Report by Robert Cameron

The Moles showed why they have ambitions of playing in the southern league at Brentwood’s level with a performance in which they had more possession and more chances but were left to rue wayward finishing and a stunning opener from the Essex club.

Only two changes were made from the side which lost at Beaconsfield, with Jon Montgomery returning after an arm injury to replace Ben Bateman, and young striker Ken Feyi coming in for Jamie Rudd, both changes were pivotal, with Montgomery controlling the midfield alongside Davis Haule and Ken Feyi setting up Aylesbury’s goal.

From the start Aylesbury had more possession and created the first chance in the second minute when Brian Haule played in Aston Goss who appeared to be fouled in the box but was given offside to end any penalty appeals abruptly.
However, it was Brentwood who took an early lead against the run of play when Lamar Simpson fouled his man in the 6th minute and the free kick flew into the top corner above James Weatherill from striker Craig Reid. 1-0 Brentwood.

Just two minutes later Reid had another shot from 35 yards which appeared speculative but drew a good save from Weatherill. By the tenth minute it appeared as though the Chesham game in the FA Cup would be repeated but Aylesbury held firm with vital interceptions from both Lamar Simpson and Ben Stevens.

For the next 20 minutes it was all Aylesbury, who had done well to survive this early scare only one goal down. In the 16th minute a chipped through ball from Lynton Goss gave Brian Haule a sniff but away keeper Martyn Guest just beat him to the ball. Brian then had the next chance as he headed just over the bar when some Moles fans thought it was in. Despite their possession, Aylesbury struggled to fashion clear cut chances until Lynton Goss fired home from James Dobson’s long ball only to find it disallowed for offside.

Striker Craig Reid continued to be influential for Brentwood and he won a 28th minute corner from which his shot was gathered by Weatherill. FC almost hit them on the counter as Dobson fired a few inches over before Weatherill held another Craig Reid effort. In the 35th minute Reid’s free kick from slightly further out than his goal was also caught by Aylesbury’s No1.

On the stroke of half time Reid’s sixth shot of the game was blocked brilliantly by Kyle Anthony. From the resultant corner only a block on the line by Lamar Simpson kept Aylesbury in the game.

In the second half Brentwood struggled to get out of the half of the pitch they defended as the game became one-sided. Until the last minute all the real second half chances fell to the Moles, whose sustained but mostly fruitless attacking made it look as if Aylesbury were the Step 3 club. The 61st minute saw the game threaten to boil over after a horrific foul on Ben Stevens by Nicky Symons which certainly did not look out of place on Hallowe’en. Incredibly the Brentwood midfielder escaped with a yellow card but, even more amazingly, Ben Stevens got up and carried on playing.

A minute later a ball in was headed on by Brian Haule to Lynton Goss, who wasted a great opportunity, dragging the ball wide. A fantastic run by Ken Feyi saw him feed Aston Goss, whose dangerous cross was headed over by a Brentwood defender who looked like he might score an own goal.

On 66 minutes Ben Stevens’ slip allowed Craig Reid to run into the box but Ben made amends with an excellent tackle. That proved significant as just a minute later FC equalised- the dangerous Ken Feyi whipped in a cross from the left which was headed home by Brian Haule for a goal which had been coming. 1-1.
With the team in the ascendency and 23 minutes left Aylesbury sensed a possible winner. However, Brentwood made two changes and crept back into the game; one of the subs, Tom Richardson, shot just over in the 76th minute and 6 minutes later a ball was volleyed over the bar with Weatherill beaten.

Grant Fryer then replaced Ken Feyi to give Aylesbury the resolve to frustrate Brentwood’s last wave of attacks before Brian Haule almost grabbed a last minute winner from the centre circle. FC were left with hearts in mouths as Craig Reid tried to round Weatherill, but he was unlucky to be thwarted by the best keeper in the Southern Central division.
Neither side will relish having to do it again on Tuesday but, even if Aylesbury’s poor away form fails to see them through, they will take heart from having dominated a higher level side at Haywood Way. Man of the Match goes to Jon Montgomery for his control of possession and marauding runs.