Hayes virtually secured second place in the Suburban League Premier Division thanks to a Junior Thompson winner just five minutes before the final whistle.

Both teams seemed to struggle with a bumpy pitch for much of the first half and chances were at a premium. Adam Thomson showed amazing reactions to not only block a low shot at point blank range but also hold onto the ball, whilst Bradley Edmunds found the home keeper with a free header from Emanuel Sackey’s cross while Adam Cornell was only denied by a last ditch tackle right in front of goal when latching onto a Miles Jones centre.

The home team started the second half strongly without troubling Thomson too much and gradually Hayes got back into their stride. Alexis Charalambous had a powerful drive towards goal which was deflected inches over by his marker’s flailing leg. Minutes later though, he put Hayes in front.

Darren Spinks brought the ball out of defence and played a neat one two with Junior Thompson which set him through on goal. Although the home keeper parried his shot, Charalambous was able to collect the rebound. He dribbled around the keeper and a covering defender and seemed to be running out of room, but somehow squeezed the ball between two defenders who had retreated to the goal line.

The lead was short lived however as a left wing cross was met with a firm, unchallenged header at the far post just two minutes later.

Hayes piled on the pressure from then on in, with the keeper saving excellently at close range from Cornell and Thompson just miskicking from Jones’ cut back when well placed.

And then with five minutes left, the winning goal duly arrived. An outswinging Spinks corner was met on the volley by Edmunds who teed up Thompson to slot the ball into the far corner. Hayes comfortably kept the ball from the Casuals players for most of the remaining time to earn a victory which, barring a seven goal defeat at Eastleigh, confirms the runners up spot in the League.

Report by Nick Bell.