SUBSTITUTE Tom Collins brought an end to Hayes and Yeading's home blues with a superb second-half double tonight.
The ex-Stevenage Borough youngster made a timely intervention after entering as a half-time substitute for Richard Pacquette with his contribution providing Hayes and Yeading's first home win since September 4.
Collins' second, in particular, brought a dour struggle in front of just 251 spectators to to life as it was an excellent individual goal.
The pacy striker picked up the ball 30 yards out before showing the visiting defence a clean pair of heels and then firing emphatically past Forest Green goalkeeper James Bittner.
In a dour first-half that bore all the hallmarks of a clash between two sides that will be scrapping for survival come the end of the season, Hayes and Yeading shaded it on chances created.
Boss Nas Bashir (pictured) made two changes to the side beaten 2-0 by Wrexham on Sunday with Curtis Ujah returning from injury as part of a reshuffled defence and Richard Pacquette preferred to Tom Collins in attack.
Forest Green - four points clear of their opponents before this match - failed to create a meaningful chance during the first 45 minutes.
But Hayes and Yeading had two great chances to seize the advantage in the first-half, first when Ujah had a close-range effort deflected over after he got on the end of a Luke Williams cross.
And from the subsequent corner the hosts had an even better chance to open the scoring when Richard Pacquette was left completely unmarked, but he headed over the crossbar.
The hosts were well on top during the first-half and Luke Williams blazed an effort into the side-netting from an acute angle as Forest Green struggled to get out of their own half.
Pacquette then missed a chance that was even easier than his previous opportunity when he headed wide with the goal gaping after Forest Green goalkeeper James Bittner had completely misjudged a Fraser Franks cross.
Ironically, Hayes and Yeading grabbed the lead during a second-half spell when the visitors were at their most threatening as they finally worked up a head of storm.
Luke William was the architect of the 61st minute opener when he produced a defence-splitting pass for Pierre Joseph-Dubois and his cross was converted at the back post by Collins.
The visitors contunued to have the better of the second-half though with Hayes and Yeading goalkeeper Steve Arnold finally called into action to turn away a long-range effort from Andy Sandell, before a Kieron Forbes effort was deflected just wide.
Collins was then denied a second by Bittner at the other end, but he more than made up for that with his eye-catching individual goal seven minutes from time.
Hayes and Yeading: Arnold, Cadmore, Soares, Joseph-Dubois (Marsaud), Williams, Bentley, Pacquette (Collins), Mackie (Crockford), Ujah, Franks, Spence.
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