5 star Aston send the Nomads bus packing!

Aston up to 2nd

In the reverse fixture Aston were bemused to how they came away from West Witney with no less than 3 points, so could lightning strike twice in a matter of weeks for the home side.

The Aston team that faced Nomads was much change since that dark day 2 weeks ago, and the home side definitely could not afford another upset if their hopes of promotion were to stay on track. On the back of a hard fought victory in the shield last week the squad was in high spirits, if not still a little battered and bruised. It started in usual fashion with what is fast becoming the 'Cheeky' routine of Beeros trying to break his current world stripping record of 3 seconds flat! No man loves getting naked more than he, and there have been suggestions that he has requested next season the team play in skins.

With no one wanting a repeat of the away fixture the team began with the warm up they know gets the best out of them..........Shins! This type of warm up strikes fear into the opposition, if not to only annoy the gaffer. With the way the game planned out maybe some of the players should shoot with their shins. In the actual warm up talks turned to Fleming. R sudden big time development. Wearing his 2 different branded boots he wouldn't have looked out of place in a Hanborough dressing room. His world came crashing down to earth though when Bean out trumped him wearing a full black Adidas slim fit tracksuit and Adidas boots, like he was about to do an add for a JD sports catalogue.

Before the game kicked off both teams lined up for a minutes silence to commemorate Armistice Day, and the gaffer came up trumps with a nice touch for the home kit to contain poppy badges. Both sides payed there respects commendably and one toot on Louis Spence's whistle and we were ready for action.

The game started in what is fast becoming Aston's normal pattern of play, controlling the tempo, keeping the ball well, and this is where you would like to say taking their chances but .......Ah. This is the area where the Lions don't roar loudest. Nomads were getting moved around well in the early stages by the home side, with Fleming Jr in particular getting on the ball deep and starting the attacks. The 1st real chance came from a short corner between Colleton and Fleming Jr, with the latter sending over a delightful cross to the back post. With 2 Aston players free to head home it looked destined to be a goal only for Hedges tame header go wide. This was the start of things to come in the 1st half. The next guilt edge chance came again from good interplay down the right wing with Fleming Sr pinging a ball around the penalty spot. It landed perfectly on Evans chest to bring down, only to blaze over from 12 yards. Aston's build up play continued to be fast and free flowing, with another chance missed by Smith. It was all his own work to create the opening, getting the ball on the half way line, driving and the defense only to aim his shot at the supposed only mole in Aston's home. Smith was again to miss a clear chance trying to send the net into orbit, only to send this volley into the next village. Colleton was continuing to be a threat with his crosses, and one cross come shot nearly Fin-ished in the net, but the stranded keeper was saved by his cross bar. Nomads did get a chance midway through the half. A mix up at the back allowed the forward a 1 on 1, and bearing down on goal Edwards was able to make a mends up for not collecting Colleton's back pass in the 6 yard box last week and save admirably.

There were some dubious decisions coming from ref Spence, and I can only think that he still thought he was on his Pineapple studios tv show with his need to continually talk non stop. But give him his dues he could possibly be the nicest ref in the world as some tackles that were dead certs for yellow cards got away with just a 1000 word explanation as to why he had made his decision. With Aston continuing to probe the breakthrough finally came with Clarke getting on the end of another Fleming Jr cross to head home with conviction. 1-0 Aston. The latter stages of the half continued in the same vain with crosses coming in and chances missed, with the away side barely wanting to vacate their 18 yard box. Would Aston's lead encourage them to push forward? Half time 1-0 to the home side. Possession stats 90% - 10%!

Edwards did not have to say much to the team at half time and to continue what they were doing but start finishing the guilt edge chances they had created.

2nd half continued where the first had left off, the lions were really not letting of the gas and continuing to get the ball moved forward at every opportunity. This was made easier with the Nomads team attempting the mannequin challenge for the remainder of the game. Fleming Jr & Sr were getting on the ball at every opportunity controlling the midfield with Sr getting more involved. The home sides second goal finally came when Evans decided to finally take one of his 20 chances (Sorry Vince). Another good cross from the right from Colleton, after good link up play between him and Fleming Sr, saw 2 Aston players challenge the goalkeeper legally in the air, with Evans touching home, 2-0. Dan Molony decided to ring the changes with Bean coming on for Smith and taking up the striker position with Evans going to the left. This change soon paid dividends when Evans got to the byline and pulled the ball back to Fleming J. He struck the ball well but hit one of the goal line mannequins who deflected the ball over the bar. The third goal finally came with again great work down the left by Evans, who tried to square it to Colleton at the back post but a Nomads defender who had lost in the team challenge by moving tapped into his own net, 3-0. The forth came quickly afterwards, with the home side smelling blood. A quick corner was taken between Fleming J and Beer, with Fleming attacking the full back got passed his man and passed to Bean. Bean struck his shot and made it 4-0.........well so he thought. Spence corrected this decision claiming it had struck Clarke before going in, and Clarke now had his 2nd of the game. Evans could have added to goal tally with a volley 1 yard out, only for it to go wide. If you didn't laugh you would cry as the chances come and go. With this most recent miss in his mind calls from Evans of 'Ash I have scored 1 already so take me off' came, but he will be glad he didn't. Good work from Fleming Sr down the left wing who crossed and found Evans to again touch it home. 5-0 to the home side and at last a big scoreline that has probably been deserved in many other games. There was still time for butter fingers, who had been fast asleep for 87 minutes, to give the Nomads team an unlikely consolation. With the ball rolling back to Edwards with the forward bearing down, he slid out but did not claim it cleanly and the ball spilled out. Carnage in the box presented itself with Clarke trying to clear but for it to hit Rick-O-Shea and head towards goal again. Heart in mouth moment but the problem was finally dealt with and the clean sheet was still intact.

Good win for the team and the way the game was controlled from start to finish was especially pleasing. A lot of good performances, and the win puts Aston back in 2nd, 6 points behind the leaders Hollybush. Final possession stats 95% - 5%!