Church Road Tuesday, August 24th, 2010   Conference Attendance: 286         Hayes And Yeading United 3-4 Forest Green Rovers
2010 /11

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ROVERS DETERMINATION IN SEVEN GOAL THRILLER HAYES & YEADING 3 – 4 FOREST GREEN ROVERS Report by Heather Cook Rovers produced a sterling performance away to Hayes and Yeading last night after being pegged back 3 times from a winning score. Yet with the seconds ticking away they still found the reserve to grab the winner in a 4-3 bonanza at the Church Road Stadium, thanks to a late strike from substitute Jonathan Else. Hayes will be thinking themselves unlucky, especially with loan striker Ben Wright claiming a hat-trick on the night, but David Hockaday’s men seem to have a new strength and togetherness this season that has moved them up to 4th place in the league. When the teams were announced Hockaday surprised everyone with the return of Defender Curtis McDonald, who had been training with Stockport County and Leyton Orient since the end of last season. His introduction allowed Craig Armstrong to move up to midfield whilst Mike Fowler was rested as he returns to full fitness. Rovers may have found their opponents slick and fast in the opening minutes but for all their work the final ball lacked any penetration. It was no surprise when Rovers took the lead in the 28th minute, Lee Fowler put Reece Styche clean through and he made no mistake with a low finish past Hayes goalkeeper Lee Harrison. Hayes responded well to going behind though, and full-back Adam Green came so close to the equaliser when he fired into the side netting with a shot that most of the home faithful thought was in. Yet Hayes were celebrating an equaliser in the 39th minute when referee Ryan Atkin adjudged that Gavin Caines had handled Elliott Buchanan''s cross and Wright smashed home the subsequent spot-kick. Hayes came within inches of capping a fine first-half turnaround when Buchanan picked out Bradley Pritchard and his low shot just missed the far post. Rovers were gifted the lead three minutes into the second-half when a looping cross to the back post from Lee Smith was palmed into his own net by the veteran Harrison. The lead was short lived however as within four minutes the lively Wright cut inside from the right and unleashed a fine drive into the far corner. The pendulum once more swung back into Rovers favour, and it was another error from Harrison that put the visitors back into the lead, a cross from McDonald was misjudged and the ball was allowed to float into the back of the net. Rovers seemed helpless in stopping Wright claiming his hat-trick on the night, Pritchard supplying the perfect cross for the strikers to score his 5th goal since coming on loan from Peterborough United. Yet again Rovers showed true grit and, rather than hold on to the draw, pushed for the winner. Again the ammunition of Ian Herrings throw-in came to fruition as Else collected and sent in a volley to claim a very important away win so early in the season. Hayes & Yeading: Harrison, Ferrell, Green, Bygrave, Holmes, Wright, Deen (Yiadom 88mins), Buchanan (Wishart 73mins), Hand, Pritchard, Wassmer (Mulley 90mins) Subs: Lennie, Webb. Forest Green Rovers: Bittner, Herring, Jones L, Armstrong, Smith (Davies 80mins), Styche, Fowler L, Norwood (Else 79mins), Klukowski (Baldwin 90mins), Caines, McDonald. Subs: Jones Z, Grimes. Referee: R. Atkin (London FA) Attendance: 286