Aston weather the storm...

...as they make it two wins in a row

With the weather changeable, Edwards followed suit and shuffled the pack. Colleton rumored to be having his teeth whitened for the weekend was missing with Dave “the rabbit” Rabbich coming into replace him. Warren Austin was gate shopping for his sty with Matt Smith replacing him and returning to the starting XI and Ross Fleming fresh from the previous weeks sulk came in to replace a tender Jamie Kennedy.

Aston started well and Hedges dinked cutely, Vince Evans with his deceptively quick pace went past the defender as if he was stood still and took it around the goalkeeper only to find angle too tight, dribbled around another defender to find the goalie back in place and make a good save.

Aston looked strong against a ring rusty stonesfield. A Rabbich cross saw Hewer and his square head put it back out for throw when it looked seemingly easier to score.

Aston were enjoying the cajoling from the sideline of the the dulcet Scottish tones of Mr Kennedy who eventually found the theatre of dreams after stopping and asking for directions, a man who was possibly separated from birth with Duncan Bannatyne’s voice box and would clearly have no problems wooing the ladies with his bants.

Out of nothing a ball down the right, “Stoney” crossed, a deflection off Hedges leg saw Edwards back pedal in slow motion and just about tip the ball against the bar, a rangy “Stoney” striker followed up and prodded home. 1-0 Stonesfield against the run of play, Aston of last season was being muttered on the terraces.

Kennedy Senior was heard wheedling “Well done Ash, try and give the game away why don’t you” as Edwards found himself in a sticky situation with an on rushing forward only for Clarke to clear up the mess in the nick of time and save the proverbial mountain to climb.

Matt Smith soon played a sublime through ball for Vince Evans who shot well for the Stonesfield goalie to save across to his right. Aston were starting to become concerned but a Rabbich through ball down the right channel saw Smith dink over goalie to make it 1-1 in the 35th minute for his second goal of the season. Great character from the Lions of Aston.

A lovely ball down the left from a Smith through ball saw a cross from a Rowe overlap find Rabbich at the back post a yard from the goal, Rabbich somehow contrived to pass the ball into the goalkeepers arms as he seemed to be distracted by a doe in the undergrowth behind the goal.

Aston were becoming unfulfilled and the frustration spilled over with red Fleming Ross boiling over with a late crude challenge on the seventeen year old Stonesfield centre forward. Fleming was booked.

Aston were self destructing for no reason at all, a thunderbolt from a Stonesfield midfielder saw it thud into the base of the left hand post with Edwards floundering. Edwards was fuming, how was he team not winning?

Soon Evans was again causing problems, he did everything correct weaving into the area, the Stonesfield goalie saving to his right the rebound falling to Evans who then blazed over from six yards.

Moments later Phipps of Stonesfield sought revenge and took Fleming out with an earth shuddering tackle, Fleming must have been close to a red with a foul mouthed tirade at the perpetrator and referee. Aston FC were reduced to long range efforts for the remainder of the first half.

Aston started as the dominant side in the second half after a stirring Edwards oration saying how he was proud the team had come back from a goal down. Evans having a further chance that went begging as well as Rabbich at the far post not quite finishing when again it looked easier to score.

Edwards was at the end of his tether and made a double substitution with Evans and Smith making way much to their disgust, especially the usually laid back Evans who took a massive aversion to a nearby molehill, waterbottle and sacred Aston FC jacket. Smith traipsed off into the old changing rooms to keep his hair dry from the imminent downpour, Evans went to the changing rooms only to find they were locked at had to come back for the key looking slightly humbled by the walk.

More surprisingly a spectator was asked to run the line forgoing the unwritten rule of the sub coming off taking the flag from the sub going on. Lee Beer who has impressed for the reserves making his first appearance of the season with some questioning how it has taken four weeks to get him in the first team and Jamie “drifter” Kennedy also came on. There was a noticeable audible increase in the rasp of Kennedy Seniors voice and we were soon to see that Jamie runs much more when his dad is watching.

An incredible downpour was about to ensue, the type of downpour that anyone whos hair follicles have stopped working as they used to would dread, Ashley Edwards back comb was not looking fit for purpose as the heavens opened.

Edwards was soon cheered though as a Hewer corner was curled into the front post and the mountain that rides Hedges thundered a header into the net for his third of the season and gave Aston a 2-1 lead.

James Fleming was finding more time and space on the ball as well as the whole of the defence as Aston passed the ball around nicely, Sam Rowe a constant outlet and very impressive down the left had the keys to Aston.

Two soon become three as a Ross Fleming square pass was beautifully curled into the net by Rabbich, a lovely goal for a 3-1 lead. It was unclear who was more tired, Rabbich or Stonesfield playing their first game of the season.

The energetic and powerful Beer burst down the left and passed to drifter who found the goal with a guided prod into the corner of the net with the goalkeeper making a hash of it. Kennedy senior sounding more like a young Sean Connery was heard telling anyone who would listen “that’s my boy”.

There was still time for Ross Fleming to put it wide when through on goal, well wide of the right hand post. The Stonesfield attacker that shouted “don’t tackle him let him through” had obviously seen Angry Flemings recent finishing skills.

A good win for Aston and very much deserved as they made it two wins in a row.