Following last week’s win at AFC Hayes, manager Tony Joyce chose to juggle his squad in this first match of the Easter weekend. Rested to the bench were Jake Bewley, Shane Wood and Greg Williams, replaced by Tinashe Chabata, Jordan Frederick and Paul Edgeworth. To accommodate the changes, Lea Coulter dropped to right back, Lee Grace moved to left back, with Edgeworth coming in to partner Stacey Field up front. Still missing from the squad were the unavailable Steve Hatch and Bill Morgan and, serving the last match of his 3 game suspension, Jason Blackett.

The Ducks settled down and started the match very much on the front foot. Inside 30 seconds, Coulter played a long ball forward which cleared the central defenders. Stacey Field took a great first touch, but could only shoot weakly at visiting keeper Herdiman. Soon after, a long throw from the right was headed clear, as far as Jordan Frederick, whose first time shot from 20 yards was just wide of the post. The pressure continued, as in the 7th minute a free kick on the right of the penalty area was driven in low by Coulter. Field met it with an audacious back heel, but again the effort was off target. The one way traffic continued, as next Shaun Owens picked up the ball in the middle of the park. He drove forward and shot from 25 yards, but his shot was always rising and cleared the bar.

Just as it looked as if the Ducks were well on top, the game was turned on its head. Paying the price for some profligate finishing, the visitors snatched a goal against the run of play. In the 22nd minute, a free kick wide on the right was partially cleared by the Ducks defence, but only as far asa Hanwell player on the edge of the box. His ball back in was met by top scorer Bill Healey, whose first time shot beat Dan Green in the home goal. 1-0 Hanwell

The goal lifted the visitors and it was they who were suddenly in the ascendancy. Just 4 minutes later, a long ball forward saw Healey outpace Chabata and break towards the by-line. It took a fine covering tackle from skipper Jack Wood to prevent the Hanwell marksman from doubling the lead. From the resulting corner, visiting skipper Tom Duffy headed the ball goalwards, but a combination of Coulter and Green kept the ball out on the line. Healey had another golden opportunity to extend the lead shortly afterwards, as a long free kick from the back was flicked on by strike partner Eoin Casey; Healey was first to the ball as it dropped, but his shot flew wide of the left hand post.

As the half drew to a close, Field chased a slide rule pass by Coulter, but was thwarted by Herdiman, who was off his line quickly to clear with his feet.The final action of the half was at the other end of the pitch, as following a throw in, Casey swivelled and shot from 20 yards, Green smothering the ball at the second attempt before Healey could reach the ball.

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-1 Hanwell

The second half started with Hanwell on the front foot. A sharp passing movement saw the ball reach O’Regan down the left, but Chabata was quickly across to block the cross away for a corner, which was comfortably cleared away from danger. On 64 minutes, a good run by Hutchinson down the left opened up the angle for him to fire a shot in from 25 yards. Green could only parry the shot, but the ever alert Lee Grace was quickly on the scene and Casey’s effort sailed over the bar from just 6 yards out.

Looking to freshen things up, manager Tony Joyce made a double substitution, with Jake Bewley and Greg Williams coming on to replace midfield duo Owens and Frederick. A reshuffle saw Coulter move up to join Williams in midfield, with Grace moving to right back, allowing Bewley to take up his normal post at left back.

However, if thoughts of a recovery were in Aylesbury’s minds, they were dashed just minutes later. A Long ball forward saw Chabata unable to deal with the bouncing ball on the edge of his penalty area, with Casey nipping in to head over the stranded Green who had come off his line to collect the ball. 2-0 Hanwell

Just three minutes later the win was just about tied up by the visitors. Another ball into the penalty area saw Wood stretching to clear; he miskicked, with the ball bouncing up and striking his arm. Referee Mr Howick considered it to be intentional hand ball and awarded a penalty, which Healey duly converted to score the third goal. 3-0 Hanwell

It was becoming clear that the game was beyond the Ducks by this stage; Coulter lost the ball in midfield, Casey played in Healey for his hat trick, but Green was smartly off his line to save with his legs when it seemed certain the striker would score.

With 15 minutes to go, Chabata was replaced by Shane Wood, who partnered his brother at the centre of the defence. It was to make little difference though, as Casey scored his 2nd and Hanwell’s 4th to close out the game. He made good ground down the left, beating 3 defenders and sliding the ball across Green and into the far corner. 4-0 Hanwell

With just 2 days to lick their wounds before the Easter Monday match against Aylesbury FC, manager Tony Joyce will have plenty to think about as he ponders his team selection and tactics. Hopefully some of those who were unavailable today should be available to strengthen the team; however, against a team riding high at the top end of the league and in good form, it will be a tall order to recover from what was quite a sobering defeat this afternoon.