DIVISION ONE SOUTH AND WEST: Thatcham Town 2 AFC Hayes 0

AFC Hayes had only themselves to blame after squandering numerous chances to bank three vital points away to fellow strugglers Thatcham Town.

Joe Mitchell's side were all over their hosts, particularly in the first half, but they had nothing to show for their superiority.

Thatcham opened the scoring against the run of play and Hayes continued to fritter away opportunities until the home side added a decisive second late in the game to move three points clear of Hayes, who are just one point and one place clear of the relegation zone.

In the first few minutes Trevor Charlery went through and found Dean Clark but he fired over the bar and that was the start of a worrying trend for the Brook.

Dean Papali, back at the club on a month's loan from Wealdstone, struck the post with the keeper beaten and numerous other good positions were wasted by players being caught offside.

The second half began in similar fashion as Hayes were all over Thatcham only for the home side's Jemel Johnson to score a soft goal from a breakaway.

The pattern of play continued, however, as Jay Pereira rounded the keeper but stumbled in front of an empty net and could not finish and chance after chance went begging after that before three minutes from time Barry Elmore finally put Hayes, who should have won at a canter, out of their misery.

HAYES: Harry, Walters, Harewood, Metwali, Nuako, Charlery, Pereira, Ahir, Papali, Clarke, Tilbury. Subs: Rouco, Baker, Day, DaCosta, Osobu.

Goals, Thatcham: Johnson 65; Elmore 87. Hayes: None. Attendance: 86.