City were made to pay for some sub-standard defending as they were put to the sword by the merciless Missioners at Church Road.

With Duncan Roberts still sidelined and Dave Sadler passed fit Gary Roberts named an unchanged side from that which triumphed at Welling in midweek. The hosts looking for back-to-back home wins after victory over much fancied in Newport County in midweek were also unchanged.

The Lilywhites opened brightly and were almost rewarded for their efforts as early as the third minute. Richard Scott’s curling through ball allowed Carl Williams to spring the Hayes’ offside trap and cross low across the face of goal. With Kevin Davies beaten Adam Everitt cleared from the far post with Jon Stevenson poised to strike.

City's Dave Sadler only just jails to connect with this cross

The Missioners, although neat and tidy in their build up showed little goal threat, Kevin Warner’s rising snap shot from a left wing throw their only early effort. On the twenty minute mark however they posted a warning of what was to follow as Everitt played the ball into the feet of Kieran Knight on the edge of the box a neat lay off to strike partner Josh Scott allowed the youngster to fire low to the left of Alan Calton forcing the City custodian into an awkward block with his legs.

Moments later it was 1-0. Matt Langston’s mis-placed clearing header rebounded off Scott who raced through the inside right channel. A recovering Langston held play up temporarily but couldn’t prevent Scott from angling in a low centre past Calton and into the path of Stuart Goodall who had timed his supporting run to perfection to force the ball home from close range despite Craig Pope’s best efforts to effect a block.

The Lilywhites thought they had snatched a rapid leveller from a well-worked free kick routine after Yiadom Yeboah had halted Sam Swonnell’s promising burst from midfield. Richard Scott’s angled delivery picked out Matt Langston who peeled of the Hayes back line but the City skipper’s goal celebrations were short lived as he was flagged offside.

With the game just over half an hour old Kevin McKenna narrowly failed to connect with Kevin Warner’s free kick from wide on the left allowing City to break swiftly, the ball was worked wide to the right where Rob Miller’s probing centre forced Matt Gray into a defensive header which flashed narrowly wide of his own goal.

Miller was again involved in the visitors’ best effort of the opening period as his forceful run was thwarted by Yeboah, the loose ball falling at the feet of Swonnell on the edge of the box, taking a step to the left to create a yard of space the former Watford midfielder sent a rising drive narrowly wide with Davies struggling to cover.

Craig Pope cuts inside, leaving an opponent floundering

With only three minutes of the half remaining City conceded a second. Josh Scott fired the ball against namesake Richard resulting in the home side being awarded a free kick for a handball offence some twenty five yards out. Left-back Adam Everitt stepped up and fired low to Alan Calton’s near post. The flight of the ball or possibly an obscured view appeared to deceive the City ‘keeper and he was unable to keep the shot out of the net.

There was still time for City to carve out a half chance to reduce the arrears as Scott’s short corner found Swonnell whose deflected shot (off Josh Scott) forced Davies to palm the ball away from under the bar. The visitors were however left to reflect on how they had contrived to go in two goals down after such a low-key forty five minutes.

There were no indications of a Lilywhites’ revival after the interval and it was Hayes who drove forward and effectively killed the game as a contest ten minutes into the half. A strangely out of sorts Matt Langston dwelt too long on the ball and allowed Scott to charge down his attempted clearance. The Hayes striker then showed great strength to hold off Langston and great technique to slot coolly past an exposed Calton.

With an hour gone Gary Roberts withdrew Sam Swonnell, bringing on Dale Binns as a replacement. The former Hendon wideman came close to reviving City’s flagging fortunes within minutes of his arrival. As Davies missed Richard Scott’s corner Binns sent a dipping drive crashing against the bar. The ball remained in play allowing Scott to cross again for Lee Chaffey whose header forced Davies to punch clear from underneath the crossbar with Dave Sadler in close attendance.

Willy Wordsworth then made his first change introducing Mark Molesley at the expense of Warner, as Hayes continued to hold the upper hand in the shape of the outstanding Scott who made an excellent left wing run beating Pope and Scott before dragging the ball back from the bye-line into the path of Jon Case whose shot struck Langston before Alan Calton was able to drop gratefully on the loose ball.

Possibly with one eye on Monday’s visit of Margate Gary Roberts then switched Dave Sadler for Michael Gash.

By this time Hayes had understandably taken their foot off the gas a little allowing City more possession and more good work by Binns freed Williams on the right before he was dragged down by Goodall, a challenge which earned the former Uxbridge midfielder a caution. It was to be his last contribution of the afternoon as he was immediately replaced by Peter Dean, at the same time City made their last change, Lee Summerscales replacing Lee Chaffey.

Richard Scott fires his spot-kick goalwards but it hits the bar

It wasn’t long before Dean found himself at the heart of the incident which led to the home side’s fourth goal. A mis-understanding between Glen Fuff, one of few City players who performed to his full potential, and Alan Calton allowed Dean to get between them and as the Lilywhites’ keeper attempted to retrieve the situation he was adjudged to have fouled the former Maidenhead midfielder. Up stepped Scott to cap a fine display by dispatching his spot kick high to Calton’s left. In the aftermath Kevin McKenna made way for Abdul Yoki.

To their credit City kept going in the final few minutes and good work by Jon Stevenson set up an unlikely shooting opportunity for Craig Pope whose looping effort dipped narrowly over the bar. Gash then played in Williams on the right of the area and his low drive forced Davies into his best save of the afternoon as he palmed the ball away at full stretch. Dale Binns then showed good close control to get past Yeboah before lobbing a ball into the danger zone which bounced awkwardly in front of skipper Matt Gray who was adjudged to have handled in attempting to clear. However, to sum up a dismal afternoon for the visitors Richard Scott’s place kick cannoned off the underside of the bar.

There was still time for Knight to combine with Dean and create a shooting opportunity for Yoki who was narrowly wide of the target with a bicycle kick before Mr Yeo finally brought proceedings to a close.

Hayes are the second former Ryman League team City have faced in their opening five fixtures and a contrast in styles from that of last season’s Doctor Martens League clubs is beginning to develop, the key to the Lilywhites success this season will be their ability to adapt to these differences.