Welwyn Garden City produced their best result of pre-season so far - storming back from a goal down to beat Hayes & Yeading.

The West Londoners are at the same standard as the Citizens and have a revamped side for their upcoming Isthmian League South Central campaign, retaining only a quartet of players, but WGC came out on top with a 3-1 win.

City went into the game with half-a-dozen players injured.

Ryan Kirwan and Jack Vasey (both calf strains), Lucas Jordan (knee), Matty Whichelow (groin), Ryan Sellers (Achilles) and Kraig McLeod (knee) were all missing.

Manager Marc Weatherstone will be hoping at least four of them will be fit for next weekend’s difficult FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie away to Milton Keynes Irish.

This game had an even first-half but it was the visitors who went closest in the opening half-hour, cashing in on two home mistakes.

On the quarter hour, Alex Harris gave the ball away and was very grateful to keeper Donny Green for a spectacular tip-over save from close range.

Then 15 minutes later, Jack Green tried a dummy that didn’t come off, conceding possession that resulted in Hayes & Yeading having a golden chance that was wastefully blazed over.

But as half-time neared, WGC had their best two efforts of the half.

Green did better with a good ball that put Henry Jones in yards of space and the young striker dug out a shot that the visiting keeper turned away at full length.

Shortly afterwards, a strong challenge from WGC’s Lewis Croucher won the ball for it to drop to Bailey Stevenson.

His effort was goalbound and needed another full-stretch save.

But, with the Citizens improving and seemingly getting on top in the game, it was a setback when Hayes & Yeading fashioned the opening goal five minutes from the break.

A high diagonal ball from the back cleared the WGC defence for a visiting player to come in on the back post and give Donny Green no chance with his rising effort.

Ten minutes into the second period and WGC were level, capitalising on a quick throw-in to send Stevenson clear.

He controlled the ball well to finish clinically for his second goal of pre-season.

Moments later manager Weatherstone rang the changes with next week’s cup-tie clearly in mind.

Donny Green was replaced by a trialist in goal, teenage striker Ryan Ansell replaced scorer Stevenson and there was an exchange of trailists at full-back.

Barely had these changes been made, than WGC were ahead with a gift second goal as a Hayes & Yeading defender and their replacement keeper got in a real tangle.

The defender lofted a back pass over the keeper, Ansell ran behind both of them and slot in his first senior goal.

The third goal in a fabulous 10-minute spell was definitely in the spectacular category.

Josh Bryant won a challenge on the left touchline and from fully 30 yards, flashed over a long-range effort that cleared the committed keeper for a memorable third.

Now completely in control, the Citizens could have had further goals in the closing stages.

Another fine cross-field ball from Bryant reached the lively Ansell and he was denied a second by visitors’ keeper beating away his shot.

Then when Harris got the ball over from the right at the second attempt, Bryant also almost had a second, his driven effort being blocked by a Hayes & Yeading defender on the line.

WGC conclude their pre-season preparations with another home friendly, this one against higher-ranked opposition.

Isthmian League Premier Division Wingate & Finchley visit Herns Lane on Tuesday, the kick-off at 7.45pm.

WGC: D.Green (trialist 57), Harris, Read, trialist, trialist (trialist 57), J.Green (Steel 55), Croucher, Bryant, Wadkins, Stevenson (Ansell 57), Jones.