IT COULD have got worse for Hayes & Yeading in their quest to avoid relegation from Blue Square Premier – but anyone in red would be hard pushed to tell you how.
United had a player sent off for the second game running, and are now only two wins in 12.
Hopefully, someone turned off the radio in the H&Y changing room at the Gateshead Athletic Stadium so the 6-1 drubbing rivals Alfreton dished out to Stockport was bad news that only got imparted as the team set off for the A1 and the 260-mile slog home.
Sub Freddie Warren will have much to ponder as he counts off the motorway miles after being sent off in only his second appearance for H&Y.
The teenager’s rash elbow barely 11 minutes into the second half means he misses three games having played less than a single 45 minutes for his new loan club.
Midfielder Warren followed Dan Spence into the red zone after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at York, and although the Geordies were likewise struggling going into the game, H&Y barely threatened throughout the whole 90 minutes.
The hosts who had only won once in their last six matches, went ahead through Kris Gate's near-post header from James Marwood's corner.
And Jon Shaw, who had earlier hit a post, then scored his 26th goal of the season with a left-footed drive that leaves H&Y third bottom with a massive game against Kettering, one place further down, due on Saturday.
