It was a very much changed side that took to the outch at Haywood Way for this FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay against Didcot. With Ryan Ware, Jordan Jenkins, Aaron King, Austin Schofield, Reece Bayliss, George Boland and Ken Feyi all unavaille due to injury, unavailabilty or being sup tied this was always going to be a tough evening for The Moles. In came David Femiola, Temi Oladejo and Craig Carby to the defence, Luke Strafford moved back into midfield to partner Carl Tappin and it was a front three of Josh Williams, Bruno Brito and Kyreece Martei.
With all the FC changes it wasn't a surprise that it was Didcot that had most of the possession in the early exchanges, moving the ball all across the pitch and dominating possession, the FC faithful looked on thinking this was going to be a long and difficult night! After just seven minutes it was the away side who had an early chance when a great cross-field ball from Barder found Humphries in acres of space on the left wing, he cut inside but smashed his shot high over the bar.
The Moles eventually managed to get a foothold in the game and it was Josh Williams that was at the heart of most of the good things that Aylesbury were creating. After seventeen minutes he dropped a shoulder, beat the defender and hit the by-lin, his dangerous driven cross flew into the the danger area but nobody was there to meet it and the visitors cleared the ball. Williams was a live-wire down the left flank, shortly afterwards he held the ball up to allow David Femiola to sprint past him in the channel, he then fed the ball to Femiola who delivered another good ball into the area. The danger was again cleared away by a Didcot defender.
It was Aylesbury now who were looking most likely to break the deadlock, Kyreece Martei chased down what appeared to be a lost cause after a long ball into the Didcot half, knocked it past a defender then drove into the box, before his touch deserted him and the goalkeeper claimed the ball. Just before the break it was Bruno Brito who had the next chance when Femiola played in the big striker, Brito's effort was goalbound, but was palmed over by Bedwell, the Didcot keeper.
Half Time - Aylesbury FC 0 Didcot Town 0
Again it was a rejuvinated Didcot that came out for the second half as again, much like the first, it was the Railwaymen that were driving Aylesbury deeper and deeper into their own half. This really was turning into an exciting cup tie, it was end to end stuff! Didcot had the next
opportunity to score from a corner, which was slapped away by FC custodian Nick Bennion, the ball was then cleared by Derek Feyi into the Didcot half, it all looked comfortable for Bedwell, but the ever lively Josh Williams chased the defender down, forced him into a mistake, grabbed possession and delivered a low cross which Femiola smashed over the bar.
Then on fifty seven minutes Didcot were reduced to ten men, Lewis Strafford was hacked down in midfield by Michaell Alexis and the big defender was shown the red card, would this finally be the opportunity for Aylesbury to take control and get their first win of the season? with a man's advantage it was FC that sghould have taken the lead four minutes later, Derek Feyi, picking the ball up on the right wing showed he's light on his feet as well as a brick wall at the back! Cruyff turning his man in the box and delivering a venomous cross into the Didcot box, a melee ensues and the final shot from Temi Oladejo was cleared off the line, was a goal ever going to come for the Moles.
Ten minutes later it was Didcot who took the lead with what was to be the decisive goal of the game, The ball wasn't cleared from a cross from the left, it fell to Brett Gardner at the back post, who cut inside his man and slotted home at the far post. If FC are going to do anything this season they are going to have to find their shooting boots, and the final chance just two minutes from the end as FC pressed for the equaliser highlighted the problem they have, a quick corner from FC, was delivered by Martei, it fell to Alfi Touceda at the front post, and somehow he ballooned the ball over the crossbar.
As the final whistle blew on a breathless Cup tie it was Didcot that will travel to Wingate this weekend as the home side again rue their inabilty to put away their chances.