Nuneaton Borough 0

Hayes 2 (Dec 8)

Fearless Hayes stood up to be counted and returned from their trip to Nuneaton Borough with all three points after a 2-0 triumph and a third successive win.

Hayes defended superbly and never really looked in any difficulty as they picked up three vital points in their battle to avoid a relegation dog-fight.

Hayes' goalscorers were Dominic Sterling and skipper Kenny Dyer and certainly the win was no more than the Missioners deserved.

In the opening exchanges it was Nuneaton who held the upper hand with keeper Bertrand Bossu having to race from his line to save at the feet of Marc McGregor, while he was somewhat fortunate to block a Lee Charles header following a right-wing cross from McGregor soon after.

Alex Sykes then shot from 25-yards which Bossu held at full stretch before Hayes took the lead very much against the run of play right on half time.

Defender Paul Holsgrove chipped a delightful pass into the path of Sterling and his eight-yard right-foot half volley gave Boro keeper Chris MacKenzie no chance.

Straight from the restart, Boro's Simon Weaver blasted over when well placed while also early in the second period Charles had a cross shot fly just over the bar.

But Hayes always looked dangerous on the break in the second period and doubled their advantage in the 57th minute when Mark Molesley's angled drive was parried away by MacKenzie to the lurking Dyer, and he had the simplest of tasks to rifle into an empty net from six yards.

Boro tried to get back into contention with Adam Cooper, but he shot straight at Bossu from 20-yards, but it was The Missioners who came closest to extending their advantage as Ian Hodges latched onto Dean Clark's crossfield pass and saw his rising drive pushed aside by MacKenzie onto the post and away to safety.

At the opposite end Michael Love's turning drive flew just off target and Warren Peyton had another effort fly across the face of goal and wide of the far upright.

In the closing minutes, Hayes manager Terry Brown was sent from the dugout and red carded by Worcester referee Steve Dorr but that failed to upset the visiting team on the pitch who held out to secure a well deserved win and plunge Nuneaton into more trouble

Hayes: Bossu, Sterling, Gallen, Ashton, Spencer, Holsgrove, Clark, Dyer, Molesley, Hodges, Warner