Hayes 6
Waltham Forest
0

A second half "perfect" hat-trick plus one for luck from Josh Scott was the catalyst behind a comprehensive win for a very strong Hayes reserve side at Church Road this afternoon.

Despite comprehensively controlling the first period it was somewhat of a surprise that the game failed to produce a goal for the home side who had Armand Wembakungu and Rhys Price controlling the centre of the park while the strike force of Scott and Stafforde Palmer, aided by the pace of Damon Ming and Shaun McAuley on the wings caused untold problems for the Waltham Forest defence.

The first chance was created when McAuley combined with Emanuel Sackey on the right, the latter's cross being volleyed by Palmer and although going well wide fell for Scott to volley but his effort failed to trouble Sam Tanner in the Forest goal. McAuley then almost broke the deadlock as Tanner only just managed to tip away his corner that almost curled into the far corner of the net.

With just about 20 minutes played we did have a rare scare as a neat touch in the middle of the park from Anthony Jones sent Daniel Lodge on his way towards Keita Karamoko's goal but despite shrugging off the attentions of Jack Haverson, Lodge was denied as Karamoko dived to gather at his feet.

The Missioners then picked up the pace again, Scott raced from halfway before finding McAuley who sliced his effort wide before Scott himself chested down a poor Tanner goal-kick but fired wide having appeared to be tugged back by a defender. Palmer then forced Tanner into a save as he hit a drive from 20 yards having been set up by Ming and Haverson was just wide with his header from the resultant corner.

We continued to push for the opener but the door just would not open, Price set Ming away on the left, the flying winger raced past the full-back before cutting the ball back to Scott who saw his diving header go agonisingly side of the post. Scott and Palmer then combined to give McAuley a chance but he was again off target before Karamoko had to stand solid to block away a Nathan Smith drive after he had made his way into the area.

The final chance of the half again fell to Scott, who this time beat Tanner with fierce drive only for Smith to clear his effort off the line at the far post.

The second half was less than twenty minutes old and the game was virtually over as a contest as the Missioners netted three times in 14 minutes. Scott opened the flood gates on 50 minutes, Ming and Palmer combined on the left and Scott wrapped his left foot around Stafforde's cross and his shot deflected in off a standing defender. Palmer almost doubled the lead minutes later, again after good work by Ming, but Tanner was equal to his shot however the second was only two minutes away as McAuley crossed deep from the right, Scott rose above his marked at the far post to head home.

Wembakungu then tried to get in on the act only for Tanner to tip over his 20 yard effort for a corner, the kick was swung in by McAuley and met by debutant centre-back Haverson who headed past Tanner to make it 3-0.

The visitors then created a good chance of their own, the ball ran wide and although he began to chase it, Karamoko put on the brakes and slipped on the wet surface, Liam Sango then cut the ball back to Joe Deadman but he fired far too high as Karamoko made it back to his goal.

Chances still came and went as the Missioners proved how hungry they were after the 3-0 defeat at Edgware last time out. Ming set up Ryan Tackley but his header was wide and substitute Junior Thompson flicked on for Scott who chested down before firing wide.

The final nine minutes saw the lead doubled from three to six, firstly we appeared to be playing keep ball in the middle of the park as pass after pass found a red shirt before Scott held the ball awaiting a Ming run, the striker then played the ball perfectly into his path and the Bermudian raced ahead to plant the ball past Tanner for a well earned goal.

Scott then had an effort saved by Tanner before Tackley fired a long ball over the Forest defence that Scott ran onto before placing a right foot shot past Tanner into the bottom corner to complete his hat-trick. Two substitutes nearly combined for another as Miles Jones played Thompson in but Tanner saved before Jones again raced forwards and drew Tanner before offering up the simplest of tap ins for Scott who netted his fourth of the game.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Hayes Team: Keita Karamoko, Emanuel Sackey, Ryan Tackley, Armand Wembakungu, Jarrel Henry, Jack Haverson, Shaun McAuley (Miles Jones), Rhys Price (Simon Knight), Stafforde Palmer (Junior Thompson), Josh Scott, Damon Ming. Sub not used: Adam Cornell.