FC added another three points to their growing collection in this hard fought win versus promotion hopefuls Barton Rovers and whilst the goalscorers will inevitably grab the attention, it was the defensive players who battled hard to keep the lively Barton forwards at bay. All in all this was an entertaining game played in a good spirit with both teams wanting to play football the proper way.

The first half was just a minute old when Bradley Wadkins played in Gareth Price but home keeper Kyle Forster beat the FC man to the ball with Gareth ready to pounce. At the other end Liam McDewitt fed Kim Forsythe whose header was gathered by home keeper James Weatherill. A few minutes later, a through ball to the very exciting Keshi Anderson gave the Barton player an opportunity to strike however his shot lacked control and Weatherill once again gathered. As the mid-point of the half approached, Barton once more threatened as a dangerous Ricky Case ball sent Simon Sweeney scurrying to clear from the near post. Case was involved a few minutes later playing in the impressively tousled Bobby Dance however Dance’s shot had the accuracy but not the power to threaten the goal. Barton were enjoying great possession however they didn’t really produce one chance of real quality. This was typified by Anderson on 37 minutes. He found the space but his strike was mis-hit and the ball spun safely into the arms of Weatherill.

FC made the visitors pay for their lack of a killer instinct as the first half drew to a close. A Ben Stevens’ free kick was brought down by Bradley Wadkins and in one flowing sequence, Brad volleyed the sweetest strike possible into the net giving Forster no chance. Unbelievably it was Wadkins’ first goal for Aylesbury but was indeed worth the wait for there cannot have been many better goals seen at Haywoods in this or any season. In injury time at the end of the first half Brian Haule had the opportunity to increase FC’s lead but his half volley went the wrong side of the post as the Moles finished the stronger of the two teams.

Even though the pressure was on the home goal, the start of the second half showed that FC were not to be ignored as an attacking force as the hard working Ollie Burgess combined with Brian Haule and Gareth Price in a sweet passing move which the team were unlucky not to profit from.

A few minutes later Bobby Dance shrugged the otherwise immaculate Connor Baker off the ball but his low struck effort whistled the wrong side of the post. Barton had been piling forward looking for the equaliser and it was from one of their attacks that FC doubled their lead. FC broke through the defensive lines and with two against two at the back, Brian Haule played in Ollie Burgess. Ollie drew the keeper out before hitting a firm shot across the keeper and into the unguarded net.
On 65 minutes Burgess looked to add to the lead when he attempted to lob the keeper after the away defence had yet again been put under pressure by the FC forward line. Forster just managed to adjust his positioning to prevent another goal. As the clock ticked down, the visitors virtually camped themselves in the FC half, a tactic which suited the back four of Ben Stevens, Simon Sweeney, Rob Tomlin and Connor Baker who mopped up most of the attacks before feeding the influential Ollie Hogg, Kevin Mealor and Bradley Wadkins in midfield. One of the attacks which did get through was orchestrated by Anderson however his strike lacked the power to give Weatherill any real issues. Again it was FC who looked the more dangerous in another counter strike. Substitute Lamar Simpson created chaos on the right wing drawing out the keeper and leaving Forster in no-man’s land. Lamar pulled the ball back for Price but Gareth had a rush of blood to the head and fired the ball over the bar with the open goal gaping.

Anderson’s control and volley on 80 minutes was Barton’s best chance of the second half however the shot also brought out the best from James Weatherill whom palmed the ball away for a corner. As the minutes ticked away, there was a very strong appeal for penalty after Lamar Simpson was pushed from behind whilst pulling the trigger to shoot. The penalty plea was waved away by the referee who then after a considerable period of injury time, blew the whistle to bring the game to its conclusion.

Line Up:
1. James Weatherill
2. Robert Tomlin
3. Conner Baker
4. Ollie Hogg Sub Off '90
5. Simon Sweeney Yellow Card '89
6. Ben Stevens
7. Ollie Burgess Goal '51, Sub Off '70
8. Bradley Wadkins Goal '39, Man of the Match
14. Brian Haule Yellow Card '90
10. Gareth Price
11. Kevin Mealor

Used Subs:
14. Lamar Simpson Sub On '70
16. Steve Perkins Sub On '90

Unused Subs:
12. Sam Bateman
17. Fraser McLachlan