IMPRESSIVE HAYES & YEADING NOTCH 100TH GOAL
HAYES & YEADING SCORE 100TH GOAL IN LATEST LEAGUE VICTORY
RAMPANT Hayes & Yeading’s charge to the Isthmian League Central South Division title accelerated on Saturday as they scored their 100th league goal in the 1-0 home win against play-off chasing Ware.
Boss Paul Hughes was understandably pleased that his team maintained their unblemished 100% home record in a tough contest as Josh Chamberlain’s 68th-minute goal was enough for another three points.
“We haven’t had it easy this year in terms of the timing in playing teams as, yet again, we were facing one of the form teams in the league,” said Hughes. “They had won their last seven matches away from home and were clearly a very confident team.
“We never really got going in the first half and if it wasn’t for some heroic last-ditch defending, particularly from Ed Asafu-Adjaye then we could have gone behind.
“The chances we did create we didn’t really test the keeper, which is unlike us given our scoring record this year.
“Our main problem in the first half was giving the ball away in key areas of the pitch. When you play with such an expansive style like we do, it makes us very open if we are careless in possession. Our shape becomes more of a hindrance than a positive when we do give the ball away cheaply.
“With this in mind, we changed to a much more rigid 4-4-2 in the second half which made us very difficult to break down. It also gave us licence to turn them a bit more. Balls into channels hurt them as they were not the quickest at the back and we do have pace up top.
“I felt we took control of the second half and deserved the victory off the back of that.
“I’m really pleased we hit that 100goal milestone as that’s not easy to do in a season, let alone by February. The players deserve a huge amount of respect for the work they’ve put in so far and these type of achievements are only results of that diligence.”
There were more new faces for Hayes with the arrival of striker Chid Onokwai from FC Romania, midfielder Kunle Otudeko from Oxford City, defender Jo Wilson and the return of defender Nathan Webb to the club. Meanwhile, striker Ash Nzala has left to join fellow promotion chasers Cheshunt.
On Saturday Hayes travel to playoff chasing Westfield.