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Pictures in this report are used with kind permission of Mike Talbot of Sutton Coldfield. Further images are available on his website:
http://miketalbot2198.fotopic.net/c1574408.html.

Aylesbury kept up their 100% record against Romulus, made it three wins in a row, and five unbeaten with a battling display. Had it not been for a late injury to Ben Stevens, who suffered suspected cracked ribs, then it would have been a flawless afternoon for the Ducks.

Stevens celebrates
with scorer Hawkins

In the absence of Sam Swonnell, Mark Jones was brought into the side in the right wingback position, with Stevens switching to the centre, whilst up front Craig Henney replaced Nathan Graham.

The early exchanges were muted, both sides seeing possession but unable to fashion an opportunity and it took a full twenty minutes before either goal was threatened

Stuart Maynard curled an excellent free-kick which rattled the woodwork, two inches too high of finding the net. It was an effort the returning Danny Mead, named on the subs bench, would have been proud of.

Almost immediately Romulus sparked into action and Sam Smith hooked a volley wide across goal as the ball dropped to him.

Ten minutes later Roms threatened again, this time through Tom Franklin, who struck a sweet low drive that flew just wide of the post.

Glen Hawkins should have opened the scoring soon afterwards when a cross came all the way through to him at the far post, and he cut inside his man to give himself a shooting chance, but with the target gaping badly sliced his effort across Matt Harris' goal.

Tom Vincent's first action of the game followed two minutes later when Franklin fired in another drive, which took a deflection requiring Vincent to dive and claim the ball, but it wasn't a serious save and was the most he was extended during the course of the game.

That wasn't to say Romulus didn't come close, and just two minutes later they to rattled the woodwork as they ended the first half strongest. A cross from the right by Jerome Grandison was met by the towering Smith, but his header hit the top of the bar and bounced out.

Hawkins again might have done better in the dying seconds before the break, not connecting properly with Mealor's dangerous cross and heading wide.

Half-time: Romulus 0-0 Aylesbury

Hawkins shoots and scores

It was another slow start after the interval, but with the first second half chance the Ducks gained an upper hand by taking the lead. A throw-in to Mealor resulted in his shot being charged down, and amongst appeals for hand-ball, Hawkins collected the rebound and fired into the net from a very tight angle. 1-0 Aylesbury

The goal boosted the visitors, and they set about getting a second. A poor defensive header by Jason Lanns gave Craig Henney a great chance, but he could only volley over from the edge of the box.

The Ducks celebrate their goal

Romulus were clearly rattled, and were making a number of mistakes at the back, no more so than when Chris Charles completely lost his footing when trying to clear allowing Henney to cross low and hard, the ball then nearly being turned into his own net by Colm Tiernan.

Another chance came midway through the half when Henney raced onto Hawkins' flick and dribbled for goal, but found himself pushed wide and could only shoot across goal from the tight angle.

Romulus' only genuine effort on goal came inside the last ten minutes, Smith hitting a good effort, but Vincent always had it covered and easily plucked the ball out of the air.

Although Aylesbury were at times under pressure in the final minutes, both Vincent and the entire back three were rock solid and dealt comfortably with whatever came their way ? and there were a number of crosses and corner kicks to defend.

It was Ben Stevens who was on everyone's lips at the end of the game, as he first struck a well hit rising drive that only just missed the goal. Then, in an accidental collision whilst defending his lines, he suffered his worrying looking injury which resulted in a ten-minute stoppage before his eventual stretcher from the pitch.

Once the match was restarted, the full-time whistle sounded within 90 seconds, and it was job done for Aylesbury and another successful afternoon, but for the injury to Stevens.