It’s on days like these that you have to wonder just what Uxbridge are doing in the bottom six of the Ryman Division One table. The Reds dominated this game from start to finish against an Aylesbury side who had only lost one of their previous seven matches. This was also the Reds fourth victory in a row and it’s no coincidence that improvement has materialised just as Jamie Cleary has returned to the first team after a long time out injured. His partnership with Dean Clark was vital last season and against Aylesbury Cleary’s determination and persistent running gave Clark the freedom to do what he does best and open up the opposition. Gavin Bamford has also found a new lease of life recently on the left hand side of midfield and he twice came close to opening the scoring in the early exchanges, firstly with a header and then with a twenty-yard shot. The opening goal though wasn’t long in coming as the Reds bossed proceedings. Midway through the first half Stuart Bamford’s cross from the right found Lee Tunnell who laid the ball into the path of Clark on the edge of the area to hit a crisp first time shot which soared into the back of the net. It was the midfield general’s fourth goal in his last four games and five minutes later he almost doubled the lead, heading over Chris Moore’s curling cross from six yards out. Having gone the whole season so far without having a penalty awarded to them Uxbridge thought their luck had changed on the half hour when Peter Clifford clearly handled the ball but that unwritten no penalty rule remained and play was waved on. Aylesbury’s only real threat in the entire game came shortly before the interval when David Tregurtha’s effort was blocked and Kieran Gallagher shot wide. Daryl Pelton wasn’t troubled throughout the ninety minutes and in fact the Ducks supporters band behind the goal were in more danger of having their drums burst than the Reds goalkeeper was of having to make a save. Three minutes into the second half the penalty voodoo struck again when Clifford rode his luck once more, this time hauling back Tunnell on what must have been the blind side of the officials. Five minutes later though the Reds all but sealed the points and needless to say Clark was involved again. This time he curled in an inch perfect free kick for Stuart Bamford to head home his second goal in the last couple of weeks. Clark was far from finished though and hit the side netting with a rasping shot midway through the half before firing a twenty-five yard effort narrowly over deep into injury time. In-between Tunnell had forced a good save from Courtnage and the Reds finished the game strutting with a new found confidence, one that has been missing all season and one which could make for some encouraging months ahead.

UXBRIDGE: Pelton, Mills (Walters 73), S.Bamford, K.Cleary, Weedon, G.Bamford, J.Cleary, B.Bamford, Tunnell, Moore, Clark.

Subs not used: Granville, Hamar.

AYLESBURY UNITED: Courtnage, Gordon, Maynard (Hill 57), Clifford, Tregurtha, Stanbridge, Gallagher, Mason (Goddard 72), Louis (Gray 57), Joe, Bailey.