Hayes & Yeading have managed to overcome the second-season syndrome as they beat the drop and will be playing in the top level of non-league football for a third season in a row next year which is some achievement for the smallest club in the division. Gary Haylock again had to build a squad from scratch in the close season but in Ben Wright found a striker who was on the top of his game in the first few weeks of the season as he bagged six goals in August and was quickly snapped up by big-spending Crawley. At the same time, Hayes were as unpredictable as ever as they lost 5:0 away at Eastbourne Borough before winning away at Grimsby and then drawing at Luton. However, the loss of Wright left them with no firepower and they struggled for most of September and Ocotber, losing seven games on the trot and being in the bottom four during most of the time. The struggles continued in January too as manager Gary Haylock struggled to find his best side and their pretty play and passing football was nullified by some poor mistakes at the back that were costing them points. However, they gradually started coming to form and crucial wins against direct rivals Southport and Histon gave them a good chance of beating the drop. They stepped up their game in March though with young Elliott Buchanan impressively leading the line and scoring a good number of goals. Haylock's men now looked much more effective and made the decisive steps towards safety in early April when four wins in succession steered them clear of danger with solid sides like Wrexham and Mansfield well beaten. At the end, it was comfortable for the Essex club and Haylock deserves enormous credit for adjusting the team and making them peak just at the right team as he emerges as one of the top non-league managerial talents.
