Report by Jools Thomas

FC recorded their 7th successive league win to haul themselves up to 2nd in the table and like previous meetings against their Aylesbury neighbours; this was an encounter full of blood, thunder and intrigue. The game was finally won by a Brian Haule close range effort after the Ducks has dragged themselves back into the game with a second half performance of great passion and determination.

The first chance was after just three minutes. Bradley Wadkins delivered a telling ball to Lynton Goss but the FC winger was unable to make a true connection. A minute later United’s Jason Blackett was challenged when through on goal and despite the home protests as to the manner of the challenge, the referee waved played on. The Ducks continued their bright start and on 6 minutes should have taken the lead. A neatly floated free kick was volleyed over the ball by Bill Morgan with just Moles keeper Jamie Jackson left to beat.

Lynton Goss attempted to drag his side into the game and his run on goal was blocked just as he was pulling the trigger before Jason Blackett had dusted himself down from earlier and his slide rule ball played in Jack Bewley who could only swipe at the ball when a little composure was required.

The Ducks were left to rue these missed chances as FC started to find their feet. Ben Bateman and then Lynton Goss both saw their shots saved amazingly saved by home keeper Taht Bell. Bell followed this up just a couple of minutes later as Wadkins hit a shot that somehow failed to creep into the net. Steve Hatch hit a half volley over the bar for the Ducks before FC took a deserved lead. Attacking play on the right saw the ball reach Bradley Wadkins whose low, well struck shot fired into the bottom corner. John Mulholland and then the ever dangerous Stacey Field attempted to redress the balance before the visitors extended their lead on the stroke of half time. A Daniel Murphy corner drifted over everyone to nestle directly in the back of the net much to the delight of all FC followers.

The 2nd half started brightly for both teams. Lynton Goss flashed a curling shot just wide and then John Mulholland popped up at the back stick to nod home a corner to give his side a fighting chance. Almost immediately FC went up the other end and as Lynton Goss looked for an opening, he was brought down in the penalty area by Jack Bewley. Despite attempts by keeper Bell to out psych Brian Haule, the lofty front man kept his cool to slot the ball home for 3-1.

That should have been the spur for FC to close the game out but the hosts had not read the form book and mounted an all-out assault on the Moles goal. Jesse Waites looped a free kick over the FC wall but also over Jackson’s bar however it wasn’t long until the Ducks grabbed a further goal back. Good interplay on the edge of the box found hit man Stacy Field arriving at the right moment to fire the ball past Jackson. Wadkins played in substitute Gareth Price who was unlucky with a curling shot as FC managed a sparkling effort on the home goal but it was only a temporary respite as the Ducks continued to lay siege to the FC goal with Connor Baker and Adam Logie finding it difficult to cope with the nippy Ducks forwards. It wasn’t long before the home team claimed their equaliser. A Jamie Jackson save was spilled into the path of Jack Wood who made no mistake from just a few yards.

FC shuffled their pack with the more attack minded Sonny French replacing Ben Bateman and this opened up a little attacking space in midfield with Davis Haule dropping to protect the back four. Some in the ground would have taken a point at this stage but the team had other ideas. Jeanmal Prosper and full back partner Danny Murphy also pushed on and it was Murphy who fired in a low shot with 15 minutes to play which was collected by Brian Haule. Brian’s drop of the shoulder fooled keeper Bell and the striker was able to score his 2nd goal of the game by flicking the ball deftly into the net and claiming the team’s 4th successive El Quackico Derby victory.