1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | 15, 88m | |
8 | ||
9 | ||
10 | ||
11 | ||
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | , 45m | |
14 | , 45m | |
15 | 7, 88m | |
16 | ||
17 | ||
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | 16, 16m | |
7 | ||
8 | ||
9 | 12, 72m | |
10 | ||
11 | ||
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 9, 72m | |
14 | ||
15 | ||
16 | 6, 16m | |
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
Tony Thompson gave new signing Dean Wharman his debut up front alongside Craig Henney, and he made an early impact with a quick shot which was deflected wide.
But, as against Sutton Coldfield three days earlier, United found themselves 1-0 down to a sloppy goal early in the game. A long free-kick was played into the box where Liam Howley found himself free and his looping header found the bottom corner.
One of four former Aylesbury men in the Leighton line-up Enzo Silvestri nearly doubled his side's lead five minutes later when he dragged a shot just wide as the ball was half cleared to him.
The visitors then suffered a further blow when inspirational midfielder Liam Smyth suffered a nasty looking knee injury and had to be replaced by Aston Goss, forcing a reshuffle of the midfield with Ben Stevens moving into the centre.
Goss looked lively after his introduction on the right flank, and his ball into the box fell nicely for Ross Taylor who fired a low effort but saw Maarman save with his legs, and from the resulting corner Stevens had a shot cleared off the line.
The Ducks had finally stepped up a gear and began looking like a team with purpose for the first time of the season. Goss curled a free-kick over the bar, and Taylor had two further good chances to score - heading a corner narrowly over the goal and then seeing another effort blocked in the area.
Aylesbury got the goal their play deserved on 28 minutes when Wharman and Henney pressurised the Leighton defence into a panicked frenzy, and the latter deftly lobbed the stranded Maarman to score his first competitive goal for the club.
The game swung back slightly in Leighton's favour again as the half draw to a close, Silvestri trying a spectacular half-volley which flew well wide, but United had shown good endeavour in recovering from the early blow as the sides went in level.
Half-time: Leighton 1-1 Aylesbury
The swirling rain made for difficult conditions after the break, but the match continued to be an evenly contested affair and both sides came close to claiming all three points.
Early on a free kick in from the left fell to Goss inside the area whose shot was blocked, whilst at the other end a fearsome Bruce Wilson free kick effort span off the bottom of the wall and just wide with Sillitoe beaten.
Aylesbury nearly took the lead through a similar goal to their earlier strike, this time Wharman beat the wandering Maarman to the ball, but could only poke an effort wide of the target.
A number of goal mouth scrambles for Leighton followed throughout the second half, but each one was dealt with by a United defence which finally seemed to be growing in confidence.
Wharman flashed a shot well wide from outside the area, in what turned out to be his last action of his debut as he was replaced by Emmanuel Adeseko seconds later.
In the final ten minutes it was the Ducks who looked the more likely to get a winner, and they nearly had the ball in the net on 80 minutes. Taylor challenged Maarman who spilt the ball, but the danger was cleared away in the nick of time.
Then in the last minute of the match a mis-hit cross by Mealor from 45-yards had to be tipped over by the back peddling Maarman as it dipped and looked to be heading for the top corner.
In the end both sides had to be content with a point each, and the Ducks will be relieved to be off the mark after a difficult start to the season, and at least now have something to build on ahead of the visit of Romulus.
Chasetown
Rushall Olympic
Bedworth United
Sutton Coldfield Town
Barton Rovers
Woodford United
Leighton Town
Aylesbury United
Chesham United
Rothwell Town
Dunstable Town
Berkhamsted Town
Evesham United
Malvern Town
Leamington
Stourport Swifts
Willenhall Town
Stourbridge