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Hayes v Chester City, Saturday March 3rd 2001
Nationwide Conference League
Hayes 1 V 3 Chester City att:784 Quinn(61) M.Beesley(38,63 pen), Woods(77 pen) City climb to fourth in the Conference following a 3-1 win against a poor Hayes side in a largely un-entertaining game at Church Road Mixed feelings where among blues fans before Saturday's game with struggling Hayes. There was optimism of claiming three points as Hayes hadn't won at home in six months but City hadn't won on the road in the league since Scarborough in October and knowing how we've fared against the poorer sides in the league this year I can't say I was that confident of 3 points. But London has been kind to City this year and it proved to be again as Hayes gifted City 3 points by giving away 2 penalties and having their first choice keeper sent off. In saying that the blues where always the better side and fully deserved their three points and with their two most creative players sat on the bench and three key players out through injury this was a well won three points. The blues made two changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Boston, Matt Doughty returned to the side after being rested on Tuesday night whilst Jimmy Haarhoff dropped to the bench with Darren Moss keeping his place in the starting eleven. Steve Whitehall was again on the bench with Matt Woods keeping his place up front. Hayes on the other hand were boosted by the inclusion of former Northern Ireland striker Jimmy Quinn in their starting eleven. Quinn was said not to be playing in the local press on Friday due to work commitments so it was a shock to see the veteran appear for the start of the game. City always looked more likely to score even without Whitehall and Haarhoff on the pitch and the first chance came for the blues on 6 minutes when Paul Beesley rose at the far post to get on the end of an enticing Neil Fisher free kick but his free header went high over the bar. Scott Ruscoe should have put the blues one up moments later, he got himself on the end of a Matt Woods cross but Ruscoe's header went well wide of the goal. At the other end Hayes created very little in the first half and the only notable moment was when City's stand in keeper Phil Priestley hit a poor goal kick out and it was left to Martyn Lancaster to save the day as he headed out a dangerous looking cross with Jimmy Quinn lurking at the far post. Seven minutes before the break and City went ahead, Darren Moss broke through on the right hand side and his inviting cross was met by Scott Ruscoe at the far post and his header was flicked on by Mark Beesley into the net. Into the second half and the blues started off the half like they have done so many recently sitting back and letting Hayes come at them and it came as no surprise when Hayes equalised 10 minutes into the half, midfielder Kofi Kyamah hit a cross into the City area and Quinn looped a header over the awfully placed Priestly. Hayes now had a sniff of a first home win in 6 months but they soon had the stuffing knocked out of them when Mark Beesley followed in a short back pass which was played to Hayes goalkeeper Paul Gothard and Gothard instead of putting the ball in row z decided to try and dribble the ball around Beesley but Beesley won the ball and Gothard proceded to perform a rugby tackle Will Carling would have been proud of and the referee duly gave City what was a certain penalty. The referee, who was probably one of the best I've seen all season had no choice but to red card Gothard and as Gothard made his way off the pitch to boos and jeers from both sets of fans he had a few angry words with one home fan and looks certain not to have much of a future left at Hayes. Hayes now had to change things and striker Ben Hodson was sacrificed to bring on reserve keeper Matt Hodson. His first touch was to pick Mark Beesley's well placed penalty out of the back of the net as the blues went 2-1 up. City never do play well against ten men and Hayes missed various chances to get back on level terms with Quinn missing the best of them firing wide from close range. Against the run of play the blues finished the game off on 79 minutes, Matt Woods was brought down in the area by reserve keeper Hodson and it looked for a moment like Hodson could also be sent off put the referee produced a yellow card which was probably a fair decision. From the resulting penalty Matt Woods placed his spot kick well and he notched his third goal in four games to help his claim for a permanent place upfront. Haarhoff and Whitehall where introduced into the fray just before the penalty and they both missed chances in the last 10 minutes as City should have scored 2-3 more as Hayes gave up. It wasn't the greatest of performances but the blues fans didn't care on the long way home from London as it was three points and City now look a good bet for a top three finish as we seem to be hitting form at the right time. Man Of The Match - It had to be Paul Beesley as he had one of his best games for the blues at the back. Chester:Priestley,Moss,Doughty,Lancaster,Gaunt,P.Beesley,Carden,Fisher,Woods,M.Beesley,Ruscoe Subs:Wright,Berry,Haarhoff,Whitehall,Woodyatt Hayes:Gothard,Molesley,Nyamah,Watts,Sterling,Goodliffe,McKimm,Preston,Quinn,B.Hodson,Moore Subs:Behzadi,Coppard,Telemaque,M.Hodson,Gallen
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