Paul Curtis named the same team that had comprehensively beaten Cornard United 6-0 the previous week, for Aylesbury United's tenth Southern League fixture of the season. Today's opponents Bath City were sure to provide a sterner test though.
Both sides had early chances to take the lead - as Aylesbury's Dean Cracknell made a surging run forward, but saw his shot easily held by Paul Evans. For Bath John Williams raced away down the right-flank, squaring the ball to Steve Tweddle, whose first time effort was screwed wide.
Ten minutes later and Tweddle had a shot well saved by the plunging Jack Rashid. Some nice play from the home side saw the ball crossed to Leon Gutzmore, but he couldn't get hold of his shot, and the ball trickled past the post.
Bath City had their best effort at breaking the deadlock midway through the first half. Bobby Ford received the ball just outside the area, and he placed his shot just slightly too high, rebounding off the crossbar with Rashid beaten.
The half ended with a flurry of activity, particurlarly from Aylesbury. Man of the match for the third time this season, Daniel Mead, galloped down the left-flank and delivered the ball to Champelovier and the midfielder's effort was blocked. A quickly worked free-kick routine was fed by Paul Lamb to Gutzmore, who teed up Cracknell to volley. Unfortunately the shot didn't have the power required to beat Evans.
Right on half-time Bath winger Jimmy Benefield saw a goalbound header blocked, before volleying the rebound out of the stadium. For Aylesbury Edgeworth latched onto Gutzmore's flick, but couldn't control his shot, which sailed well wide of the goal.
Half-time: Aylesbury 0-0 Bath
At 0-0 the match was delicately balanced, and either side could have won the game. The second period began with two long-range efforts - the first from Benefield was always going wide, the second from Mead was deflected over by a defender.
Fourteen minutes into the half Bath brought on Scott Partridge, making his comeback after a long period out through injury, and the ex-Rushden forward was a thorn in Aylesbury's side, with his workrate and liveliness up front causing problems.
Aylesbury were denied one of two penalty awards, which seemed blatant, after seventeen minutes, as Paul Edgeworth was clipped from behind when trying to reach the ball just inside the box. The referee but the whistle to his mouth, but seemed to change his mind on consideration.
This spurred the home side on, as they went on to fashion their best opening of the match. Gutzmore retrieved the ball down the right, delivered an enticing cross which Dean Powles headed goalwards, only to see the ball tipped over by Evans.
After Partridge had chested the ball down and cracked an effort over the bar, the referee declined to award Aylesbury another penalty. Slightly less obvious an offence than the first, Gutzmore was bundled to the ground when trying to shoot for goal. Three minutes later Gutzmore was awarded a decision, having been pushed to the ground by Matt Coupe, albeit outside the box. Sadly the free-kick, cleverly worked as it was once more, came to nothing.
As the match entered the final ten minutes, both sides were willing to risk all in search of a winner. Indeed it was a case of too much of a risk for Aylesbury, as they suffered a counter-attack on the back of their own counter-attack. A great United breakaway saw the ball spread to Edgeworth after being brought forward by Cracknell, but the final shot was poor and easily gathered by goalkeeper Evans. From the resulting clearance one pass tore the forward based remains of Aylesbury's midfield apart, and the ball was eventually played in for John Williams to slide home. 1-0 Bath
As Buckingham Road was almost overcome by the sound of disappointment, there were still five minutes remaining for Aylesbury to launch a comeback. It was one step too far though, although substitute Danny Gray struck a fierce effort which was deflected wide, having been played in by Lamb.
Jack Rashid came up for the resulting corner, but it was inexplicably taken short, and the move broke down. The referee blew for full-time soon after, and Aylesbury were left to reflect on what might have been had two decisions gone their way.
