STEVE Masterton's first Hayes & Yeading goal was not enough to save his new club from defeat to play-off chasers Fleetwood today. On-loan Crawley midfielder Masterton struck in superb fashion with a 25-yard free-kick to give the hosts hope of turning around a 2-0 half-time lead. However, they could not quite complete what would have been a fine comeback and the only consolation for Hayes & Yeading was that they remain out of the relegation zone with Forest Green failing to win. The visitors showed an attacking intent straight from the first whistle with tricky left-winger Sean Clancy, in particular, causing problems. It was therefore no surprise when Fleetwood grabbed the lead in the 12th minute, though Hayes & Yeading will be disappointed with the manner of the goal conceded. The home defence allowed a long ball from Shaun Beeley to find its way to Nathan Pond and though his initial effort was blocked, Pond reacted quickest to head home and put the visitors 1-0 up. Hayes & Yeading could have been level out of nothing when Ben Wright turned smartly and produced a fine volley that had to be turned behind by Fleetwood goalkeeper Danny Hurst. The hosts had their best chance of the first-half three minutes before the break when a Steve Masterton free-kick was headed on by Elliott Buchanan and the ball fell nicely for Bradley Pritchard, but he blazed over from close range. However, the visitors were celebrating the killer second in first-half stoppage time with another poor goal to concede from a Hayes & Yeading perspective. Clancy won a battle for the ball with Lewis Ferrell and that allowed Jamie McGuire to find Junior Brown, who produced a clinical finish across Harrison from an acute angle. But Masterton handed Hayes & Yeading a lifeline in the 50th minute when he struck a superb 20-yard free-kick that Hurst could only divert into the top corner. Hayes & Yeading had the ball in the net again just a few minutes later after Pritchard stabbed home another Masterton set piece, but it was ruled out for offside. Harrison had to be alert to tip over a superb overhead kick from Alex-Ray Harvey and the hosts failed to build on Masterton's goal as the visitors held on comfortably in the end.
Hayes & Yeading: Harrison, Cadmore, Ferrell (Yiadom), Rents, Bygrave, Masterton, Holmes, Wright (Joseph-Dubois) Buchanan, Pritchard, Brown. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Hayes news