1 | ||
2 | 14, 68m | |
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | ||
9 | ||
10 | 12, 68m | |
11 | ||
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 10, 68m | |
14 | 2, 68m | |
15 | ||
17 | ||
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
1 | ||
2 | 15, 45m | |
3 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | ||
9 | ||
10 | ||
11 | ||
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | ||
14 | ||
15 | 2, 45m | |
16 | ||
17 | ||
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
But what they got was another pulsating fixture, as the Ducks contrived to throw away a three-goal lead to a resurgent second half Chesham performance.
New signing Glen Hawkins had to be content with a place on the bench, but keeper Lee Clark did make his debut. Sadly for him he was left helpless while his defence went awol in a six-minute spell of bedlam as Aylesbury threw away what looked a secure win.
The game got off to an explosive start, either side could have taken the lead in the first minute. A Sammy Winston lob hit the bar for Chesham and with the goal gaping Danny Burnell somehow could only follow-up into the side-netting.
Then immediately at the other end Mealor was played in but shot wide across the face of goal.
The ?visitors' were creating the better chances in the opening stages, Burnell finding the ball dropping kindly to him in the area but seeing his shot well blocked, then Adam Parker missing heading straight into Clark's arms when left completely unmarked at a free-kick.
Experienced Winston was once again proving a thorn in Aylesbury's side and he nipped in ahead of Kavanagh on fifteen minutes but lobbed high and wide of the goal.
Aylesbury then had a good chance of their own, the ball squirting through to Shed whose goalbound effort was blocked by former Ducks defender Danny Brown. The resulting corner was headed over by Kavanagh.
Free-kick chances followed for each team, Ben Stevens curling an effort wide for Aylesbury whilst for Chesham a long free-kick was allowed to come all the way through to Parker who again headed straight at the grateful Clark.
The deadlock was broken through Craig Henney with something of a bizarre goal. Using his pace to get away from the defence he rounded goalkeeper Hayward and from virtually on the by-line struck hopefully for goal. Despite the presence of players on the line the ball was squeezed in, as indicated by the linesman. 1-0 Aylesbury
Four minutes later and the lead was doubled, Henney again the scorer. Racing through he struck an early shot which Hayward got a hand to, but the ball looped up and into the empty net. 2-0 Aylesbury
Delight turned into delirium for Aylesbury when Nathan Graham made it three before half-time. Cutting in from the left he produced a superb finish to lob the onrushing Hayward, the ball dropping in off the post. 3-0 Aylesbury
It could have been more when a confident Henney fancied his chances, but his left-footed effort from the edge of the area swerved away from goal, and his side had to be content with a seemingly secure three-goal half-time lead.
Half-time: Aylesbury 3-0 Chesham
Aylesbury began the second half promisingly when Henney broke down the right, his low cross unable to find Graham but popping out to Shed who placed his shot over the bar.
But in the end the Ducks' lead was anything but secure. Andy Leese had gone for broke by introducing winger Dom Marsala for defender Danny Brown at half-time, and they emerged hungry.
They first found the net when the ball sat up nicely for Parker to half-volley a shot. Clark saved well but couldn't hold the ball and Winston followed up, but was deemed offside and the goal was ruled out.
It mattered little as just a minute later a carbon copy effort did stand. This time Mark Lambert had the initial shot which Clark could only parry and Winston tucked the ball home. 3-1 Aylesbury
Suddenly the momentum had swung and although Henney had a curling effort held by Hayward, they were under a surge of pressure from the Generals that they ultimately just couldn't handle.
Even so, the defending at Chesham's second goal was worse than shambolic. A punt downfield cleared the entire team, was allowed to bounce into the path of Lambert who couldn't believe his luck as he was given the easy task of nodding the ball past Clark. 3-2 Chesham
Fast forward two minutes, and just six minutes after their first goal, and Aylesbury's spectacular collapse was complete when Winston nodded in his second of the game to level the match. 3-3 Chesham
With twenty minutes to go and the game back to square one, the stunned Ducks supporters were praying the onslaught was over, but there were further nervy moments to follow as they had to defend a corner and a number of dangerous crosses.
The introduction of Hawkins gave Aylesbury a new attacking focus and he impressed with his strength and ability to hold the ball up. He could have made himself an instant hero by giving his new side the lead again after Mealor rampaged down the left and picked him out with a low cross, but Hayward made a superb save to tip over his near-post shot.
Chesham came within a whisker of winning the game when Burnell outpaced Kavanagh late on, but his low shot was dramatically cleared off the line by Ross Taylor.
There was still time for Aylesbury to have a goal ruled out from a well worked free-kick, flicked on by Graham and headed in by an offside Nick Leach.
At ninety minutes two exhausted teams trudged off and both had to make do with a point. A result which doesn't do much to help as the dash for playoff places grows more frantic.
Aylesbury United
Chesham United
Bedworth United
Barton Rovers
Berkhamsted Town
Sutton Coldfield Town
Cinderford Town
Leighton Town
Evesham United
Dunstable Town
Leamington
Willenhall Town
Malvern Town
Stourport Swifts
Romulus
Chasetown
Rushall Olympic
Rothwell Town
Woodford United
Stourbridge