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A goal at the end of each half saw the Missioners through to the semi-finals of the Suburban Challenge Shield against a very hard working Potters Bar Town side on Thursday evening who despite having a great deal of possession rarely troubled John Peacock in the Hayes goal.

The first half took a while to get going as both sides closed the forwards down quickly and little chance of a strike at goal was forthcoming, in fact we had to wait until the 18th minute for the first real shot in anger and that saw Brett Graham and Steve Cawley combine for the Scholars only for the latter to should wide of the target.

Five minutes later Michael Gordon won the ball on the right flank before crossing to a perfectly positioned Toby Little but he chose placement over power and Potters Bar keeper Marc Powell saved well with his legs leaving Simon Hayward to clear the danger.

Hayes continued to have the better chances as the half wore on, Shaun McAuley controlled a Gordon flick before firing at Powell before a long ball to top scorer Adam Cornell saw a last minute intervention by hayward as the striker was keying for a strike at goal. With time running low in the half, Darren Spinks played the ball neatly into McAuley's run and he brought a fine save from Powell.

The breakthrough was not long coming although it did arise from a rather comical error by the visitors. Having been awarded a free-kick in their own area, Powell decided on a quick punt upfield, sadly for them the ball struck the backside of one of his own defenders and fell nicely to Rhys Price who without a seconds hesitation lobbed the ball perfectly into the vacant net for a deserved lead.

Almost immediately from the restart it could have been two, a combination involving Sam Arhin, Gordon and Price fed the ball into Cornell's run and his first time shot looked destined for the back of the net only for Powell to superbly push the ball around the post.

McAuley had the first strike of the second half following good build up play from the excellent Dwain Williams but he was wide of goal and at the other end a sweeping move saw Liam Farrell work the ball wide to Liam McDermott who crossed to an incoming Graham but he could not keep his shot down.

The final quarter of an hour saw the Scholars come closer to netting an equaliser than at any time in the game, Charlie Moxon drove a free-kick through the wall from the edge of the box that was expertly tipped over the bar by Peacock. The ensuing corner was laid back to McDermott but Peacock was equal to his shot.

With minutes to go the nerves started jangling as first Emanuel Sackey was forced to clear a scrambled effort of the line and then Adrian Devine held up the ball and set up Cawley who could only stare as his volley went away off the outside of the upright with Peacock finally beaten.

This shock sent the home side on one final sortie upfield and this saw them secure a semi-final trip to Sandhurst Town. Cornell received the ball on the edge of the area and held it up before setting Gordon who blasted between two defenders before clipping the ball past Powell from close range.

Report by Kevin Watts.