Canham double keeps Hayes upwardly mobile

Nov 21 2009 By Yann Tear

Hayes & Yeading United 2-1 Crawley Town

  TWO-GOAL Sean Canham netted with a late penalty in the rain to make it four wins on the bounce for a resurgent Hayes & Yeading United.

Canham calmly sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot in the 82^nd minute after James Mulley – switched to a striking role against opponents reduced to 10 men early in the second half – had induced a foul from Crawley skipper Adam Quinn near the byline.

It was only the second win for United at Church road this season.

Canham put Hayes in front after 32 minutes, when he got his head to an Esmond James corner at the near post but the visitors were level within two minutes when Ben Smith fired in from six yards following a goalmouth scramble.

The game swung dramatically Hayes' way four minutes after the interval when Crawley midfielder Barry Cogan saw red for an ugly lunge at Mulley.

After that, the home side pressed strongly for a winner and boss Garry Haylock saw his decision to switch Mulley to a striking role - in place of a substituted Scott Fitzgerald - pay off handsomely.

Even before he won the penalty, Mulley's presence up front unsettled the visitors and brought two yellow cards for Town defenders Eddie Hutchinson and Glenn Wilson.

Crawley fashioned two or three chances to grab what would have been an undeserved equaliser in the final minutes, but Hayes held on to continue their march away from the relegation zone.

Once again, however, they still owed thanks to the impressive Simon Overland.

The Hayes stopper may have been denied a clean sheet for the first time in four matches, but he made two crucial saves in the first 10 minutes – one with his feet to deny Michael Malcolm, the other a brave dive at the feet of former Fulham and Brentford striker Calum Willock.

The ex Millwall trainee's continuing excellence is a major reason why Hayes are up to 17^th in the Blue Square Premier League and will be travelling to third-placed Kettering in such good heart on Tuesday night.