By Jools Thomas

FC progressed to the next round of the FA Trophy with a comfortable home win against Hythe Town. It was a game where Aylesbury did all they needed to, against a side which offered little in the way of an attacking threat.

The first goal occurred in the first attack of note. A cross from the right hand side saw Grant Fryer steal away from his marker before planting a header into the net from no more than three yards. Three minutes later Hythe threatened to equalise. Damien Ramsamy took advantage of a defensive mix up by lobbing James Weatherill however his effort just cleared the post.

James Dobson enjoyed a solid performance and he was unlucky on 17 minutes not to increase his side’s lead as he hit a first time volley from a deep right field cross which forced Hythe keeper Joe Mant into a save. Midway through the half Hythe again threatened and Jamie Collado hit a powerful volley from twenty five yards that could have troubled Weatherill on another day. As the half progressed, Aylesbury gradually took control. James Dobson playing in midfield, was thwarted by a reaction save by Mant from all of a few yards and this was soon followed by the incident which led to FC’s second.

Ryan O’Toole found himself in space and after pushing the ball past the keeper, Mant took the FC striker’s legs from him with the referee awarding a penalty. It was undecided if the chance was a clear opportunity or not and the keeper therefore received only a yellow for the offence. As it was he faced Brian Haule, a man renowned for his deadly accuracy from the spot. Brian continued his exceptional penalty record by stroking the ball low and away from the keeper as is his accustomed style.

The second half started with Hythe threatening but substitute Craig Thompson could not take advantage of Weatherill’s indecision. A few minutes later, a melee in the Hythe box saw the final chance fall to Brian Haule but he could not find the power in his header to trouble Mant.

James Dobson was replaced on 60 minutes by the returning Aston Goss as FC began to enjoy increased possession. Brian Haule found space and time in the box to control the ball with his head and then volley goalwards forcing the keeper into a fine save. Ramsamy tested Weatherill with a low shot on one of the visitor’s occasional forays into the FC half and then Craig Thompson saw his effort cleared from the line by Ben Stevens after he had outfoxed Weatherill.

By this stage, the fight had gone from the visitors and everything they threw at centre backs Ben Stevens and Grant Fryer was tidied up with consummate ease. On 76 minutes FC grabbed their third. Brian Haule was put in the clear and he cavorted around the keeper in a move any Strictly Come Dancing contestant would be proud of, before sliding the ball into an empty net.

There were further chances for FC to extend their lead, most notably from Jamie Rudd and from Ryan O’Toole but as the referee brought an end to the game, the team could look on the afternoon with great satisfaction.