Report by Dan Legg

Following a solid midweek performance and point against Fleet Town, the Moles went into this clash with Ashford Town with renewed vigour and confidence. Manager Davis Haule made two changes, with Kerran Lataille replacing the gaffer in centre midfield, whilst Craig Carby returning from injury bolstered the back line to replace the injured Jordan Jenkins. Neither side were in any sort of form and the heavy conditions on the pitch was to make for an interesting game.

It was the visitors that started strongly and were almost ahead inside the first minute. Some good interplay between Nathan Pooley and Max Webb led to the latter giving Ashley Jenkins an early test in the FC goal, the ball was parried away by the stopper into the path of Samad Kazi who showed little composure and blazed over from 6 yards.

This was the shock to the system that Aylesbury required to switch into gear, and as the clock ticked round to three minutes the hosts were ahead. A sublime long ball from deep in the Ashford half by Garry Jones found the towering figure of Brian Haule to prod home at close range for his fourth goal of the season. Ashford continued to pile on pressure after the deadlock was broken, but the boggy surface in and around the penalty areas meant that their passing football wasn’t paying off, with neither Samad Kazi or Max Webb able to take their chances.
In a frantic start to the match the Moles could have quite easily have made it two. After a fine Man of the Match performance midweek Alfi Touceda played a finely weighted pass for winger Ty Deacon to run on to, he had plenty of time to steady himself and pick his spot with the Tangerine’s keeper Tyler Tobin approaching, however, the visiting keeper made himself big to save Deacon’s driven effort and his goal drought continues.

Aylesbury would rue this missed chance, as on 34 minutes Jack Beadle powered home an equaliser. A defensive clearance had little power on it, Beadle was able to pick up the loose ball in the final third, before cooley slotting home to the bottom left of Jenkins’ goal under pressure from Craig Carby.

On the half time whistle – drama. Ty Deacon came to blows with his opposite number, quite literally, giving the referee very little choice but to brandish a straight red card. Aylesbury were to play with a man disadvantage in the second period. An uphill battle was surely ahead on the heavy surface.

Half Time Aylesbury FC 1 Ashford Town 1

For all of the possession and territory that Ashford benefitted from at the start of the second half the steadily deteriorating pitch meant it was difficult to create any real goal scoring chances and the score line remained level. That was until Brian Haule decided to step up and grab his brace. A rare attacking spell for the Moles saw Harry Scott use good pace to break away from his marker, laid off Alfi Touceda who had very little space and time but still executed an exquisite eye of the needle ball through the Ashford defensive line, for the big man Brian Haule to control, take around the keeper and slot into an empty net. The 10-men were ahead…

…but not for long. The Moles were unable to hold onto the lead, as with a quarter of a hour left to play, Max Webb found acres of space out on the left wing, with Anthony Ball not wanting to challenge after an earlier booking, the Tangerine’s wide man whipped in a powerful cross which wasn’t dealt with and it was Samad Kazi who couldn’t miss his headed finish from mere yards out.
The game was to peter out following the goal, with both teams seemingly content with a point.
Full Time Aylesbury FC 2 Ashford Town 2

The Moles travel to Uxbridge next Saturday looking to build on their improved performances and results this week.
Aylesbury FC MOTM: Brian Haule – the veteran striker appeared to be nearly back to his best, picking up a brace.