After the last two poor performances at Haywood Way FC needed to up their game, put some points on the table and give the home fans something to shout about and today the home side did just that. New signing Martin Griggs came into the starting line up, along with Garry Malone who replaced the unavailable Nick Bennion, Aaron King played just behind him and Craig Carby came back into the back four. Two early goals from Griggs and King put Aylesbury into a strong position but first half replies from Osobu and Hartley meant it all ended square an the points were shared.
It was Aylesbury who started the better of the two side, a long throw from Luke Cray found the head of King, his flick on sat up nicely for Griggs who hit a powerful half-volley, it was blocked bravely by a Barton defender and away from danger. almost straight away though Barton had a free header which perhaps Vincent should have converted.
The first goal came on twenty one minutes, Reece Bayliss played a crossfield ball to Williams on the right, he found Aaron King storming through in the channel, King delivered to the front post to find Martin Griggs who beat his marker and slotted home on his FC return! The second followed soon after when a Bayliss corner was met by the head of King who made no mistake with his head to make it two in two minutes.
One minute later and the visitors had pulled a goal back, Garry Malone saved well from Vincent, but Victor Osobu was able to slot home the rebound high into the net, a manic five minutes at Haywood Way!
The equaliser came on thirty seven minutes when Jimmy Hartley beat Luke Cray for pace cut inside and curled home into the bottom left-hand corner.
Half time Aylesbury FC 2 Barton Rovers 2
The second half started with Barton on the front foot, Phillips flashed the ball across the FC goal, no Barton playerwas on hand to convert the cross though, soon after another delightful corner from Bayliss was punched up by Keeper Jones onto Aaron King's head at the back post, but he couldn't get over the ball and it flashed over the bar.
Aylesbury had struggled to get to grips with Barton wingers Osobu and Hartley in the first period but some re organisation at half time was keeping the away sides threat under control, allowing Aylesbury to have a lot more possession, Jordan Jenkins almost converted a Bruno Brito corner on the hour as FC searched for the winner, soon after there was a melee in the box from another Brito corner, the ball fell to Griggs on the edge of the box who swivels and struck the ball just wide of the right post.
It was now end to end stuff as Barton also pressed, nobody in the home defence closed down Gibson as he bore down on goal. His goalbound shot was parried behind bby Malone for a Barton corner which came to nothing, then with time ebbing away a free kick in a very dangerous position for Barton was squandered by Osobu as it sailed over the bar.
The Moles almost had the dream finish when just on the final whistle, the Barton keeper spilled the ball from a Josh Williams cross, it fell to Aaron King who hits it with the outside of his foot but it drifted agonizingly wide of the post and behind to safety.
Full time Aylesbury FC 2 Barton Rovers 2
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
14. | Welwyn Garden City | 38 | 43 |
15. | Aylesbury United | 38 | 42 |
16. | Barton Rovers | 37 | 38 |
17. | North Leigh | 38 | 34 |
18. | Kidlington | 37 | 33 |
19. | Dunstable Town | 39 | 32 |
20. | Aylesbury | 38 | 31 |