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The under 18's hit four second half goals to turn this game around and in the process move to within a single point of a third consecutive Allied Counties Premier Division title.

The first half was far from a classic with little being created with anything that was being snubbed out quickly by either defence or keeper apart from a fine Jack Sharples lob that put the visitors ahead.

The opening ten minutes saw an Andrew Harewood volley from the tightest of angles go wide after good wing play from Toby Little and Jack Rooney on the left while John Peacock was first called into action on 24 minutes when a Sharples chip into the box found the impressive Michael Murray but the Hayes stopper claimed his header from 12 yards out.

Little then fired weekly at keeper Kyle Bunning before Jack Bigwood went on a rare foray up the right flank and picked out Harewood perfectly at the far post only for Bunning, who was moving the wrong way, to stick out a strong hand and keep the ball out of the net enabling James Williamson to clear the danger.

Then with just three minutes to the break, a long punt upfield was allowed to bounce by the Missioners defence and before they could re-set themselves Sharples had nipped in and executed a perfect lob over the advancing Peacock into the vacant net.

Indeed as the half entered stoppage time it could have been two. A dangerously flighted Murray free-kick was met at the far post by the flying boot of David McLaren but thankfully for Simon East's side he was just off target.

While I am not sure what was said at half time in the Hayes dressing room, maybe Simon and Greg got the thumbscrews out because it was to be as dominant a second half performance as I have seen all season.

Just seconds had elapsed when Harewood raced at the defence on the left side before pulling the ball back to Michael Bryan but he rushed his shot and was well off target. Five minutes later the visitors had one of their few chances of the half and should possibly have made it 2-0. Sharples broke away down the right flank before firing low to Callum Bennett who thankfully didn't connect properly and Peacock gathered.

Minutes later a quick breakaway coupled with some excellent refereeing from referee Mr Skull saw the game return to an even keel. Harewood broke away out of defence and despite being tripped, Mr Skull watched the ball fall to Bryan before playing the advantage, Michael burst forwards and although his cross was cut out it fell to Liam Hind and he fed the ball back to Bryan who had continued his diagonal run and he coolly slotted past Bunning.

Twenty minutes remained when the Missioners really began to take charge, Bryan and Bigwood combined down the right side and when the latter's looping cross was palmed down by Bunning, Little was on hand to take a touch and fire home to give us the advantage.

Chances continued to come for the home side, Matt Carroll shot wide after good approach play from Harewood and the striker then played a neat ball between two defenders into the run of substitute Jerome Ferguson only for Bunning to bravely block at his feet.

Skipper Dave Thomas then intercepted a pass 45 yards from goal and seeing Bunning off his line decided to try his luck, failing to hit the target by a matter of inches as the keeper went into reverse thrust. The killer blow came with four minutes left, Bryan again beat Kyle Kirkbride on the right before crossing, the ball being partially cleared to the tireless Dan Mehmet whose shot from 20 yards took a slight deflection before hitting the back of the net via the far post.

Harewood then saw Bunning grasp the ball at his feet before the stopper made another excellent save by keeper out a close range Hind header from a deep Little corner. The scoring ended deep into stoppage time when Thomas went for a surge up the left flank from centre-back, he exchanged passes with Mehmet before perfectly picking out Little at the far post where he had time to bring the ball down and curl his shot past Bunnings' desperate dive.

Report by Kevin Watts.