Report by Jools Thomas

Again it was a very late penalty that proved our downfall. An almost comical third goal rubbed salt into the word to give the game a scoreline which didn’t exactly tell the story of the match. FC had decent chances by the barrow full and were unable to take them. CSP had far fewer chances but made them count and that was the match in a nutshell.

Lee Stobbs’ early cross could have caused concern if team mates had been alert and James Faulkner then placed a teasing shot just wide of the post as Aylesbury made a bright opening. CSP had their first chance on 15 minutes when Craige Tomkins hit a powerful shot over the bar. Kieron Turner danced into the box on 22 minutes and only a last ditch tackle prevented the young midfielder from striking on goal.

Anthony Mendy has a decent goal scoring record against FC and his first opportunity of the game midway through the half was a strike over the upright. On 33 minutes James Faulkner hit a decent shot which away keeper Garry Malone did well to push away for a corner. From the corner Ben Stevens’ header was looped over the bar by Faulkner as the chances began to pile up for the home side.

As the half drew to a close, Tomkins glanced a header just wide of the FC goal before the home side had a golden chance to take the lead. Turner did good work in the box leaving Faulkner a strike on goal but the striker could only clip the post when a goal seemed certain.

A Jon Montgomery 35 yard effort sailed wide of the post as FC made a positive start to the 2nd half. Aaron Couch followed this a few minutes later with a close range half volley which the keeper did well to hold on to. Another gilt edged chance for FC on the hour mark saw at least three men have the chance to stab the ball home, most notably from Faulkner who hit the bar.

Adam Kirby hit a cheeky shot from the left for the away team but Jack Brooker in the FC net was equal to it. Gaining the ball in the midfield, Anthony Mendy fired a useful ball goalwards with it just fizzing past the post. Jake Cass then turned and shot over the bar as the away team began to find space in the midfield. This pressure had to tell and Anthony Mendy found himself facing off with Brooker at close range and he made no mistake rifling the ball into the net.

FC’s response was immediate and spectacular. A clearance from a corner was met by Mark Lambert who volleyed it home giving the sprawling keeper little chance.

And that should have been FC’s cue to regroup, protect the goal and accept a point. Instead on 88 minutes a crowded penalty incident saw a stonewall penalty awarded. Again it was that man Mendy who stepped up to crack the ball home.

Earlier in the game there had been confusion between keeper and defenders on the responsibility for loose balls and this results in CSP’s third goal deep in injury time. Neither party were prepared to be accountable and this left Kofi Lockhard-Adams with the simplest of tasks, stroking the ball into an empty net.