1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | 14, 80m | |
8 | ||
9 | 12, 85m | |
10 | ||
11 | ||
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 9, 85m | |
14 | 7, 80m | |
15 | ||
16 | ||
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | 17, 25m | |
9 | ||
10 | ||
11 | 15, 75m | |
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | ||
14 | ||
15 | 11, 75m | |
16 | ||
17 | 8, 25m | |
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
The match had something of a low key ?end of season' feel to it, both sides cancelling each other out for most of the game as long balls ruled supreme.
In a drab first half, Danny Nicholls' goal after quarter of an hour was to be the main taking point. The Ducks took advantage of awful defending by the visitors who failed to clear a cross from the right which came all the way to Mealor on the left. He quickly whipped the ball back in and Nicholls guided the ball home with the Bedworth defence motionless. 1-0 Aylesbury
Bedworth were forced into a substitution midway through the half when their captain Ben Twigger was forced off and replaced by Gilbert Cummins who went on to be an important figure in the game.
The half contained little more in the way of excitement until five minutes before the break when keeper Andrew Kemp flapped at the ball, Aylesbury players twice taking swings at the loose ball before the referee awarded a foul in the Greenbacks' favour.
Two minutes later the Ducks were a whisker away from doubling their lead when Mealor's corner flashed across goal with Ross Taylor inches away from turning it in.
James Faulkner had his first effort of the game when he took a shot on the turn, the ball eventually being held onto by Kemp.
Adam Kinder blasted a volley over the bar having got himself onto a long ball in stoppage time for what became Bedworth's only attempt of the first half.
Half-time: Aylesbury 1-0 Bedworth
The second half was a slight improvement, in quantity of chances more than quality at least. Mealor got things underway when he raced onto a great pass from Faulkner and flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal which just needed a touch.
Five minutes later Nathan Graham fired a shot across goal and Mealor hit a speculative half-volley over the bar as Aylesbury were continually unable to find their range with their shots.
Bedworth served a reminder that they were still there to compete when Gary Moran headed wide at the far post from a flighted free kick.
And they should have equalised five minutes later when Kavanagh's mistake presented Kinder with the ball on the edge of the box, but he sliced his shot horribly wide to the delight of the home fans.
The Greenbacks were enjoying their spell in the ascendency but they were unable to make their chances pay as United's defence stood firm ? the recalled Kavanagh particularly impressive despite his earlier error.
As the visitors kept trying for an equaliser, a free-kick from Leroy Williams was goalbound but blocked in the area and Kinder again fired well, well wide of the target after the ball dropped to him.
In the last fifteen minutes of the game momentum swung back in Aylesbury's favour, and the impressive Cummins nearly put through his own net when he slid a dangerous cross out of play. Stevens nearly took full advantage with his in-swinging corner kick that had to be tipped over by Kemp.
Cummins was at it again soon after, this time sidefooting the ball just wide of his own goal when trying to get rid of Mealor's low cross.
Faulkner had two chances to add to his season's tally in the closing stages when firstly he broke into the area from the left channel, but blazed his shot over the bar with players better positioned in the area awaiting a pass. He went closer two minutes later with a flicked header that dropped just wide.
Andy Shed entered the fray with five minutes remaining and had two decent chances to wrap up the win in style, but he shot wide with the first then fired over the bar after Kemp's mis-kick had been collected by Swonnell and played to Shed.
It mattered little as Aylesbury collected a much needed and ultimately deserved win to restore some confidence after a disappointing run.