Loanee midfielder Gary Fiskin netted for the second home game in succession as City avenged their worst league defeat of the season and took a giant step towards securing the prime play-off place in the process as they overcame mid-table Hayes more comfortably than the 1-0 score line suggests.

Matt Langston returned from the injury which kept him out of the defeat at Weston last weekend and Carl Williams stepped up from the bench as Darren Spinks and Dave Sadler (carrying a slight knock) made way.

Dale Binns attempts to get round Hayes' Marvin Bartley

The Missioners grabbed a very creditable draw at Grays in midweek thanks to a last gasp equaliser from Kieran Knight. Manager Willy Wordsworth making three changes with Peter Collins, Jon Case and Stuart Tanfield all dropping to the bench. Jon Dyer, Josh Scott and Kevin McKenna being the players preferred.

Both sides started in a positive fashion an it was the visitors who created the first opening when Scott (scorer of two goals when the teams met at Church Road in August) latched on to Craig Pope’s clearing header but the striker’s mis-hit drive fell to Dyer who forced Duncan Roberts to palm behind from close range.

As City began to settle a good passing move saw Fiskin and Richard Scott combine in midfield and create the space for Carl Williams to cross for Matt Robinson who headed over the bar.

With chances at a premium Hayes spurned a very presentable opening some 27 minutes in when Mark Molesley played the ball into Kieran Knight who found space on the edge of the six yard box but the former Northwood striker was denied by a superb Glen Fuff block.

City countered by engineering a scoring opportunity of their own when Craig Pope’s intelligent pass found Gary Fiskin in space allowing the Swansea City midfielder to take a step forward before striking a low drive which beat Kevin Davies but cannoned off the foot of the post and behind to safety.

With time as good as up Matt Robinson (already booked along with Carl Williams and Paul Ellis) was caught by an extremely late off-the-ball challenge which escaped the notice of the officials. Despite treatment the former Ipswich striker was clearly not fit to continue and was led from the field with a head injury. Michael Gash, scorer of City’s goal at Weston, was called into action and soon came close to adding to his tally when he latched onto Matt Langston’s flick from a Richard Scott free kick and sent a dipping volley narrowly high of the target.

Matt Langston heads on as City attack

In much the same way as they had against Weymouth two weeks previously, the Lilywhites raised their game after the break and soon began to assert their authority on the game by pressing in the midfield areas and getting the ball wide much more effectively.

Some ten minutes in City turned this superiority into the crucial opening goal. The quick thinking Michael Gash picked up Craig Pope’s throw, got behind Stuart Goodall and delivered a measured low cross to the near post where Davies, distracted by Dale Binns’ presence, failed to cut out the centre leaving Fiskin with the simple task of sliding into an empty net from close range.

The goal settled the hosts and they began to play with a confidence that had previously eluded them. Fiskin came close to doubling his tally when he collected Matt Langston’s header from a Richard Scott corner with his back to goal, but flashed his shot wide.

The midfielder on loan from the Vetch Field was heavily involved soon afterwards as he combined well with Carl Williams to create space for a Richard Scott cross, met by a full-blooded Dale Binns header which shaved the bar.

Another Fiskin set up saw the impressive Michael Gash fire goalwards from the edge of the box, there seemed little danger until Davies misjudged the bounce allowing the ball to rear up and strike his shoulder before he scrambled across the goal to retrieve his error.

Carl Williams, forced to sit out three games through suspension seemed revitalised and his constant prompting kept Hayes firmly on the back foot. A neat pass into the path of Dale Binns saw the former Hendon wide man cruise effortlessly past Ellis before his acute angled strike was beaten away by Davies.

Rob Miller takes control watched by Josh Scott

Gary Roberts increased the pressure on the visitors with the introduction of Jon Stevenson which allowed Richard Scott to take a breather. With the former Peterborough United midfielder off the pitch dead ball duties fell to Fiskin who proved an able deputy. With twenty minutes remaining a superbly flighted right wing flag kick picked out Gash who powered a header wide.

Willy Wordsworth attempted to relieve the pressure by a making a triple substitution which saw Kevin McKenna, Shaun McAuley and Jon Dyer make way for Danny Jeffries, Jon Case and Stuart Tanfield respectively.

Despite the introduction of fresh legs the pattern of the game remained unchanged as City continued to dominate. Another Fiskin corner saw Matt Langston become the latest player to skim the woodwork.

Dale Binns, a threat throughout, was at the heart of City’s final attack when his blistering pace left Marvin Bartley and Ellis trailing in his wake before squaring to a well positioned Stevenson who failed to make a clean connection when well placed to extend Davies.

City’s destiny now lies firmly in their own hands. One more point from the two remaining games will secure second spot regardless of Thurrock’s results. Equally as pleasing is the quality of the football and the confidence of the players as they build up to the season’s finale.