Report by Jools Thomas

Aylesbury welcomed Hemel Hempstead Town, another higher league team to Haywood Way for the third of their pre-season friendlies and it is safe to say this outing gave the management team of Craig Faulconbridge and Keith Walker even more to think about.

With FC missing main striker Brian Haule due to injury and first choice keeper Richard Roberts due to holiday, Craig was forced to shuffle his pack welcoming several men eager to impress into the starting line-up. The team’s plans were dealt a blow early on however when a penalty was awarded after a trip in the area with Hemel’s Ben Mackie converting successfully from the spot. FC attempted to hit back with the busy Leon Osei having the best chance, hitting the ball over the bar after good link up play with new boy Jerome Federico.

There still wasn’t a great deal to separate the two teams nonetheless Hemel extended their lead on 50 minutes with 16 year old Ben Patty reacting quickest to a blocked shot and slipping the ball home from a very narrow angle. FC still had fight left in them as their opponents sat back satisfied with their comfortable lead. Ben Stevens had a goal disallowed eight minutes from time but then, almost on full time, Hemel broke clear and added a third to complete a game where the score line didn’t quite tell the whole story.

Line Up
1 Lewis Stevens.
2 Lee Grant.
3 Ronayne Marsh-Brown.
4 Davis Haule.
5 Julian Smith.
6 Ben Stevens.
7 Jerome Federico.
8 Kwasi Frempong.
9 Leon Osei.
10 Jack Thomson.
11 Romaine Walker.

Subs
Nick O'Donovan.
Matarr Touray.
Stephen Lindsey.
Jamie Rudd.