Hayes 1 Basingstoke Town 0

DESPITE staging a late rally, which saw the Hayes goal swamped like the Alamo, Town were unable to grab a late equaliser and stumbled to a single-goal defeat against their Middlesex hosts.

Galvanised by the late introduction of youngsters Max Rooke, David Ray and Jason Graham, who gave Town an attacking thrust not offered by some of the more senior players, the Blues very nearly snatched a point at the death.

A great cross from Rooke found Graham six yards out but he could only glance the header down, allowing Hayes 'keeper Bert Bossu just enough time to scramble across full length to keep it out.

That was Town's final opportunity of the game, but they owed much to the superb reflexes of Scott Tarr for keeping them in with a shout.

On three occasions in the second-half he excelled in keeping out promising Hayes attacks with some outstanding stops.

Both sides began this match in the right fashion, looking to play passing football on a tricky wet surface, but as a contest it didn't really take off until after half-time.

It was Hayes who came out of the blocks in earnest to force Tarr into action.

First he repelled Kevin Warner who was clean through, before Steve Hemmings recovered to block the rebound, which fell to Justin Cochrane.

On 60 minutes Town then had a fortuitous break when striker Ian Hodges failed to control a whipped-in free kick missed by a host of Town defenders.

The ball promptly ricocheted off his body and narrowly wide from all of four yards.

Hayes were starting to string together some fine passes and movement, particularly down the right flank.

But as soon as Town woke up to the fact and shackled marauding right-back Mark Molesley, Hayes' goal came from the opposite side.

Warner's excellent cross at real pace found Hodges who, in between two defenders, put a great header beyond Tarr's clutching right hand into the net for his 75th minute goal.

In the ascendancy, Hayes then hit the bar through Warner before Camrose Blues manager Ernie Howe threw caution to the wind and took off the ineffectual Efon Elad, replaced by Ray.

Ray almost announced his arrival with a spectacular 25-yard drive that flashed just wide. From it, Town grew in confidence and proceeded to put together the type of performance they had started the match with.

Crisp one-touch passing led to Hayes defending very deep, inviting the onslaught which duly came.

However, desperate bodies threw themselves in the way of chances as Town encamped in the 18-yard box and a late escape was not to be attained.

Howe said: "At the end I was a little disappointed not to get something from the game, we just didn't have that little bit of luck in the box.

"But Hayes were the better side and did derserve their three points.

"Scotty was excellent in goal, it's those sort of saves that help you forget the mistakes and remember why he is at the club.

"There were some positives to take from the game, the young players who came on did very well and have got that extra little bit of experience.

"It was a shame young Jason couldn't get a bit more power on his header at the end, but he and David Ray are only 17 and it will have done them good to get on."

Town: Tarr, Dickens, Stamp, Gibbens (Graham 85), Hemmings, Allaway, Elad (Ray 80), Howes (Rook 65), McAllister, Roach, Ewin. Not used: Foster, Frost.