1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | 12, 71m | |
9 | 14, 59m | |
10 | ||
11 | ||
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 8, 71m | |
14 | 9, 59m | |
15 | ||
16 | , 71m | |
17 | ||
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | 15, 81m | |
9 | 12, 71m | |
10 | 14, 66m | |
11 | ||
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 9, 71m | |
14 | 10, 66m | |
15 | 8, 81m | |
16 | ||
17 | ||
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
An unchanged Ducks lineup brought an air of familiarity to the side, and they made an excellent start with quick attacking play that. When they got it right Holmer Green just couldn?t cope, with Leon Gordon in particular terrorising the home defence.
Just five minutes had passed when the flying forward had the first chance having been fed by Warren Garcia he turned inside former United youth teamer Tom Alabaster before going for goal but his shot was comfortably dealt with by Charlie Fanner in the goal.
Aylesbury then asked big questions of ?Hartwell? based referee Mr Bateman in the 14th minute after Edgeworth appeared to be taken out by Gary Finch when attempting to shoot, but nothing was given.
A minute later Fanner was quite literally on hand to save from Townsend as his fierce drive had to be tipped over and this was quickly followed by a Baines effort on the left foot which curled just past the post having been fed by an intelligent Edgeworth pass.
United?s attacking play had looked bright but was without an end product, and it was nearly all put to waste when Holmer Green really should have opened the scoring through another former Aylesbury man ? Andy Shed ? who got free after a defensive slip but found Sillitoe big and strong to save from the one-on-one.
Five minutes later and the home side had another good chance as a low cross from the right was flicked off a defender into the path of Elliot Derby but he was unable to get a proper connection and Sillitoe was able to easily gather.
The momentum had now well and truly swung as Aylesbury?s early dominance had been replaced by a period of scrappiness where they were unable to get a foot on the ball as Holmer Green came forward, themselves buoyed by a good 5-1 weekend win.
Just past the half hour mark yet another chance came the way of the hosts when a ball in from the left cleared Mullholland but Dean Allen could only head over when completely unmarked.
It was another let off for United who were struggling to make any further headway into the game, and just as looked like it was heading for a goalless first half, Leon Gordon won his side a penalty when he beat Fanner to a ball before being brought down for a clear penalty. Up stepped Paul Edgeworth and sent Fanner the wrong way and give his side a half-time lead. 1-0 Aylesbury
Half-time: Holmer Green 0-1 Aylesbury
After the break it was a similar story, with the Ducks generally looking a threat every time they came forward but there were still occasional scares at the other end and Aylesbury certainly needed another goal to settle the game.
That nearly arrived ten minutes after the restart when Will Smith?s corner was met at the far post by a firm Edgeworth header which Fanner did well to turn away and unfortunately no-one was in the right place to turn in the rebound.
Two minutes later was another let off for United as a player beat his man too easily wide on the right before getting in a cross that Allen met with a swept shot, which fortunately was close enough to Sillitoe for him to save.
On the hour mark Leon Gordon produced another inspired moment to twist away from his defender before hanging up a cross which Lea Coulter could only volley past the target.
Holmer Green then had a ten minute spell of pressure, but Aylesbury on the whole deserved their clean sheet for the way they dealt with such moments as they showed good strength in the heart of defence with Justin Gordon and Mullholland both having good games in front of the ever reliable Sillitoe.
The Aylesbury keeper had to be alert to tip over a harmless looking header which suddenly dipped at the last moment, then a deep free kick from Hockley also had to be turned over the bar as it dipped menacingly towards goal. The resulting corner lead to a bout of penalty area head tennis but the Ducks remained defended well and eventually cleared their lines.
United made their first change of the night midway through the half as Clay replaced Coulter on the left, and he was soon involved as another move of intricate passing ended with Leon Gordon receiving the ball but seeing his flicked shot saved by Fanner.
Clay it was who got Aylesbury?s required second to end the game as a contest. A poor corner kick delivery eventually found its way back to Clay who lofted a shot from 25-yards over Fanner and into the net. 2-0 Aylesbury
Holmer Green responded with an immediate double substitution (Aylesbury also switching Baines for Pringle) but it didn?t help their cause in the slightest as a minute later the lead was increased. Pringle played in Leon Gordon who turned his defender yet again and although his shot was saved the rebound fell for Edgeworth who guided in calmly past the defenders on the line and into the net for his 6th of the season. 3-0 Aylesbury
Job done for Aylesbury, Tony Joyce elected to replace the star of the show Leon Gordon with Jimi Emefuni, and he left the pitch to a warm ovation and a sigh of relief from the home defenders.
In the closing stages Alabaster very nearly turned into his own net following a superb counter-attack which originated at a Holmer Green corner, before Pringle forced a save out of Fanner who tipped over his effort, as United did a good job of playing out the remainder of the game without incident.
Holmer Green
Aylesbury United
Biggleswade United
St. Margaretsbury
Colney Heath
Kentish Town
Dunstable Town
Langford
Harefield United
Hanwell Town
Hatfield Town
Kingsbury London Tigers
Hertford Town
Stotfold
Hillingdon Borough
Haringey Borough
Oxhey Jets
Chalfont St. Peter
Tring Athletic
Leverstock Green