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Hayes' reserves travelled to Harefield United's Preston Park on Saturday in the second round of the Suburban League Cup and progressed to the next round thanks to strikes from Armand Wembakungu and Stafforde Palmer.

An early Palmer effort was easily dealt with by home keepe Matt Faley before the home side threatened when Matt Woods was given time to feed Daniel Barrance, Damon Ming did well to hold up the forward but he still got his cross in only for Murry Williamson to head wide of John Peacocks goal.

Palmer came close on 18 minutes, having been found by Ming, the strikers effort from 20 yards struck a defender before flying past Faley and crashing back of the crossbar to safety. Minutes later Ming was again the tormentor, he found substitute Nathan Hargreen whose cross was flicked wide by top scorer Adam Cornell.

Hagreen set up another chance for Cornell minutes later but the strikers effort was pushed over the bar by Faley in the Hares goal. The opener was only three minutes away though, Ming found Palmer who beat off the challenge of defender Jason Jaap, his shot was pushed away by Faley with Wembakungu first to arrive and fire into the net from close range.

As the break approached Peacock tipped over a Barrance free-kick while the nippy Palmer outstripped heavily built defender Allan Perry only to shoot across the face of goal and wide of the target. The half finished with the home side missing a good chance to pull level, Williamson slotted the ball to Barrance in the area who in turn set up Chris Baah who failed to trouble Peacock.

Eight minutes of the second period had passed when the Missioners added a second, Ming won possession inside the Hares half of the field and touched the ball to Cornell who put strike partner Palmer through on goal and he fired past Faley into the far corner.

Palmer had two more half chances that went begging before the home side pulled one back, Barrance nipped in between Bobby Hughes and Bradley Edmunds and his square pass found the unmarked Matt Woods who clinically fired past the unprotected Peacock.

As the final half hour came and went it was only the home keeper that was really made to work, Barrance headed wide for the home side before Faley twice kept his side in the game, firstly saving with his legs at the foot of the post from Ming and then again with his feet from Junior Thompson after Palmer had again raced past Perry.

Four minutes from time however the home side will be kicking themselves that they did not force extra time, Baah found himself in space and fed the ball to goalscorer Woods who shot wildly across the Hayes goal with just Peacock to beat.

Report by Kevin Watts.