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Martin Hayes

BISHOP'S Storford boss Martin Hayes looks set to name himself in the squad once more this weekend, writes Russell Greaves.

The promotion chasing Blues face two crucial matches over the easter weekend as they bid to secure their place in the play-offs.

Hayes is however without several attacking options and the former Arsenal striker may yet be required to play some part with two matches in just three days.

He said: ''We're without Loui Fazakerly for Saturday because he picked up a knock, and both Greg Pearson and Roy Essandoh are suspended, so we're pretty threadbare up front.'' Long-term casualties Tim Langer and Danny Harris will also miss both matches.

Stortford have won their last two games which means they now occupy the final play-off spot, and Hayes is keen to cement that place.

He continued: ''We need to keep plugging away and getting results, we've let ourselves down at home a few times and the key is consistency'' Saturday's match sees the Blues travel to mid-table Hayes and Yeading, themselves with an outside chance of making the play-off's. Then on Monday the league's bottom club, Sutton United, will be the visitors to Woodside Park, but Hayes played down any talk of an easy win.

He said: ''Sutton are fighting for their lives, it's one of those games that people say you should win, but in this league any side can beat any other.'' Indeed Welling's shock defeat of Newport County on Wednesday evening ensured the Blues maintained their top five spot going into this weekend.

Hayes led his side to the play-off's last season but suffered a 4-2 aggregate defeat against Salisbury, who went on to gain promotion. That season the Blues accumulated 73 points, and the Stortford manager considers that a similar total would secure his side another shot at reaching the Blue Square Premier.

He continued: ''We've got four home games now and we've got to look to take 12 points from those matches, then if we pick up a couple of results away from home we should put ourselves over the 70 point mark and that might just be enough.'' With a 42nd birthday to celebrate on Friday, Hayes will be hoping his side give him cause to extend the celebrations to Monday at least, and maybe all the way to the play-off final.

6:31pm Thursday 20th March 2008

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