The season began for real at Church Road this afternoon and it was the visiting Stutes who took away all three points courtesy of a late brace from substitute striker Neil Kennedy.

The home side started well with Manager Kevin Hill fielding no fewer than five debutant's and could have taken a third minute lead when Michael Bartley broke down the right, his cross fell to Liam Feeney who saw the experienced Lance Key in the visitors goal punch his volley over the bar.

Chances still came and went for the Missioners as first Shaun McAuley headed wide and then defender Erkan Okay just managed to get his head to a Feeney cross that was heading for the same player.

The Stutes then began to find their feet and move forwards with menace, Jamie Barker was just wide after our own Adam Logie had inadvertently flicked on a corner and within a minute the same player saw his goalbound drive brilliantly tipped around the post by 19 year old debutant keeper Reece Kirk. The breakthrough for the visitors was not long coming though, Steve Jackman had driven across goal and wide before a punted Matt Langston free-kick from halfway saw Kirk caught in no mans land as Barker rose and headed the ball into the now vacant net.

Just before the break visiting stopper Key kept his side ahead, saving with his legs as Kieran Knight broke on goal after a neat interchange with Michael Bartley.

As with the first period, Kevin Hill's men came out with purpose and after a couple of efforts had been blocked away by defenders an equaliser came courtesy of a sweeping move down the left flank. Feeney received the ball on the left before advancing and crossing to Ryan Ashe, the midfielders deft touch dropped perfectly for Knight who volley past Key from the edge of the area.

The heavily fancied visitors were shocked into action by this and both Barker and Robbie Nightingale shot over when well placed. We then produced another flowing upfield move playing football barely seen in a Hayes side in recent years! Knight found the impressive Feeney and his cross on the run found Michael Bartley but the striker could only head into Keys midriff.

Stutes Manager Steve Fallon then made what was to be a crucial substitution, replacing both of his front runners with Ian Cambridge and Neil Kennedy who was to destroy the home sides hopes with a late double. The change did not pay immediate dividends and indeed it was the home side who could have taken the lead soon after, Kirk planted the ball deep into enemy territory, Michael Bartley flicked on and Knight was only just wide with another volley.

With just over ten minutes remaining Kirk did well to deny Neil Kennedy who had met Barkers cross at close range only to be denied by a flying block by the Hayes keeper. Shortly after though a needless corner was conceded and Kennedy was not going to be denied a second time as he rose at the far post to squeeze the ball between keeper and post.

With just five minutes to go Nightingale should have done better when the ball fell to him in the six yard box but his miscontrol enabled Kirk to gather, the visitors didn't have long to wait though, Adam Logie headed a deep ball back to where he expected Kirk to be but sadly the debutant had come to meet him which left Neil Kennedy with the simple task of tapping home his second and the Stutes third to seal a first ever League victory over the Missioners.

Report by Kevin Watts. Photos by Ray Peploe.