzie dropped a Sansom cross before clutching it at the second attempt, Seabrook twice headed wide, Collins shot over after shrugging off two challenges, and Mackenzie made the superb save to foil Hercules. It was that sort of match.
DG