Report by Dan Legg

The two sides met in the FA Cup earlier this season with the Railwaymen advancing with a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Paul Bonham rotated the starting XI from Saturday’s draw away from home, giving opportunities for Bruno Brito and Sam Odusoga to prove themselves, whilst Oxford United loanee Steven Johnson-Fikula replaced the unavailable Jordan Jenkins at centre half.

Didcot were looking to bounce back from an off-colour performance against Coleshill Town and started the stronger of the two sides. Gregg Hackett caused trouble down the right-hand side of the Aylesbury FC defence early on, first dragging a shot wide of Nick Bennion’s far post, before just minute later teeing up Brett Gardner who showed good technique with a powerful strike on the turn which just missed the target.
The early pressure soon brought a goal – Gardner delivered a dangerous ball to the front post, and Lance Williams was on hand to nip in front of Bennion to poke the ball home.

The Moles had little to shout about after half an hour of play, with the only chance of note coming from the towering figure of Derek Feyi who headed wide of Leigh Bedwell’s far post from a curling Bruno Brito free kick. Whilst Didcot had enjoyed long spells of possession and looked dangerous going forward, they had failed to create any clear-cut opportunities following their early opener.

On 33 minutes Aylesbury were level. The Moles were awarded a somewhat fortuitous free kick on the edge of the Didcot Town penalty box, Martin Griggs duly obliged to the opportunity handed to him by the referee, stepped up, and finished clinically, despatching a low curling effort around the ineffective Didcot wall, leaving Bedwell stranded.

The Moles looked to see the half out and go into the dressing rooms with the score all square, with the opportunity to regroup and come out with more fight in the second half. Luke Carnell, however, had other ideas. Williams had the beating of Craig Carby, delivered a teasing ball into the danger zone with Carnell on hand to head home unmarked via a deflection off Jordan Frederick as he attempted a last-ditch block.

Half Time – Aylesbury FC 1 Didcot Town 2

The Moles were by no means down and out though, coming out on the front foot in the second period. Martin Griggs, who was by far the best player on the night came close to an equalising goal but was thwarted superbly by Bedwell in the Didcot goal with a fingertip save onto the crossbar from a mightily hit effort. The home crowd weren’t made to wait much longer for an equalising goal, and some goal it was too, as on 62 minutes the ball sat up kindly for Griggs who didn’t hesitate in unleashing a sweetly struck dipping effort over the head of Bedwell and into the top corner for his sixth goal of the season, sending the home crowd into raptures.

Following the equaliser, the momentum looked to be with the hosts, however, a rather harsh red card was shown to Davis Haule for an alleged off the ball incident between the experienced midfielder and Didcot substitute Isaac Caelan as FC were setting up to defend a corner.
Didcot didn’t waste any time in making the man advantage count and were soon back in front. A well worked breakaway led to Williams getting his second of the night, converting David Murphy’s cross with a delicate header past Bennion at the front post.

The visitors soon added a fourth through Callum McNish, with the midfielder rising above Johnson-Fikula in the six-yard box to crash another header into the back of the net. Ty Deacon had a half-chance deep into injury time to pick up a consolation goal for the hosts, but his effort from 12 yards lacked composure, with the ball spinning off his shin and wide of the far post.

Full Time – Aylesbury FC 2 Didcot Town 4
No football this weekend – the Moles will be back in action on the 22nd December as they travel to Oxfordshire to take on North Leigh.
Aylesbury FC MOTM – Martin Griggs
Match Rating – 3/5