Chairman Lee came to Essex, Chairman Lee was right. "This game's got 0-0 or 1-0 either way written all over it" he said at half time. Thankfully a goal from Daniel Dyer, as scrappy as the game itself, six minutes after the break meant a happy trip back round the M25.

While never really sparking into life this was a game of several chances but only one vital goal that saw the Missioners claim their third victory in eight days as the hope of survival is starting to look more than possible as the season draws to a close.

Fleet had an early chance when a Ben Wood free-kick was partially cleared by Jamie Jarvis only for the ball to fall to Greg Heald who fired high and wide of Kevin Davies' goal. The Missioners then began to attack the Thurrock goal themselves and Sean Ridgway and Kieran Knight both went close and we were still within the first ten minutes.

Davies then twice made saves to keep the scoresheet blank, Leon McKenzie dodged past Jack Haverson only for the Hayes stopper to save at the foot of the post and within a minute former Missioner Lee Flynn saw Davies rise to push his dipping effort over the crossbar.

Play then did another about turn as it was the home goal that was under serious threat. A long Peter Collins throw was inadvertently flicked on by Matt Paine towards Ridgway who was only just off target with an overhead effort. Then on 23 minutes keeper Max Aneke had to go at full stretch to catch a Ridgway effort after he had held off three defenders having been set up by Knight and Dyer.

As the half hour mark arrived the home side buoyed by the excellence of Wes Thomas began to slice through the Hayes back-line but still found the impenetrable force in the shape of Davies in the way. Thomas firstly moved past Gilbert Nuako as if he wasn't there and when his cut back was sliced by Collins, Davies was on hand to see it around the post. Seconds later Thomas was again showing Nuako a clean pair of heels, this time he manouvered into the centre and despite going the wrong way Davies still managed to get an outstretched boot on the ball to send it wide of the goal.

Thomas' one man show almost brought an opener early in the second half, a long punt over the defence saw the striker control the ball before hitting a shot on the turn that went across the face of goal and away for a throw in on the far side. Almost instantly play switched ends and the deadlock was broken thanks to an alert Daniel Dyer. Liam Feeney, who had been quiet on the left flank, picked up the ball and barged his way between the two covering defenders, his shot was tipped away by Aneke at full stretch only for Dyer to be first to the loose ball to toe it past the desperate dive of the keeper to give us a vital lead.

With the home side behind and knowing that defeat could drag them into the relegation dogfight it was not surprise that they had the lions share of possession, however the best chances still fell to the Missioners on the break. Just five minutes after going behind Cliff Akurang had the ball in the back of Davies net only to be denied by the assistants flag for offside and Thomas was again denied just minutes later, this time by the outstretched boot of the experienced Jarvis who put the ball out for a corner. Flynn took the kick, finding the head of Heald but Davies coolly plucked the ball from under his crossbar.

Feeney then fired across Aneke's goal after being set up by Scott before a brace of free-kicks conceded gave cause for concern but Davies was not to be beaten, saving from Wayne Wilson and watching Heald's header sail over the top.

Three minutes from time the home sides job was made harder when McKenzie saw red from referee Mr George. The Thurrock man had already seen yellow in the first half before being cautioned a second time for an offence in the middle as a corner came in.

Stoppage time saw three chances come and go, the impressive Thomas was allowed space 25 yards from goal but although his drive beat Davies it came back off the bar much to the Hayes fans relief. The other chances should have seen the lead increased, Scott advanced before finding Feeney who scooped his effort over the bar with just Aneke to beat and a minute later Scott again almost turned creator when he ran half the length of the field before finding Knight only for Aneke to keep his effort out.



Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.