With 80% of the back-line either suspended or injured, Kevin Hill's patchwork side put up a reasonable fight at Church Road this afternoon only to be undone by the difference between two wonderful strikes, Josh Scott's first half effort that crashed back off the bar and Marlon Patterson's dipping volley that hit the back of the net in the last quarter of the game.

The visitors could have opened the scoring within the first 60 seconds, Patterson broke past makeshift full-back Danny Dyer on the left, his cross was touched on by our own Ryan Tackley which left Liam Collins a chance of a shot at goal which Keita Karamoko held with ease.

The first chance for the home side came just before the quarter hour mark, Kieran Knight found some space on the right side before whipping the ball across the six yard box where an arriving Josh Scott was inches away from finding the net and when Liam Feeney picked up the loose ball his centre was held by keeper Andy Stevens.

Chances then began to fall at each end in turn, Jeff Goulding worked his way past Adam Logie but Karamoko rose in front of Marvin Morgan to claim before Shaun McAuley set up a Scott strike from 25 yards at the other end that beat Stevens only to come straight back off the crossbar to safety. Karamoko then made a double save, first he tipped a Nevin Saroya free-kick over the bar and then saved from a cheeky Goulding back-heel as Collins played the ball in from a short corner.

Play immediately changed ends again as Tackley played the ball in to Scott who brought it down well on his chest before firing over on the turn. Tackley was again almost the architect minutes later when his free-kick was touched towards his own goal by Danny Allen-Page only for Stevens to dive full stretch to push the ball to safety.

Once again the visitors pushed forwards as the half neared its conclusion, Morgan fired over from an angle on the right and Karamoko had to be sharp during stoppage time as a Patterson free-kick came through a crowd before the stopper pushed it around a post.

The second period took a while to get going and it was the visitors that came closest first, a Patterson corner from the right saw Karamoko fouled but with no sign of the referees whistle Morgan blasted well over from six yards with the goal gaping.

A 64th throughball saw Karamoko come from his goal to gather but as Collins ran towards him the 'Ding midfielder slid in studs first and caught the keeper in the face only for referee Collins to produce a yellow card when many would have shown red for such a reckless challenge. After several minutes treatment and a replacement shirt due to the blood drawn from the challenge Karamoko was fit to continue but he still looked dazed and seemed rooted to his line when a goalmouth scramble saw the ball find its way to Goulding whose centre was cleared by Jack Haverson but only as far as Allen-Page who set up Davis Haule but his shot was well wide.

The Missioners had their best chance of the half on 71 minutes, Mark E'Bayer out jumped Nathan Bowden-Haase to find McAuley only for his first time volley to fly inches wide of the upright. The next five minutes saw the visitors finally breach the Hayes defence but only after Karamoko had made two superb saves, firstly he palmed away a Collins shot from close range and when the ball fell to Haule it seemed all he had to do was put it in the net only for a combination of a well placed Tackley and a goal line Karamoko save to deny him.

Sadly with just 14 minutes remaining Karamoko was beaten for the only time in what proved to be the decider in this tight local derby, a long kick by Karamoko was headed straight back by an unopposed Adam Everitt, Goulding touched the ball on and Patterson struck an immaculate volley without hesitation that flew over the Hayes keeper into the top corner of the net.

The visitors were again lucky to retain their full compliment when Haule appeared to go through the back of Joe Sparrowhawk while leading with an elbow, again only a yellow card resulted and the game really died a death as Hayes seemed to have no idea how to break down the Ding defence, in fact the visitors could have doubled their advantage but for a double Haverson block in the six yard box six minutes from time.

So their we have it, four consecutive "important" home games and not a single thing to show, more to the point not a single goal to show, Bedford next, here's hoping.

Report by Kevin Watts.