On a glorious February day, Aston turned out full of confidence after an excellent comeback last week against unbeaten league leaders Hollybush looking to build on their promotion hopes.
Edwards left with another long list of absentees, including Nath Chadwick left blue with knee problems from skiing, Fish Colleton still out with pulled fins and Sam Rowe getting his bi-annual perm. Excitement for perm heads return next week to see the new do.
Pig Austin was named in the starting 11, only to pull another excuse from his pigbiography , around page 117 states about having to "work" last minute, he's hogged all the praise from the last couple of weeks so a real disappointment. So back to the drawing board with love up Drifter dropping into the reserves with the ever-present "sniffles" that seem to be going around and Matt Brown making a return to the Aston XI for the first time in 3 years.
Aston started well, Lombardo and Reece causing havoc outwide against 2 poor full backs, but not providing any form of finishing touch. Vince had a glorious chance to put Aston in front on around 15 mins but fired wide.
Aston then went behind with some lacklustre defending from a set piece, left the spindly "bully" of a right mid to pass it through the immobile Edwards legs to take the lead against the run of play. Carterton then doubled their lead, despite Aston's dominance, with a controversial second. The usually ever energetic Beer, casual lost the ball on the half way line after a quick breakaway from an Aston corner, and the ball struck the arm of the centre mid who, when closed down by Edwards, squared to the Warren Austin lookalike to put Rangers 2-0 up.
Half time came, and a few choice words from Edwards, left the Aston players fired up and ready to fight for promotion. Surely not another comeback was on the cards?
Aston came out flying, dominating pretty much every area of the pitch, and penned Rangers back in there own half for pretty much the next 45 minutes. Clarkey and Henry were providing the strong back line, against a pitiful attack from Carterton, with James Fleming pulling strings in centre mid. The front three worked hard and got plenty of free kicks in the opposition half, one of which James superbly put top corner to bring the game back in sight for Aston.
The pressure continued, and a glorious through ball from Clarkey was picked up by Fleming who lofted the ball over the keeper, only for Matt Brown to poke in from 2cm out to draw the game level.
The dominance continued, The hulk thrown up top to cause havoc but the winner wouldn't come.
A point is the least the side deserved against a poor Rangers side. 5 wins from 5 needed and a fair few goals needed now in order to get promotion, but it's not out of our hands yet.
Proud performance from Aston again, but have got to start better and not need to go behind in order to get going.
Man of the Match - close one this week, but goes to James Fleming for providing the right attitude, a sublime free kick and an assist (or goal snatched) .
Aston Mole
Big local derby next week, Up The Aston.
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
1. | FC Hollybush | 16 | 44 |
2. | Carterton Rangers | 16 | 35 |
3. | Aston | 16 | 29 |
4. | Bampton Utd | 16 | 23 |
5. | FC Nomads | 16 | 19 |
6. | Chadlington | 16 | 18 |
7. | Stonesfield | 16 | 18 |