Display of power wins promotion (01.05.04)

Magpies are flying high after giving Aylesbury a ducking

SHOWING no signs of nerves in this must-win clash, the Magpies lorded it over bottom side Aylesbury on Saturday with a rare display of fluency and confidence at York Road.
Indeed the Magpies were so dominant in this contest that only a self-inflicted wound just before the break, and a fantastic solo effort when the game was dead and buried, spoilt the one-way traffic.
With midfield dynamos Ryan Ashe – who was again man of the match – and Kelvin McIntosh enjoying more freedom in the middle of the park than of late, and the lively Ben Hammond getting some joy for his efforts down the right flank, the hosts were always on the front foot and looking to score.
They created numerous chances before the break and yet all they had for their efforts come the whistle was a wonderful fourth minute strike from Lawrence Yaku.
The No.10 picked up the ball from a Hammond pass, following a poor Aylesbury free-kick, ran 35 yards, left a defender sprawling in the mud while he picked his spot inside the near post.
It gave the Magpies heart and confirmed their intentions, but a second goal
eluded them.
From four consecutive free-kicks Hammond blasted over the bar, Andy Jennings and Andy Dugdale got in each other’s way when it seemed one of them must score, Steve Hale just failed to get a touch to a near post cross, and Brendan Gallen watched the ball crawl past the post with the keeper rooted to the spot.
Goal poacher Yaku then saw an effort brilliantly blocked by Daniel Gordan, who went off injured following the challenge.
Then in the second minute of time added on Aylesbury grabbed an equaliser when a long ball into the box was half cleared to Ryan Wiffin and his shot was deflected off Dugdale and past Nick Hart.
Although this could have produced a moment of panic for the faithful nothing was further from the truth. The word had got around about the drubbing Basingstoke were receiving at the hands of Sutton, and with spirits high the Magpies started the second half in full flow and this time they never let up.
Opportunities were again created, and spurned, by the hosts until on 55 minutes Ashe finally found the back of the net with a left foot shot after Hammond had played him in with a delicate chip.
The writing was now on the wall for a despondent Aylesbury team.
It came as no surprise when on 70 minutes the Magpies bagged a third goal when Yaku used his pace and power to get on the end of a long pass he had no right to get to, and stick the ball home with aplomb.
To wrap up the win substitute Danny Bolt picked up the loose ball in midfield brought it into a central position and then lashed it into the top corner from 30 yards. It was all so easy.
As the fans counted down, there was still one twist in the tale when from the restart Alun Bubb strode down the left flank and beat four Magpies defenders before finding the perfect finish for what was a fantastic solo effort.
On another day it was a goal which would have made the headlines, but on Saturday it was about the Magpies.
With confirmation of a battering for Basingstoke and a draw for Ford United, the Magpies had plenty to celebrate come the final whistle.
They had finished 12th and turned in, albeit against demoralised opponents, a fitting display to repay their long suffering fans.

POACHER: Lawrence Yaku scores the Magpies’ second goal on Saturday. Ref:85163/26.