In a contest that saw a catalogue of chances for both sides, a first half effort from Davide Pobbe was enough to separate the two sides to bring the three points back to Buckinghamshire for a third successive away trip.

The home side were favourites coming into it, finding themselves comfortably in the play-off places at this midway point of the season and scoring at will, however, a tenacious defensive performance, clinical finishing and more than a fair share of fortune saw the Moles victorious. The match got off to a rather cagey start, with both teams getting to grips with the tricky surface following a spate of seasonal weather. The deadlock was almost broken by City when the division’s top scorer Ryan Sharman rose the highest from a Ben Robinson cross, but saw his strong headed effort ricochet off the bar to the relief of Ashley Jenkins and the Aylesbury faithful.

The visitors then had their chance to pile on some pressure, Hafid Bounyafe was enjoying some success down the right-hand side delivering some dangerous crosses into the Cambridge City box, however there was no end product with the best chance falling to the revitalised Kerran Lataille who saw his drilled shot bobble wide.The game had a real ebb and flow about it, and this time the hosts had a wave of attack. First Jack Vasey saw his bullet header heroically saved by Ashley Jenkins, and then for the second time in the space of a quarter of an hour the Lilywhites had another effort rattle the frame of the goal – Vasey again with the header.

The hosts would live to rue these misses as on 29 minutes the breakthrough came. The ball broke fortunately for the alert Davide Pobbe, who showed great skill to wrong foot his marker before curling the ball past the outstretched arm of Niall Conroy.
FC looked to build on this, with Niall Conroy making some fine saves firstly from Garry Jones’ long range strike and an even better stop from Kerran Lataille, whose effort looked to be curling into the top left-hand corner of the goal, but the stopper made a commendable save to keep the deficit to a single goal.

Half Time Cambridge City 0 Aylesbury FC 1

FC found themselves all hands-on deck in the second half as the hosts came out all guns blazing for the second period.
Ryan Sharman – who was kept quiet most of the afternoon by the courageous Joe Fitzgerald had a great opportunity early in the second half, going one on one with Ashley Jenkins he looked to stroke one past FC’s No.1 but a fine parry followed by a goal line clearance from Jordan Jenkins preserved the visitor’s lead.

The Moles then had a chance to kill the game off. A Garry Jones free kick from inside the defensive half fell extremely kindly to Brian Haule who was probably more surprised than most. He couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and his shot was tame at best and easily gathered by Conroy.
Four minutes from time Ashley Jenkins was called into action again. Jordan Williams must have thought his looping header was destined to see the net ripple. However, Jenkins was determined to keep his clean sheet intact, performing a Christmas miracle to tip the attempt onto the upright.

The board went up for six minutes of added time – followed by a sharp intake of breath from the Aylesbury away following, however the yellow and blue wall stood strong and the three points were secured.

Full Time Cambridge City 0 Aylesbury FC 1

Next up for the Moles is another tough fixture at home to Hayes and Yeading. Come down and support the team on Saturday 23rd – a Christmas gift from us to you.

Match Rating: 4/5 – A game that had almost everything, let down only by the Tundra conditions.

MOTM: Nothing was left out on that pitch by any of the lads today, but Joe Fitzgerald for shear work-rate and an unbelievable defensive display.