Town held to frustrating draw by struggling Hayes

STRATFORD Town were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against struggling Hayes and Yeading United at the DCS Stadium on Saturday, writes Bryan Hale.

With Town having scored five in their last game and Hayes having conceded 14 in losing their last three, a scoreless draw was long odds against, but that was exactly the outcome in the first ever meeting between the sides.

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

Carl Adams’ side responded with Ben Stephens volleying a cross from Edwin Ahenkorah straight at the Hayes and Yeading keeper Danny Boness, and it was Boness who kept the scores level ten minutes before the break when he was smartly off his line to smother the ball at Mike Taylor’s feet as the burly Town striker chased down a long ball through the middle.

Weiss was not far away with a header immediately after the restart and 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 who again kept his side in the game as he turned behind a low drive from Ahenkorah.

Substitute Dylan Kearney had a chance to win it for the visitors as the game headed into added time but his thunderous effort was grasped by Cooper to ensure that the afternoon ended goalless

Stratford Town: Niall Cooper, Dan Summerfield,, Kieren Westwood, James Fry (c), Liam Francis, Guy Clark, Simeon Tulloch (Justin Marsden 70), Will Grocott, Mike Taylor, Ben Stephens, Edwin Ahenkorah.