Farnham Town fought back from 2-0 down to earn a thrilling 3-2 win at home to Hayes & Yeading United in the Isthmian League South Central Division.

The visitors raced into an early 2-0 lead, but goals from Owen Dean, Sam De St Croix and Joe Jackson earned Town the three points in front of a crowd of 334 at The Memorial Ground.

Town started brightly and nearly took the lead in the first minute when Harry Cooksley’s cross was met by Jordan Stepney in the box, and Stepney’s header forced a good save from Hayes keeper Juliusz Pazio low to his right.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring on four minutes when Keano Robinson powered home a header at the back post into the top left-hand corner.

Hayes doubled their advantage in the tenth minute when George Sippetts superbly volleyed home from a tight angle past Farnham keeper Zaki Oualah.

Town responded positively to that double setback and nearly pulled a goal back on 22 minutes when Adam Liddle’s flick on found De St Croix at the back post, but De St Croix skied his finish over the bar.

Farnham continued to put the visitors under pressure and they pulled a goal back in the 33rd minute when Jack Dean’s cross was swept home by Owen Dean into the bottom left-hand corner.

The hosts got back on level terms on 44 minutes when Jack Dean’s effort was parried by Pazio to De St Croix at the back post, and De St Croix tapped home to make it 2-2.

Town continued to be on the front foot in the second half and nearly took the lead on 54 minutes when Jackson and Liddle linked up before Jackson hit his low right-foot shot straight at Pazio.

Farnham went close again ten minutes later when Cooksley’s free kick was nodded on by Ryan Kinnane to Stepney, but Stepney’s header went just wide of the right-hand post.

Hayes were then reduced to ten men in the 74th minute when Kaylen Hinds received a second yellow card.

The hosts nearly made their numerical advantage count on 79 minutes when Cooksley’s corner was met by Stepney at the back post, but his header was kept out by an excellent diving save by Pazio.

Town went close again in the 86th minute when Kai Tanner lifted the ball over the top to Great Evans and Evans’ powerful right-foot shot forced a smart reaction save from Pazio.

Farnham then won the game dramatically in stoppage time when Jackson powered his header past Pazio from close range.

Town remain 15 points clear of second-placed Kingstonian and are now unbeaten in their past 16 league games.

Next up for Farnham is a trip to Ascot United in the Isthmian League South Central Division on Saturday, March 22 (3pm kick-off).