Report by Jools Thomas

It was a successful day all round for FC in this very entertaining game. The game was packed full of incident and action but the class and quality from the home team shone through and with both Kettering and Bedworth dropping points, the result allowed the Moles to close the gap on the leaders.

The first opportunity was within the first couple of minutes. Brian Haule intelligently played in Ryan O’Toole who was just beaten to the ball by Chalfont keeper Mikey Pearce. Bradley Wadkins was the next man to try his luck but after a bullying run into the box, his final shot lacked power and he saw his effort sail harmlessly wide. Brad was involved in the following piece of action, nodding down the ball in the penalty area only to see team mate Brian Haule, playing his most influential game for a number of weeks, crash the resulting shot against a post. Not to be outdone, Brian’s brother Davis Haule attempted an impudent lob of the keeper which just cleared the upright.

FC were unlucky to hit the post for the second time on 18 minutes. A cross into the box was headed on by Jeanmal Prosper with the woodwork being grazed. Adam Logie then replaced Connor Baker with Adam slotting in at centre half and Chalfont had their first chance soon afterwards. A deflection saw the ball fall to Aaron Lansiquet and his low shot was saved well by James Weatherill in the FC goal.

FC opened the scoring soon afterwards. A teasing cross into a crowded penalty area was met by Ryan O’Toole who forced the ball over the line much to the delight of his teammates. The score line was extended not long afterwards. Brian Haule’s purposeful run into the Chalfont box was halted with a defender grabbing at the striker. Haule took the kick himself confidently sweeping the ball into the net with the keeper stranded. As the half drew to a close, Ryan O’Toole played in Brian Haule once again and his snapshot brought out the best in Pearce.

The second half had barely begun before Chalfont grabbed a goal back in outstanding fashion with Aaron Lansiquot’s well struck volley drawing gasps of appreciation from all at Haywood Way. Aston Goss attempted to restore FC’s two goal cushion but his effort went wide and then Adam Logie’s freekick hit the woodwork for the third time in the game. A turn and shot by Jeanmal Prosper might have brought more luck on another day but on 66 minutes CSP drew level. An attack on the left by Remmel Clarke saw him produce a lofted shot of such quality that James Weatherill could only watch the ball sail into the net.

FC scored the winner six minutes later. Bradley Wadkins was upended in the box with Alan Hedley receiving a yellow card for his troubles. Hedley argued the decision and the referee produced a second yellow. The responsibility for the penalty again fell to Brian Haule and once again the target man made no mistake with a perfect placement leaving the keeper stranded.

Lansiquot had a golden opportunity to grab another equaliser however he headed wide after slipping Kyle Anthony and this was to be the last real chance of the game for the away team. Speculative strikes by Davis Haule and substitute Gareth Price came to nothing before the referee blew time on what had been a captivating afternoon.