Report by Jools Thomas

A steady first half fight back from Aylesbury FC had set the game up for an intriguing second period however a refereeing decision early in the second half had Moles fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief and this effectively finished the game as a contest. FC will argue vehemently that the referee was incorrect a total of four times during the incident thus leaving the team with a mountain to climb.

The opening part of the game was ironically free from incident as both teams tested each other without any clear cut chances being created. The highly rated Lewis Putnam had the first effort of note in the 10th minute when his rasping drive was spilled by James Warrington before going for a corner. A couple of minutes later FC had to reshuffle their ranks with Daniel Murphy leaving the field to be replaced like for like by Connor Baker. Almost immediately Connor, along with striker Danny Burnell, tried to open up the home defence with a series of crosses on 18 minutes without impact. Hanwell opened the scoring not long afterwards. Putnam crossed from the left and Ian Bywater was on hand to sweep the ball home from a couple of yards.

Again Connor Baker attempted to create an opening from a left wing cross and this was followed shortly afterwards by an Aston Goss free kick which flicked off the wall before looping to safety. FC’s equaliser was not long in coming. Connor Baker took a right handed side corner and with the wind creating a slight advantage, he saw the effort swerve straight into the back of the net.

Burnell had a half chance on the half hour and Sean Sonner also tried his luck but found home ‘keeper Charlie Fanner in good form. Putnam responded by turning this way and that before a last ditch Kyle Anthony prevented what surely would have been a stinging shot. David O’Connor put in a block of a similar quality right on the stroke of half time as the home team finished the half on the offensive. To round off the half, FC were forced to make another substitution as Bradley Wadkins was replaced by Davis Haule.

The second half had barely started when the game was turned on its head. Lewis Putnam and Ben Stevens were involved in a race on the Aylesbury goal some 15 yards outside the penalty box. Granted, it was a physical encounter however both men tussled for possession with the attacker and defender falling together in the box. Unbelievably, the referee called Kyle Anthony over and dismissed the young FC defender for the offence.

FC will argue that firstly there was no foul committed and it was purely a meeting of committed footballers. Secondly the incident started way outside the penalty area, thirdly the chance was not a goal scoring opportunity and fourthly the wrong man was dismissed from the field. Undeterred Putnam dusted himself down and sent the penalty down the middle with Warrington diving incorrectly to his right.

Aston Goss moved into defence and had an admirable second half cutting out a dangerous Putnam cross on 52 minutes. Soon afterwards Connor Baker and Ben Stevens combined to cut out another dangerous attack as Hanwell made the man advantage count.

FC seemed to weather the storm and as the home team looked to protect their lead, the team found more space. Adam Logie, Gareth Price and Sonner pooled their talents to create a half chance on 64 minutes and just a minute later, Price saw his tantalising cross cut out by Fanner. Goss was the next man to find room down the wing and his lofted ball found Sonner who was unlucky at the back stick. Hanwell replied with the ever dangerous Putnam and then Conner Duffy having half chances to increase their side’s lead.

On another day either of the the two chances in the final minute might have won FC a share of the points. The first chance came from a throw in with Connor Baker’s speculative volley flying over the woodwork. Seconds later Baker’s low shot was parried by Fanner and Sean Sonner’s follow up was blasted over when composure was all that was required.