Watch Valley striker Seb Lake-Gaskin slot home a double to ensure victory over AFC Hayes at Butlin Road, courtesy of Simon Ainley
The striker struck in each half to settle a game where goalscoring opportunities were generally at a premium, after Valley had been pegged back by a Hayes equaliser midway through the second period.
With leaders Burnham all but securing the automatic promotion spot with a a 3-2 win over Guildford, 3rd-placed Godalming were held to a draw by Northwood meaning a win for Valley at Chalfont in the final game will ensure a 2nd-place finish.
Boss Dave Stringer made two changes from the heavy defeat against Slough two days earlier, recalling Richard Blythe to the centre of midfield and also giving a start to Andrew Spencer in place of top scorer David Kolodynski – who was absent getting married.
Goalmouth action was at a relative premium on a dry Butlin Road pitch, especially in a first half in which Lake-Gaskin opened the scoring towards its conclusion.
Photo:
Martin Pulley
Striker Seb Lake-Gaskin powered into the area before stroking home the opening goal just before half time against AFC Hayes
The striker showed good speed and strength to break free of his marker, before calmly stroking the ball past keeper Ben Goode.
Fazel Koriya almost had a run on goal shortly after the interval, with Alex Austin then putting in an excellent saving tackle on Lawrie Shennan at the other end.
Blythe scuffed one wide of the target after good work on the left by Koriya, before Hayes’s Ben Dyett grabbed a close-range equaliser after Mitch Gough’s initial looping free-kick into the box had bounced back of the upright.
Gough went close shortly after, with Lake-Gaskin’s winning strike then coming on 75 minutes when he again applied a neat finish past Goode after Blythe had picked him out with a through-ball.
Lake-Gaskin was denied a hat-trick late-on when his goalbound effort was kept out by Goode’s legs.
