When you think of a circus, what comes to mind? The Big Trapeze? Lion Taming? How about last night’s Berks and Bucks Cup performance?
After picking up the Berks and Bucks cup plaudits two seasons ago, the Moles travelled across the county border to Berkshire to take on Isthmian Premier side Bracknell Town. Playing a team from a lower division and with one eye on the trip to league leader’s Moneyfields on Saturday, Davis Haule gave a start to some of his fringe players including Kerran Lataille and Hafid Bounyafe.

On the well kempt plastic surface at Larges Lane the home side didn’t hang about in opening the scoring. Adam Cornell’s low driven cross wasn’t dealt with by the FC centre half pairing of Derek Feyi and Jordan Jenkins and Seb Bowerman was on hand to tap in at the back stick.
It could have been two just a few minutes later, on six minutes Bowerman was afforded too much time and space outside the area, unleashing a drive from 20 yards, with the helpless Ash Jenkins watched the ball whistle past his far post.

The dominant start from The Robins had taken the Moles by surprise, and it took the visitors until the 17th minute to really get going. A beautifully weighted through ball from Jeanmal Prosper bypassed the Bracknell back line with Kieran Schmidt opting to take the ball on the volley, blazing just over the bar.

Just three minutes later Aylesbury were on the ropes again, another flowing passage of passing football saw Bracknell Town have it in the FC net, however a rather dubious offside flag handed the Moles a get out of jail free card. At this point the half rather ground to a halt. Brian Haule had it in the net on 41 minutes, but he also was flagged for offside.

ll in all, a relatively dominant first half from Bracknell, however, nobody anticipated what the next 45 minutes would bring…

Half Time Bracknell Town 1 Aylesbury FC 0

As the players came out for the second half we expected the Moles to find a new lease of life, and push on for an equaliser, however, like on many occasions this season we were effective still in the changing rooms. As on the 47th minute an almost carbon copy of Bracknell’s first goal made it two. This time Joe Grant smashing home TJ Bohane’s cross from mere yards.

At this point manager Davis Haule called on the big guns, the man of the moment Shane Almond. Straight away making an impact, finding Derek Feyi from a corner, the big man pummelled a rocket at goal, stinging keeper Chris Grace’s palms. It was looking slightly rosier until we found ourselves up the proverbial creek without a paddle. As on 66 minutes, Ash Jenkins was harshly dismissed for handling outside the box. With no goalkeeper on standby Jordan Jenkins donned the purple jersey. At this point defeat was assured, it was just a question of how embarrassed are we getting tonight? The answer – very.

As on 70 minutes Seb Bowerman’s cross was dispatched past Jordan Jenkins by Adam Cornell. FC were then down to 9 men, when the man in form Shane Almond got his marching orders for a stamp on Bracknell full-back Phil John, much to the delight of the Bracknell ‘ultras’ behind the goal. Much like the rain, the goals just kept on coming, the fourth from TJ Bohane on 74 minutes, followed by five and six in the 86th and 87th minutes respective, with Joe Grant and Seb Bowerman both picking up their braces.

A night to forget for the Moles.

Full Time Bracknell Town 6 Aylesbury FC 0

The Moles now look to bounce back away at league leaders Moneyfields on Saturday. Keep the faith.
FC MOTM: Kieran Schmidt