Hayden hat-trick gives Racing Club local bragging rights

It was not quite the perfect hat-trick - header, knee, right foot - but that will not worry Hayden who is set to guide Racers to their highest league finish since the 2005/06 campaign.

In contrast, the season-end cannot come quickly enough for Saints, who have taken just four points from their last 36.

It took just six minutes for Racers to open the scoring, Hayden’s back header from Jordan Cullinane-Liburd’s long throw finding the far corner of the net.

Steve Thomas failed to get any purchase on a free header at the other end, but it was the visitors who were on the front foot and they almost made it two when Jake Marshall’s back pass fell short. However, Jonathan McRobb’s toepoke failed to see him around the onrushing Hugh McCluskie and Ryan Langmead was unable to guide the loose ball on target.

A lengthy injury break stymied Racers’ progress but Saints were finding it hard to string passes together, an ambitious 40-yard free-kick from Sam Cantalapiedra their only effort of note.

McCluskie was in action again, parrying away a vicious swerving shot from Jamie Hancocks for a corner and it was from another set-piece in the 32nd minute that Racing Club doubled their advantage.

There was a huge slice of fortune about the goal as Hancocks’ corner bounced off the knees of McCluskie on to the post and then into the back of the net via Hayden, who seemed to know little about his contact.

Racing Club should have extended their lead when McRobb picked out Hancocks arriving unmarked at the far post. However, the midfielder slid his shot wide of the post when it look easier to score.

Saints then conjured up a goal out of the blue, with Oli Manoochehri latching on to a Kurt Parsons pass and cutting inside from the right flank before drilling a shot past Dowling.

Coming on the stroke of half-time, the goal should have breathed new life into the hosts, but it was the away side who continued to dominate possession after the break.

Mark Turton and McRobb both failed to find the target in a ten-minute spell of pressure in which Saints were penned back in their own half. A driving run and fierce shot from Josh Tiff grazed the post, while McCluskie had to be at his best to claw away a Langmead shot.

Southam looked to have withstood the pressure but were undone by an excellent through ball from Hancocks, whose superbly weighted pass allowed Hayden to take a touch before calmly slotting past McCluskie.

Josh Turton and Matty Wyatt both flashed snapshots wide as the home side belatedly tried to respond, while the willing Manoochehri was off target after being released by Thomas.

However, it was the visitors who had the final say, Niall Gilbride heading home substitute Elliot Powell’s corner with the aid of a slight deflection.