Royals romp to empathic home Hayes success
By Connor Steel
AFC PORTCHESTER put down another marker for their rivals in the ‘Isthmian League South Central Divisions’ as they played Hayes & Yeading United on Saturday afternoon (February 7); empathically thrashing their nearest play-off rivals five-nil following a brilliantly dominant performance that was enjoyed by 344 supporters at a dry OnSite Group Stadium.
The home team started quicker on a soggy surface and should have taken an early lead within six minutes; Josh Clack nodding tamely wide after Alfie Stanley’s fine drive was deflected to his path. But they were soon celebrating when Zak Willett ran through on goal and got away from a defensive tackle, before he easily fired past Rhys Forster in the corner.
It was two-nil in the nineteenth minute when another long pass split the Hayes defence and Clack raced through a gap; the striker firing home inside this corner past Forster. This appeared to spark the visitors into life and they had their first real chance in the twenty-seventh minute through Kaylen Hinds, who got inside and curled the drive narrowly off-target.
Portchester did not let this opening change their momentum and saw two further chances in quick succession after this half hour mark; Spencer Spurway fizzing a shot harmlessly over the crossbar and Willett being denied by Forster. They did however make it three before the break as Stanley converted a free-flowing move with the ‘clinically finessed’ effort.
Home dominances continued upon the second half restart and it took just five minutes for another goal to arrive; Willett taking full advantage of poor defending and lashing a ball home past Forster to make it four-nil. The Hayes keeper was called into action yet again when a cheeky free-kick had to be tipped away and Tommy Scutt’s fierce drive was cleared.
A deserved fifth goal came for the Royals on sixty-two minutes as Willett confirmed a hat-trick in style with a cushioned finish which came after a pass was headed down into the box. This was the moment that triggered changes across the teams with Hayes appearing shell-shocked in this aftermath and trying to limit this big scoreline from getting any worse.
For their credit Hayes didn’t stop pushing for a consolation goal and could have got this on seventy-nine minutes when a drive was deflected wide for a corner; which was fired over at the near post under pressure. Down the other end Lee Wort had a slight opening to become the all-time record goal-scorer for Portchester but this was blocked in added time.
The victory continues a perfect 2026 for the Royals and they have created a five point gap on their rivals in the play-off race, where they sit fifth in the table after twenty-eight matches so far. They will look to continue this brilliant form when they travel to Ascot United on Valentines Day (February 14) before they entertain leaders Leatherhead three days later.
PICTURED BY NATHAN LIPSHAM: Royals’ attackers celebrate netting one of their five goals in a success over Hayes.
