Beaten Hayes learn a few home truths

HAYES & YEADING UNITED’S 100 per cent home league record came to an end at the hands of fellow promotion chasers Marlow, who completed the double over Paul Hughes’ side.

They remain 14 points clear of Bracknell Town in the Isthmian League South Central Division, having played a game more.

With a penalty saved, chances missed and playing against 10 men for much of the second half, it was just one of those games as Hughes reflected on the 2-0 defeat.

“Marlow have proved to be our bogey team this season,” he said.

“We’ve missed penalties in both games and created opportunities to score in both games but not taken them.

“Our record would suggest that these ‘non-scoring’ days are rare for us so we can’t be too harsh on the players. However, we do have our standards and we didn’t quite reach them in terms of our finishing and quality in the final third.

“I felt we were the dominant side in both halves in terms of possession and chances created. We would’ve taken at least three of those chances on a normal day, but their finishing was simply more clinical.

“Of the three chances they had, they scored two, and that’s the difference in football.”

The penalty miss was key and he added: “I think if we had converted our penalty early on in the first half then it would’ve been a comfortable day for us. Goals change games.

“Credit to Marlow for being fully committed in everything they did. You could tell they badly wanted to beat us and put a dent in our home record.

“Our energy levels and urgency suggested we didn’t want to maintain our home record as badly as they wanted to beat it and that is the only thing that I didn’t like. Players have got to realise that we are a scalp for teams and we cannot have a day off.

“Despite the loss we are still firmly in the driving seat this season and that is testament to the players’ consistency and commitment so far.

“If we continue to show that same commitment, intensity and desire then we will be a very happy group come April because we’ve shown that approach will win games and amass points.”

United travel to South Park in the League on Saturday.