Hayes' run of poor performances continued at Gander Green Lane on Saturday with a solitary goal from Tony Quinton on 20 minutes being enough to deal Kevin Hill's men a third defeat in just eight days that has moved us to within a point of the dreaded drop zone yet again.

For the second time this season Kevin Hill has been forced to make a change to his starting XI just prior to kick off, Jomo Faal-Thomas being unable to take the field and being replaced by Jon Dyer.

On a heavy pitch, the home side came at us from the off and but for some excellent goalkeeping by Kevin Davies and some helpful woodwork we would have been two adrift in the first fifteen minutes, just like the Bognor game. Sutton showed they meant business within the first 60 seconds as striker Warren McBean eased past the static defence before firing inches wide of the upright.

Minutes later, a long punt clear by U's keeper Phil Wilson saw Adam Logie misjudge the balls flight allowing McBean move around him to collect and fire at goal forcing Davies to parry his shot that Logie then hacked clear. Less than a minute later the back four stood motionless as Bashiru Alimi and Richard Harris combined to set up Ross Gaynor, his shot from the edge of the area cannoning back off the angle of post and bar.

Still the U's came forwards, a neatly worked corner from the left found the ever dangerous Matt Gray in acres of space, he sidestepped a challenge before firing past Davies only for the ball to go wide off the post. This was closely followed by a mis-hit Gray shot that fell perfectly to Gaynor in front of goal only for Davies to save superbly at close range.

With 18 minutes already played, the Hayes faithful finally saw the ball in the Sutton half of the field, Liam Feeney raced past Ryan Palmer on the left before cutting back a cross that Craig Tanner slid in to clear as Stafforde Palmer arrived. Within a minute we had created a further scoring opportunity, Daniel and Jon Dyer combining to create a shooting chance for Michael Bartley but his weak effort caused no problems for Wilson.

No sooner had we decided we were actually in the game the home side scored, Gaynor picked up a loose ball and threaded it to Quinton who too easily turned two defenders before calmly placing the ball wide of Davies' dive into the far corner. Pressure continued from the home side, McBean found Gaynor who beat reluctant right-back Daniel Dyer before seeing Davies again block his way.

Five minutes before the break the Missioners carved out a shooting chance but as the ball fell to Feeney, his volley was dealt with comfortably by Wilson.

The third minute of the second half saw Hayes create probably their best chance of the afternoon, Palmer received the ball just outside the centre circle and drew the defence towards him as he advanced leaving Feeney free on the left, the striker duly found his top scorer but this time Feeney's effort was blasted over the stand.

Just over an hour had been played before any further excitement ensued, substitute Jason Henry was given a chance when the defence again failed to clear a straightforward free-kick, Davies pulled off yet another fine save to deny the home side only for McBean to follow up and put the ball into the net, only to be denied by the raised assistants flag signalling offside.

A long clearance from the U's defence saw Henry win the race to the ball but Davies was again equal to his shot, pushing the ball away for a corner. Minutes later Palmer advanced into the home sides box and appeared to be fouled, he did however remain on his feet and get a shot on target but it didn't cause Wilson any problems.

Ten minutes from time Davies again came to the rescue, Gaynor firing in an angled drive from 25 yards that forced the stopper to go full stretch and tip the ball onto the crossbar, the resultant corner being headed wide by Alan Bray.

The home side nearly doubled their advantage in the closing minutes in controversial fashion, Mark E'Bayer played the ball towards the home area where Quinton clearly handled, in clear view of the referee, and as this went unpunished he launched the ball forwards and the returning Orlando Jeffrey had to clear over his own crossbar with McBean waiting to pounce.

The final say could have been the Missioners but having wrestled the ball away from two tackles, Palmer could get no power on his shot from just inside the box and Wilson grasped it comfortably.

Report by Kevin Watts. Photos by Ray Peploe.