Last season Aylesbury were defeated in a Berks & Bucks Cup Final memorable only for Maidenhead's dominance of the game. This season they were gunning to scale similar hights, but faced a tough task in overcoming Windsor & Eton in the Quarter Finals. The Royalists are flying high in Division 1 North this season, and have only lost one game.
Our last meeting was another memorable match, the FA Trophy Fifth Round, which needed a replay and eventually penalties to finally settle the result.
There were two changes to Paul Curtis' starting line-up, as Jay Gould replaced Aidie Corcoran in midfield, and Alvin Bubb replaced the injured Danny Gray.
The match started at a belting pace, with three goals inside twelve minutes. After just three minutes, the signs didn't look promising for United, as the dangerous Craig O'Connor lathced onto a through-ball and cleverly rounded Kevin Davies to finish into the empty net. 1-0 Windsor
Aylesbury responded well though, and hit back four minutes later. A lofted ball bounced, and Lewis Pritchard stole in and leapt higher than Chuck Martini in the Windsor goal to nod the ball home. 1-1
The game wasn't level for long, as Windsor took the lead again, and only another five minutes later. It was O'Connor again, who cut in from the flank and dispatched a flighted cross-shot over Davies and into the net from 30-yards. 2-1 Windsor
Windsor could have added another almost immediately. Jermaine Lowe broke through, but found his effort blocked by Davies, before the ball was half-cleared. The resulting follow-up shot was deflected wide.
Again Windsor threatened, as a free-kick was chested down to Leon Townley, who snapped a half-volley wide. Aylesbury had a rare early chance, as Alvin Bubb tried his luck on his right-foot, but saw his shot deflected wide of the post.
O'Connor completed his 25-minute hat-trick, rounding off the best move of the match. Some lovely, flowing passing from Windsor resulted in O'Connor being played in five-yards from goal, and he finished through Davies' legs. 3-1 Windsor
The visitors weren't done though, and they added another to their tally three minutes later. An excellent counter-attack saw Aylesbury with too many men commited and Windsor found themselves four against one going forward. The inevitable occured, and Lowe was played in to make no mistake. 4-1 Windsor
Although the game was over in terms of result, Aylesbury continued to work hard and try and play football. After Leon Townley hit the bar from a corner for Windsor, Ryan Wiffin went close, having turned neatly.
Lewis Pritchard then went close, as he latched onto a fabulous pass from Jay Gould. The ball dropped over the striker's shoulder, and he unleashed a hooked left-footed volley which dipped just over the bar.
Half-time: Aylesbury 1-4 Windsor
The second half started very slowly, as it became clear that Windsor weren't too intent on increasing their lead. That said, they did create the opening chances of the half, as Keith Scott headed a corner wide at the near-post.
Aylesbury came into the game much more after this point, but whether this was due to an improved performance or the fact that Windsor were sitting back on their lead is open to debate.
Ryan Wiffin so nearly pulled a goal back, but had the ball nicked off his toe by the recovering Leigh Rosier. Alvin Bubb then ran through, but could only hit a tame effort on his right-foot, which bobbled through to Martini.
After a round of substitutions for both sides, Aylesbury continued fashioning the chances. Pritchard had a shot well saved, after the ball was laid off for him by Wiffin. Nadim Akhtar followed up, but his bottom-corner bound effort was cleared by a defender.
Ryan Wiffin then spectacurlarly volleyed a deep corner against the bar, as Aylesbury continued to put the pressure on their opponents, but were unable to get the goal they so badly needed.
Windsor were somewhat restricted in their second half efforts, but Craig O'Connor was still a threat, as he demonstrated with a left-footed shot which went over, having cut-inside from the flank.
With just over ten minutes remaining, Aylesbury did pull a goal back. Rory Hunter burst into the box, and tried a shot from an angle, which took a wicked deflection and looped over the helpless Martini. 4-2 Windsor
Unfortunately it was a case of too little, too late for the home side, as although they continued to create chances, it seemed as if nothing was going to go in.
Some nice football lead to Akhtar being played in with a sight of goal. He couldn't quite take it first time on his left-foot though, so had to settle for crossing it, and Pritchard just failed to make a connection at the far post. The lively Akhtar cut inside soon after, and fired a shot straight at Martini.
With time running out, and with a two-goal deficit still going against them, it quickly became obvious that there was to be no recovery, and the referee eventually brought proceedings to a close.
So, there will be no silverware this season, with the Ducks out of every cup competition going. There is always the prospect of the Berks & Bucks Cup to look forward to again next season though, whatever league we're playing in!
Next up, and it's back to the serious business of Kingstonian's league visit to Buckingham Road, this Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
