Hayes 1 Southport 0

(Nov 24)

Hayes claimed an important victory in their battle against relegation with a 1-0 win over Southport at Church Road.

Hayes manager Terry Brown made just one change to the side that had narrowly lost to Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup last week with Paul Holsgrove replacing the suspended Kevin Warner.

The visitors started well and were unlucky not to take the lead with their first real attack inside 15 minutes.

A mix-up between Dominic Sterling and Matthew Gray allowed Southport's striker Simon Parke a clear view of goal, but his left-footed effort rebounded back off the post with keeper Bertrand Bossu beaten.

Hayes played good football through midfield but were rarely able to test visiting goalkeeper Steve Dickinson.

Holsgrove had missed an early chance when his weak shot was well saved by the keeper and Hayes did not look like troubling the visitors throughout the first half.

The improvement in Hayes' play during the first half saw midfielders Dean Clark and Mark Molesley begin to dominate proceedings and these two were to combine to give the home team the only goal of the game with two minutes remaining before half time.

A fine run down the left from Molesley saw him cut in and fire a right-footed shot goalwards, the rebound off the goalkeeper being despatched into the net by the waiting Clark for his 10th goal of the season.

This gave Hayes a 1-0 lead at the interval.

The second half saw the game continue in a similar vein with the home side enjoying the majority of possession but unable to add a second goal to make sure of the points.

The away side resorted to knocking long balls into the box but Hayes' defence coped comfortably.

Hayes were forced to introduce teenage defender James Shipperly early in the second half following an injury to Gray but the home side held on comfortably, and in the end had at least two chances to double their lead.

Firstly, a left-foot volley from substitute David Warner was well saved by Dickinson before a late breakaway deep into injury time saw fellow substitute Peter Holsgrove shoot over from close range with just the keeper to beat.

Victory for Hayes leaves them third from bottom of the Conference but with only two games to play before Christmas, three points were very important to the Church Road club.

Hayes: Bossu, Charles, Gallen, Gray, Sterling, Spencer, Clark, Dyer, Molesley, Holsgrove, Hodges