CALOR SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL Uxbridge 1 AFC Hayes 2

TEN-MAN Uxbridge tasted defeat in a re-arranged local derby against AFC Hayes at Honeycroft on Saturday, writes Zhen-Kuang Goh .

The two sides met at Farm Park just last month when Uxbridge ran out 4-0 winners but the reverse fixture proved to be a different state of affairs.

AFC Hayes were on a run of just one league win in their last six matches, going back to the 4-0 loss on bank holiday Monday in August, but started the brighter side.

Uxbridge's Rob Fitzgerald (pictured) was the first of many names into referee Russell Howes' book after just nine minutes as he attempted a last ditch challenge, but the resulting free kick was well held by Rourke Pickford.

Both teams had chances going forward, with a Craige Tomkins shot for Uxbridge being blocked before Pickford stopped a header from AFC Hayes' Dan Mehmet.

The visitors began to find momentum and went close through right back Charlie Crane, who chipped over the bar, as well as young midfielder Jake Cass who had a close-range shot well saved by Pickford.

And it was the Brooks who took the lead just before half time when Lawrie Shennan slid the ball past an advancing Pickford.

The Reds began the second half looking for a quick equaliser and had two penalty shouts in two minutes turned down by Mr Howes.

Uxbridge pressure finally told when Hayes conceded a free kick for handball right on the edge of the area on the left.

Tomkins' free kick led to a scramble in the box and Nicke Kabamba claimed the final touch on the ball as it found its way past Ben Goode.

Both captains found themselves in the book after squaring up to each other shortly after as tempers started to flare.

Shennan went close on the hour mark and Uxbridge were forced into a goal-line clearance not long later as the visitors applied more pressure.   And the Brooks were rewarded with less than 15 minutes left when Uxbridge's Mark Smith pulled down an advancing forward in the box and was duly sent off.

Shennan stepped up and coolly sent the ball past Pickford for his second of the match.
With time winding down, Uxbridge pressed for an equaliser but Hayes resisted well, condemning the hosts to their third league defeat of the campaign.