1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | 12, 58m | |
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | 15, 64m | |
9 | ||
10 | ||
11 | 14, 84m | |
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 3, 58m | |
14 | 11, 84m | |
15 | 8, 64m | |
16 | ||
17 | ||
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | 12, 60m | |
7 | ||
8 | ||
9 | ||
10 | ||
11 | ||
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 6, 60m | |
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
The team did well to overcome an early setback of conceding against the league's bottom markers, in a first half hour's performance which was anything but inspiring.
The omens had looked good as Aylesbury set about quickly creating a couple of chances in the opening minutes. A quick free kick rolled into Kevin Mealor ended with his low cross being saved.
Chris Marsh then had a clear sight of goal after he twice shuffled to shake off his marker, but dragged his effort wide.
Malvern were gifted a tenth minute lead when Tom Vincent's clearance fell straight to Craig Malins who still had a lot of work to do, but produced an excellent finish to guide the ball into the net. 1-0 Malvern
The shock goal should have been enough to fire Aylesbury into life, but they were making hard work of things as they struggled to raise their game against their lowly opponents.
It took a full ten minutes before the next chance, the ball nearly sneaking in from a poor corner kick which was missed by all and sundry at the near post.
Aylesbury were now at least looking more likely to make something happen, and Ross Taylor might have done better when he got on the end of a right-wing cross but could only guide a looping header over the bar.
A minute later Marsh forced Craig Humphries into his first save of the night when the lively front runner skipped free of two challenges, Humphries getting down well to save at his feet.
The momentum was building and United made it pay with an equalising goal on thirty-five minutes. Mealor beat the offside trap to run onto a ball clipped over the defence before poking the ball past the advancing Humphries. 1-1
Despite the equaliser Aylesbury still weren't at their best and were on the backfoot on a couple more occasions. Firstly the dangerous Phil Harris went on a mazy run before playing in Jamie Hyde, who drew a good low save out of Tom Vincent.
Five minutes later Vincent was called upon again when James Saulsbury misjudged the flight of a long ball, leaving Dave Reynolds with a clear run on goal, but his finish was poor and was straight at the Ducks' stopper.
Ben Stevens had a great chance when a throw-in was flicked on into his path, but he blazed over the bar with his volleyed effort.
It mattered little as his side took the lead for the first time a minute from the break. A cross-field pass picked out Mealor, and he delivered a driven cross which was missed by Hawkins, but met by the arriving Graham who easily converted. 2-1 Aylesbury
Half-time: Aylesbury 2-1 Malvern
In their fragile state, it looked like a quick third goal would be enough to kill off Malvern, but Aylesbury went one better with two quick second half goals.
A minute from the restart Malvern's defence went AWOL as Marsh was played in and he rounded Humphries and finished well from a difficult angle. 3-1 Aylesbury
Three became four two minutes later, Glen Hawkins claiming his tenth goal of the season. Leaving him unmarked at a corner was just asking for trouble, and although his header rebounded off the keeper it fell kindly for him to poke home the rebound. 4-1 Aylesbury
Understandably, Aylesbury took their foot off the gas after the fourth goal went in, but with some better finishing the score line could easily have been higher against a Malvern side looking bereft of any belief.
Some neat build up play from the Ducks eventually ended with the ball being rolled into Graham's path, but he could only slot wide.
Stevens was getting forward well throughout the game and he had two good chances, the first deflected wide having cut in from the left, the second saved low down by Humphries after Mealor's pinpoint through ball.
Aylesbury's caretaker management team took the luxury of making some substitutions, Steve Miles replacing Danny Mead who had been doubtful before the game with a knock, and youth team captain Alex Sullivan introduced for Ben Stevens.
Sullivan nearly had a dream debut, as he made a great forward run and was played in, the ball just nicked away by a defender before he could pull the trigger.
The chances continued to come as Aylesbury moved the ball around well and continued to keep Humphries busy, this time saving an effort from Hawkins.
After Mealor produced some great trickery to buy space and flash the ball across the face of goal, Malvern had a rare chance of their own when Hyde found himself free at the far post and called upon Vincent to turn his shot wide of the upright.
Another of Aylesbury's youth team contingent entered the fray late on in the shape of promising left-back Nico Aquino, and, like Sullivan, he did himself no harm at all with his performance and showed a few useful touches.
Both United strikers had further chances in the last ten minutes, as the Marsh/Hawkins partnership continues to show good potential. Marsh picked out Hawkins with a superb pass, but unfortunately he could only crash a left footed volley well over the bar.
Three minutes later the roles were reversed as Hawkins set up Marsh for a curling effort which was tipped wide by Humphries.
In the final minute Aylesbury finally added a fifth. Marsh stuck the ball in past two men on the line after his first effort had been saved but rebounded into his path. 5-1 Aylesbury
The final score was justified given the obvious difference in level on the pitch, but things had looked very different in the early stages of the match. Once Aylesbury had settled and got into their stride though, the result was never in doubt.