STRATFORD T 0 HAYES & Y 0

THE FIRST ever meeting between these two sides ended with the points shared in a hard fought encounter.

Stratford made a positive start but it was the visitors who had the first serious attempt on goal in the 12th minute, with Mitchell Weiss seeing his low drive held by home goalkeeper Niall Cooper at the foot of his right post.

Town responded with Ben Stephens volleying a cross from Edwin Ahenkorah straight at the Hayes and Yeading keeper Danny Boness.

Boness kept his side in it ten minutes before the break, when he was smartly off his line to smother the ball at Mike Taylor’s feet as the burly striker chased down a long ball.

Weiss was not far away with a header immediately after the restart and he went even closer on 52 minutes when he surged down the inside right channel to shoot past Cooper, only for James Fry to clear off the line.

A reflex save from Boness kept out a Liam Francis header in the 65th minute, followed at the other end by Cooper brilliantly pushing away a fierce effort from Weiss and with 15 minutes to go it was Boness again as he turned behind a low drive from Ahenkorah.

Sub Dylan Kearney had a chance to win it for the visitors as the game headed into added time, but his thunderous right footer was grasped by Cooper. STAR MAN: Danny Boness (Hayes) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★