House Buck In Second Half - AFC Hayes vs. Knaphill

Trees that enclose three sides of Farm Park

As I'm going away for two weeks on Monday I wanted to stay relatively close to home for a game this weekend. I had a choice between AFC Hayes and CB Hounslow and went for the former as it looked like their game had a bit more riding on it. AFC Hayes are a team I've been meaning to visit for a long time and had been saving it for a time like this. They were hosting Knaphill  and both sides were towards to the bottom of the table and so needed a win to pull away. In their last outing, Hayes lost  one nil away at Buckingham Athletic in the vase. I visited Knaphill quite a long time ago (Scunthorpe were still in The Championship it was that long ago) when they hosted Hayes Gate on the opening day of that Combined Counites season.

Kick off at Farm Park

Hayes are able to get in on goal at an angle very early on and the Knaphill keeper does well to save at his near post. They have another chance shortly afterwards which is a shot from the edge of the box which goes just wide. Knaphill's first effort on goal comes when the forward is allowed to advance to the edge of the box from where he hits the post with a low shot. They get in on goal again not long afterwards, the time the goalie makes a fantastic one handed save. There are chances being created at both ends, the next being a Hayes header at the back post from a corner which is blocked by the Knaphill defender. The Hayes defending is now getting more desperate as a shot on goal is headed off the line. Then the Hayes keeper makes another great save, this time from a header following a free kick from wide. Knaphill do eventually take the lead with a close range header from a corner. This sparks Hayes back into life and they create a couple of chances before Knaphill gift them an equalizer. As a Knaphill move breaks down, Hayes break at speed and when the attacker drills in a cross, the unfortunate Knaphill player hammers the ball into his own net.

Knaphill get the ball in during the first half

Knaphill retake the lead at the start of the second half. Unfortunately, at this time I'm at the tea bar with my back to the action. Like in the first half, both sides create a number of chances. The best for Knaphill during this period is a header from close range which goes well over while the best for Hayes is when the forward gets close to goal before lashing a shot just wide. Knaphill then go direct from a goal kick and when the forward gets in on goal he thunders a shot against the bar. Hayes are able to break from a Knaphill attack but this time the eventual shot goes wide Knaphill make the game safe in the closing stages as when the forward gets to the corner of the area he unleashes a powerful shot into the opposite top corner to seal the points.

The Hayes header that was blocked in the first half

I had planned to get the train from Paddington to Hayes and Harlington and catch the 90 bus to the ground from there however as The Northern Line was undergoing extensive engineering works this weekend I had to catch The District Line from Wimbledon to Notting Hill and from there I took The Central Line to Northolt. The journey on the 90 from there to the ground took 15 minutes despite the terrible traffic. Even without the engineering works I was always planning to have pre match drinks in The Brook House next to the ground which had the sports channels and a decent selection of lagers. The clubhouse was extremely welcoming and also had the sports channels. The programme was excellent and as always gets extra marks for having a quiz. If you're looking a game within the M25 that you can do via tube and buses then AFC Hayes is an excellent option.

Looking down the dugout touchline