By Jools Thomas

Aylesbury fans leaving Thatcham’s ground must have wondered how a team that played so well in a barnstorming first half could struggle to such an extent in the 2nd half that they were lucky to grab full points. FC management on the other hand would advise those supporters that the team had played a tough 120 minute cup tie just a few days beforehand and, in the same match, had suffered injuries to key players. FC management would also state that we can’t always have great football and after all hadn’t we claimed all three points?

To be quite honest the first half belonged totally to FC. Once the early sparring had settled, it developed into a half of concerted FC pressure and therefore it was no surprise when FC took the lead on 17 minutes. Ex-Mole Rocky Bufton, in the home net, made a mistake in a one to one ball leaving the loose ball to bobble free to Brian Haule who stroked the ball into the empty net. Thatcham’s Jack Coventry responded immediately with a powerful shot keeper Simeon Charles did well to hold. Kurt Morlese had a good chance on 26 minutes before Brian Haule doubled our lead. A neat one two saw Brian draw out Rocky from the goal and the FC striker neatly dinked the ball over the advancing keeper. FC were looking imperious. Leon Osei crashed a sensational strike onto the Thatcham bar and soon after Matarr Touray hit a sweet strike that just whistled past the keeper’s right. It could easily have been many more goals at half time and all FC followers were excited for the 2nd period.

Brian Haule started that 2nd half for Aylesbury as they finished the first as Bufton made an extraordinary double save as the FC man searched for the goal to complete his hat trick. However, other than a few pot shots, that was the end for Aylesbury as an attacking force. Jack Coventry had the first of many chances for the home team starting with an attempted chip which just cleared the bar. Damien Smith was next to try with a shot straight at Charles. Brian Haule attempted to redress the balance with a snapshot from a breakaway attack. Ben McReady hit a powerful drive over the FC bar soon after. On 79 minutes Thatcham grabbed a goal that had been threatened for so long as their dangerman Coventry poked the ball home from a corner.

Hearts were in mouths on 87 minutes as the ball was played through to a Thatcham striker. Just as the trigger was being pulled, the hugely impressive Ronayne Marsh-Brown threw in a last ditch punt forcing the ball past both keeper and post and away safely for a corner. The final whistle was a relief to players and supporters alike. A struggle over the line but the history books will tell us one thing: Aylesbury won this game and took all three points.

Line Up
1 Simeon Charles.
2 George Tomlin.
3 Luke Abraham.
4 Max Farrelly.
5 Craig Faulconbridge.
6 Ronayne Marsh-Brown.
7 Matarr Touray.
8 Sonny French.
9 Brian Haule. Goal (18', 29'), Man of the Match
10 Leon Osei.
11 Kurt Morlese. Sub Off (82')
12 Ollie Lynch. Sub On (82')