Report by Dan Legg

After the Moles’ mid-week exploits in the B&B Cup (the less said about that the better), the last place you’d want to go was free scoring, table toppers Moneyfields. A few hardy souls travelled down to the Portsmouth coast with relatively low expectations, however, an almost full-strength team featuring the likes of Brian Haule as the lone striker and Ben Stevens back to bolster the defence gave travelling supporters hope.

However, we seem to have started where we left off on Tuesday night, as after just four minutes the home side took the lead. Ben Stevens’ clearance looked to be straight forward, but was scuffed away only to Steve Hutchins who delivered a killer ball to the back post where Dan Wooden was lurking to tap home for one-nil.

This early setback shook the Aylesbury players into life, and just a minute later the Moles could quite easily have been level, Aston Goss used his speed and skill to beat his man on the right flank and crossed a front post ball into Jeanmal Prosper who headed just over the bar. The Moles continued to pile on the pressure, and soon struck a deserved equaliser courtesy of Ty Deacon. Aston Goss delivered a dangerous corner, the Moneyfields goalkeeper Stephen Mowthorpe did very well to punch away under pressure from big man Brian Haule, but he could only clear as far as Ben Stevens whose goal bound header was helped on its way by Ty Deacon. All square.

The away side continued to press and looked goal hungry, Harry Scott’s speculative effort from 25 yards mid-way through the half drifted just over the bar as he looked to lob the keeper. The Monies always looked a massive threat on the counter though, and on the stroke of half time a long ball caught the Moles’ defensive line out, Jordan Jenkins coming to the rescue with an acrobatic goal line clearance from a Steve Hutchins header to maintain parity at the break.

Half Time Moneyfields 1 Aylesbury FC 1

Blink and you missed it, the second half started in spectacular fashion. Straight from kick off Jeanmal Prosper found space on the right-hand side, picked his spot and with pinpoint accuracy curled his effort into the top left-hand corner of the Moneyfields goal. Keeper stood no chance. The Moles led two goals to one.

The goal added a fiery dimension into the game, with Moneyfields players becoming somewhat frustrated, with their unbeaten record at risk. On 58 minutes, the home side had a great opportunity to equalise, Joseph Briggs burst into the FC box but blazed wide. This was somewhat of a warning as to the barrage to come.

On 66 minutes, the equaliser arrived. The FC’s defences’ Achilles Heel – defending set pieces; a deep free kick was delivered to the back post, where Steve Hutchings was all alone to head home past the sprawling Ash Jenkins. Just minutes later the Moneyfields goal scorer saw the red mist, and in turn brandished a red card, an unnecessary high foot in midfield meant a second yellow for Steve Hutchings. With 20 minutes to play surely at least a point was secured? Unbelievably, the dismissal gave the hosts a new lease of life, and an onslaught was about to commence.

Following an Aylesbury attack which led to a rather tame shot from striker Brian Haule, Moneyfields quickly look to break, the ball found its way to the hosts’ top scorer Ryan Pennery who weaved his way through the FC defence, and chipped the ball over the onrushing Ash Jenkins to give the hosts the lead.

On 83 minutes, a goal of the same ilk as Prosper’s early in the half arrived, an unbelievable strike from Dan Wooden could only be tipped onto the post by Ash Jenkins, the ball then crashed against the opposite post before finding the back of the net. At two goals down, Davis Haule opted for a back three, which meant more space for the Monies to exploit on the counter, Dan Wooden again finding himself with acres of pitch around him, his low shot parried away well by Ash Jenkins, but Marley Ridge was on hand to mop up the rebound.

To add insult to injury, the final nail in the coffin was struck late on in injury time, substitute Kerran Lataille had been on the pitch for barely 5 minutes when he delivered a rash two-footed challenge, the referee with no choice but to show a straight red.

Full Time Moneyfields 5 Aylesbury FC 2

Next up for the Moles is a home fixture against second placed side Hartley Wintney. Come down to the SRD Stadium - we need your support!
FC MOTM: Jeanmal Prosper
Match Rating: 3/5