NINE-MAN Basingstoke Town kept their Vanarama Conference South title hopes alive with a dramatic victory away at Hayes and Yeading United.

The visitors struggled to play their best football on a difficult pitch, finding it difficult to break down a stubborn, defensive-minded home team.

It looked like it was going to be another frustrating afternoon, and things got worse as Shaun McAuley and Liam Enver-Marum were both shown straight red cards, leaving Town to play out the final 13 minutes two players light.

At that stage, a draw would be a good result for the visitors, but they kept attacking and got their reward four minutes from time, Chris Flood scoring from the penalty spot after Nathan Smart had been fouled in the area.

They then held on throughout five minutes of added time to record an important victory that keeps them third in the table, four points behind leaders Bromley. In the play-off race, they are now six points clear of Whitehawk, the team in sixth place.

Town boss Jason Bristow made three changes to the side that had lost to Wealdstone the previous week.

The injured Robbie Rice was replaced by Smart, while centre-back Rob Dickie came in for Manny Williams as Basingstoke switched to three at the back. The other change came in attack, where Lloyd Macklin was picked ahead of Flood.

Hayes went into the game on the back of several clean sheets, and it soon became clear that they were looking for another one.

Despite being at home, they seemed to be playing for a goalless draw from the first whistle, getting men behind the ball and looking to frustrate Town.

The visitors had some early success by playing early passes over the top of the defence for Macklin and Enver-Marum to chase. Macklin got on the end of one, pulling the ball back for Tom Bird, but he fired over, while Enver-Marum was only able to fire a volley wide.

Hayes caused problems on the break, but they lacked the quality to turn these opportunities into chances and apart from a couple of nervy moments from set-pieces, Town were comfortable at the back.

The best chance of the half fell to Enver-Marum just after the half-hour, but his diving header from Macklin’s centre was clawed away by Grant Smith in the Hayes goal.

As the half progressed, Town seemed to get frustrated, playing at an almost impossibly high tempo and looking to play too many passes in behind the home defence.

The pattern continued after the break. Enver-Marum had an early chance that was deflected into the arms of Smith, while Macklin could only redirect his strike partner’s low centre straight at the goalkeeper.

At the other end, a mistake from Dickie allowed the impressive George McLennan to make ground down the left and square for Luke Williams, but he fired wide from the edge of the area.

McAuley was given his marching orders with 22 minutes left to play, referee Carl Brook showing the midfielder a straight red card following a collision with Lewis Ferrell on halfway.

The Town man may have caught his opponent with his arm as he jumped for the ball, but there didn’t seem to be much in the way of intent.

Williams had Stuart Moore worried with a dipping shot from distance soon after, and while the ball dropped wide, things got worse for Basingstoke with 77 minutes on the clock.

Enver-Marum looked to get on the end of a through-ball, and while Smith came out of his area to reach the ball first, the striker was unimpressed with his follow-through. He seemed to kick out when on the floor and while he didn’t make any contact with the goalkeeper, Brook decided that there was enough intent to produce a red card.

Enver-Marum didn’t go quietly, arguing his point fairly vociferously, but once he had been persuaded to leave the pitch, Town were left with a mountain to climb. However, this was a peak that they managed to scale, showing tremendous levels of character.

With five minutes to go, substitute Flood picked up a long clearance and held off several men before playing an excellent crossfield pass for Smart.

He had got a run on his marker and also beat Smith to the ball, nipping it around the goalkeeper, who caught him as he went past, conceding a penalty.

Flood stepped up to take the spot-kick, sending Smith the wrong way to put Basingstoke into an unlikely lead.

For the first time in the game, Hayes looked to attack, but they were restricted to shots from distance, with Moore making routine saves from Rhys Murrell-Williamson and Jim Fenlon.

Indeed, Town should have extended their advantage on the break. Simon Dunn released Flood, who did well to beat two defenders but couldn’t find a finish, rolling his shot wide from 15 yards.

It mattered little as Town held on until the final whistle, which sparked wild scenes of celebration both on and off the pitch.

Click here to watch a post-match interview with Basingstoke Town manager Jason Bristow

PLAYER RATINGS

Stuart Moore – 7 (out of 10)

Didn’t have a lot of saves to make, but did well coming for crosses.

Nathan Smart – 8 (Gazette Star Man)

Never stopped running up and down the right flank. Given very few problems defensively and did really well to win the penalty.

Tom Bird – 7

Another solid display from one of Town’s players of the season.

Rob Dickie – 6

Not his best game. Tried to do too much at times, looking to play difficult passes and go on runs, giving the ball away in bad areas.

Jay Gasson – 7

Far more solid defensively. Made some important tackles and interceptions, but his radar was a little off when it came to passing.

David Ray – 7

Did everything asked of him and organised the team from the back.

Louie Soares – 6

Struggled on a difficult pitch. Too many passes went astray.

Shaun McAuley – 6

Caused Hayes plenty of problems by popping up in pockets of space. Unfortunate to be sent off.

Liam Enver-Marum – 6

Looked Town’s most likely scorer when he was on the pitch, but he did react in the wrong way to Smith’s challenge. Fortunate to be pulled away from the referee by a Hayes defender when shown the red card, but he didn’t go quietly.

Lloyd Macklin – 7

Caused problems with his pace in behind during the first half. A peripheral figure after the break.

James Harper – 7

Rarely gave the ball away. A calming influence in the centre of midfield.

SUBSTITUTES

Simon Dunn (for Soares 74min) – 7

His energy was important for Town in the closing stages.

Chris Flood (for Macklin 74min) – 8

Did brilliantly up front on his own. Released Smart to win the penalty, scored the winning goal and unlucky not to add a second after an excellent run in injury-time.

Subs (not used): Williams, Jenkinson, Case

Hayes and Yeading United: Smith, Fenlon, McLennan (sub Monthe 88min), Ferrell (sub Matthews 78min), Smith, Inman, Morgan, Everitt, Benyon, Williams, Green (sub Murrell-Williamson 78min)

Subs (not used): Kearney, Kitscha

Attendance: 316

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