Report by Jools Thomas

Whilst promotion and relegation issues were gripping the wider footballing world, Aylesbury FC and Thatcham Town played out this end of season encounter at the Affinity Investment Stadium. It was the clichéd end of season stroll for 88 minutes of the match before a crazy end to the game gave FC what will look on paper like a comfortable win.

The game started with Town’s Jack Coventry challenging FC keeper Richard Roberts in a frantic one on one which Roberts won. Kevin Ayodele had the first decent FC chance on 5 minutes but his measured curl also cleared the post. Then Sonny French, on the first of many barnstorming runs, opened up a chance for Brian Haule who forced the keeper to save. Manager Craig Faulconbridge latched onto the cleared ball and put in a long range strike which Ashley West gathered. Liam Painter was unlucky for the visitors at the other end when, after neat interplay with colleagues, he put the ball over the bar. Midway through the half, Sonny French has another opportunity which he put over the bar and then Kevin Ayodele also planted a worthwhile chance over the crossbar. Ex-Mole Denilson Vincente was next to attempt to break the deadlock but he miscued when in range and his effort sliced wide. Just before half time Sonny French broke again from midfield but his long range effort was saved before Kevin Ayodele forced West to make a save, tipping the ball over the bar.

After the break, Ben McReady had a decent effort which Richard Roberts plucked from the air. On 63 minutes Painter had another chance firing in from an acute angle that Roberts did well to save. Although supported by the intelligent Davis Haule, Sonny French was finding he had to do a lot of running to make attacks happen and another of his runs resulted in another long range effort that just cleared the Thatcham post. Matarr Touray had the next chance but his shot flew over the bar when a little composure was required. On 80 minutes Kevin Ayodele drove through the Thatcham defence but he just ran out of steam and his shot trickled past the keeper’s left hand post. By now it was all one way traffic as the Moles attacked the covered end of Haywoods. Just two minutes from the end of normal time, Kevin Ayodele repeated his impression of a bulldozer from ten minutes earlier, only this time his shot was goalward bound. Thatcham defenders cleared the ball but only after the ball had crossed the line. It was a hugely controversial moment from a Thatcham view and another incredible incident followed just a couple of minutes later. Ayodele was unplayable by this time, and as he created more havoc in the box, he was pulled back by a Thatcham defender as he looked to shoot. The referee awarded a penalty, which Brian Haule stroked home with ease. Still the action wasn’t concluded. The action continued in the Thatcham box and when the ball fell to the hugely impressive Sonny French, he walloped the ball on the volley into the visitor’s net for an unexpected yet highly welcome victory.

Star man; Sonny French (Aylesbury FC) Entertainment **/*****

Line Up
1 Richard Roberts.
2 Max Farrelly. Yellow Card (74'),
3 Luke Abraham.
4 Davis Haule.
5 Ben Stevens.
6 Ronayne Marsh-Brown.
7 Kevin Ayodele. Goal (88')
8 Craig Faulconbridge. Yellow Card (67')
9 Brian Haule. Penalty (90')
10 Sonny French. Man of the Match (90'), Goal (91')
11 Matarr Touray.

Unused Subs
12 Ade Joshua.
14 Lamar Simpson.
15 George Tomlin.