Whites succumbed to a costly defeat against the league leaders, as it was a case of Yeading taking their chances, and Whites not being able to put the ball in the back of the net. The only saving grace was that all the teams down the bottom with us also lost, but it is getting harder to escape relegation.

The side showed two changes from the draw at Leyton the week before, with Tom Hickman returning from suspension, and Bradley Sandeman was handed his debut. They took the places of the departed Jude Stirling, and Walid Matata who was pushed down to the bench.

Returning to the Hoverspeed in the Yeading side were two familiar faces. Firstly there was Dean Palmer, who only left only four weeks previously, and also Dave Clarke, who played for us during our most successful period of recent years when we were challenging at the top of the Conference.

Unfortunately for the Whites, they were behind after only six minutes. Victor Renner challenged for the ball in the centre circle, and it ricocheted down the centre of the pitch into the path of DJ Campbell. He took it in his stride and lobbed the onrushing Paul Hyde.

But a few minutes later, Whites could have equalised. Carruthers curled in a free kick to the back post, and Victor Renner was inches away from getting the vital touch, but keeper Delroy Preddie gathered it in.

Emond Protain and DJ Campbell both went close as the Whites seemed to be overawed by the visitors. Anthony Hogg went close for the Whites but Yeading were the more threatening, and Hyde was forced to pull off a smart save from Nevin Saroya.

The referee decide to caution three Whites players in a five minute spell just after the half hour mark, all for innocuous looking challenges, but it was the Whites who ended the half on a high.

Renner flicked on a long throw by Cloke to Carruthers, and he volleyed a good chance just over the bar. Then another Cloke throw had to be pushed over the bar as Yeading defender Emond Protain almost headed into his own net.

The referee called an end to a disappointing half with Whites a goal down, it was not a good performance by the Whites, as it seemed that the early goal had knocked the confidence out of the side, but there was still hope for the second period.

Chris Wright replaced debutant Bradley Sandeman for the second period, clearly putting an extra striker on to put pressure on the Yeading defence. And although Nevin Saroya went close with a free kick, the Whites controlled the first 30 minutes of the second period.

Shane Hamshare was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty as he was hauled down in the area, but the best chances of an equaliser fell to Matt Carruthers. He headed over twice from Braithwaite corners when well placed, but as the pressure intensified, Yeading broke quickly and got the all-important second goal.

After a Dover free kick, the ball was cleared all the way down the pitch to DJ Campbell, and he took his time and slotted past Hyde. The visitors immediately brought fresh legs on, and the substitute Marvin Morgan could have made it three, as he again raced through the defence, only to see his shot hit the inside of the post.

Carruthers had a volley on target from distance before Morgan managed to finish the game off. Another long ball down the centre was collected by the forward after outmuscling Cloke, and he shot home for the third goal.

Matata came on for the final ten minutes, replacing Hickman, but it was Hogg that should have reduced the deficit, heading wide when free in the area.

Marvin Morgan forced another good save out of Hyde when clean through again, before another controversial incident involving the referee. Dean Palmer was not happy with a challenge on him, and seemingly retaliated with a punch. He was only booked though, and then Matt Carruthers was also booked for trying to break up the fight. As he had been booked in the mad five minutes in the first half, he was sent off, a huge disappointment for the upcoming important fixtures.

As the game came to a close, Dean Readings, who had an impressive game, was forced into a last-ditch tackle to deny DJ Campbell. The final chance fell to Walid Matata when he almost poked the ball home following a knock down by Chris Wright, but the game had been over for a long time by then.

This was a disappointing day for Whites fans, with the arrival of their second defeat in eight games. This was always going to be a tough game against a side aiming for the league championship, but it makes the next few games take on even greater importance.