Report by Jools Thomas

FC returned to winning ways in this comfortable win against lower table AFC Hayes. Three headed goals from three different players sealed the win for the Moles in a match where the score line could and indeed should have been greater. There was a slight reshuffle of the pack by Steve Bateman with Kyle Anthony returning to defence, Davis Haule starting for the first time in a number of weeks and Lynton Goss joining the forwards. Connor Baker, Ben Bateman and Gareth Price were the men to make way.

Lynton Goss created a chance for Ben Stevens as early as the third minute before Jeanmal Prosper hit a powerful 30 yard strike which away keeper Sam Mazurik did well to parry away for a corner. FC’s early pressure was rewarded with an early goal care of Kyle Anthony. Lynton Goss provided the cross with Kyle heading the ball downwards and across the line.

A boggy pitch was making progress an effort for both teams but it was FC that adapted better to the conditions. Sonny French was a constant thorn in the side of the Hayes defence and a 9th minute run saw him unleash a shot wich Marurik did well to save. Hayes’ first effort on goal came in the 22nd minute. Lee McManus delivered a quality ball but strike partner Tobi Akinjirin failed to make a true connection and the chance went begging.

On 24 minutes FC grabbed their second goal. Brian Haule sent in a lofted cross which Sonny French nodded goalwards and despite a slight deflection, the ball whistled past the keeper much to the delight of the watching FC fans. AFC Hayes could have got a foothold back in the game almost immediately. Akinjirin broke the offside trap and only a brave header by FC keeper James Weatherill prevented a run on goal.

At the other end of the pitch, man of the match Sonny French crossed over for Kyle Anthony whose attempted volley was deflected over for a corner. Shortly afterwards Akinjirin had another break on goal and yet again it was Weatherill who prevented the chance by blocking with his body. On 31 minutes AFC Hayes grabbed a goal back. A corner from the right was accurately nodded past Weatherill by Jerome Ecclestone. To end the half Lynton Goss and then Brian Haule had decent chances to give FC their two goal cushion but to no avail.

Akinjirin had the first chance of the second period with a curling shot which tested Weatherill’s agility. Bradley Wadkins responded to this threat with a shot that almost sneaked past Marurik. Kyle Anthony has another headed opportunity on 55 minutes and eight minutes later Daniel Murphy crafted a freekick over the AFC Hayes wall but it did little to trouble the away keeper. The third goal seemed inevitable and so it proved to be. Bradley Wadkins supplied a cross to the far post and Brian Haule, with the keeper stranded, nodded the ball into an empty net.

FC could have extended their lead still as the game entered a period of niggly play which resulted in a number of unnecessary yellow cards for both teams. Firstly Lynton Goss was unlucky with a snap shot but as the game entered its final minutes, Daniel Murphy suffered a painful injury on the half way line with the FC full back being stretchered off the pitch. In injury time, Bradley Wadkins twisted and turned before deftly flicking a reverse shot goalwards with the keeper static. Unluckily for Brad, the ball trickled the wrong side of the post with the referee signalling an end to the game a few moments later