Hartley Wintney definitely isn't a side you want to be facing off the back of five consecutive losses, especially with the hosts coming off the back of a weekend win against run away league leaders AFC Rushden and Diamonds. Unfortunately that was the reality for the Moles, however, they could take some hope into the fixture following a 2-0 victory against The Row earlier on in the season.

Some new faces came into the side, with Nick Gurney and Antony Njogu slotting in at central midfield, and Ricky Gwilliam came into the right wing position to give Ty Deacon more freedom through the middle.

It was the hosts who started off the better of the two sides with early chances for both Jack French, whose low driven shot was well blocked by birthday boy Derek Feyi, followed by a superb save from Ashley Jenkins with his legs at the front post from Steve Duff's point blank piledriver.

Aylesbury were definitely showing more promise than in recent times, with some good build up play in the centre of the park, and Ricky Gwilliam offering some good pace and skill down the right wing. However, the side continued to struggle to find any real clinical passing to get in behind the Hartley back line and really test Paul Strudley in goal.

The deadlock was broken on 26 minutes as a looping cross wasn't dealt with, Steve Duff beat his marker in the air to nod the ball down to the ever threatening Nic Ciardini who slotted home at close range.

FC's best chance of the half fell to Ricky Gwilliam, who was by far the best player in Yellow and Blue on the night, after some slow and methodical build up play between Nick Gurney, Tony Njogu and Anthony Ball, who delivered a fine cross into the danger zone, the ball was only half cleared away to Gwilliam who didn't quite strike the ball as sweetly as he would have liked from 20 yards and it was safely into the palms of Paul Strudley.

Half Time - Hartley Wintney 1 Aylesbury FC 0

It was a frenetic start to the second period for the Moles, with the ball working it's way to Paul Brown, who whipped in a cross from the right by-line, with Gwilliam begging for a tap in at the back post, however, he couldn't quite keep his inswinging cross in play, and the danger was averted.

And then the turning point in the match came, Shayne Almond played a beautifully weighted eye of the needle ball through to Ty Deacon past the two central defenders of Hartley Wintney, 1-on-1 with the outrushing goalkeeper, the striker could only put it straight at the grateful Strudley. The hosts would then counter quickly down the left hand side, with Nic Ciardini this time turning provider for Steve Duff, with time seeming standing still as his headed effort dribbled into the bottom corner.

At this point the visitors seemed to run out of steam, with the third coming shortly after, with Nic Ciardini picking up his brace, finishing off another Steve Duff cross. The fourth came with three minutes to play, this time Ciardini teeing up Duff for his second of the night, finishing off a cross on the half volley into the heart of the FC net.

Ben Stevens went close late on when Anthony Ball's corner towards the front post was acrobatically attacked - the ball looked to be looping in at the back post, but a Hartley Wintney defender was on hand to head away and maintain the clean sheet.

Full Time - Hartley Wintney 4 Aylesbury FC 0

Next up for the Moles is a home fixture against Egham Town this Saturday (31/03/2018). K.O. 3pm.

Match Rating - 3/5
FC MOTM - Ricky Gwilliam