1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | ||
9 | 15, 60m | |
10 | 16, 54m | |
11 | 14, 72m | |
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | ||
14 | 11, 72m | |
15 | 9, 60m | |
16 | 10, 54m | |
17 |
1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | 12, 72m | |
9 | ||
10 | 16, 46m | |
11 | 14, 84m | |
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 8, 72m | |
14 | 11, 84m | |
15 | ||
16 | 10, 46m | |
17 | ||
MANAGEMENT | ||
M |
Despite not being at their best, the Ducks came away having done a professional job over their much changed neighbours, with a goal in each half proving enough for the three points.
The goals, when they came, were two of the highest quality once again – Daniel Jones, restored to his preferred midfield role, netting with a beautiful curling effort, and Ben Baines scoring a wonderful solo effort to seal the win.
It was United who threatened first when, after an evening opening five minutes, Field latched onto Baines’ strong flick on and flashed an effort wide with Mike Underwood rooted to the spot.
Tring then had a succession of half chances, starting with a wayward effort from Hughes after he’d been set up by danger man Tony Fields. A sloppy free-kick conceded by Hateley Mercer then caused problems for his side, Mulholland eventually sticking out a leg to divert a goalbound shot wide.
On the quarter hour mark a fine flighted pass from King was aimed in the direction of Jones, from which Aylesbury won a corner that Field could only volley wide at the far post.
Jones himself then went close with a well struck effort which zipped just over the crossbar, before Barnett tried his luck five minutes later with a shot that had the power but not the direction to see it past Underwood.
Both sides kept chipping away, but it was Aylesbury who were the sharper in possession with far too many of the home side’s passes either hopefully hit up field or simply not finding their targets.
United edge in front just before the half hour mark, with the hosts playing a large part in their own undoing. A ball into the box caused an almighty mix up between two defenders, and as it dropped to Jones outside the area he struck a peach of a curling effort past Underwood and into the net. 1-0 Aylesbury
The game went a bit flat following the goal, with the Ducks just about keeping Tring at arm’s length whilst continuing to play the better football.
It might have been two on the stroke of half time when Baines retrieved the ball on the right and crossed for Field who headed straight at Underwood.
Half-time: Tring 0-1 Aylesbury
Aylesbury were forced into a half-time substitution with Melford Simpson on to replace Stacey Field, who had taken a knock early in the game.
Tring had the early pressure with a deep free-kick into the box causing problems but Sillitoe did well to punch under extreme pressure, the follow-up effort was fired well over the bar.
But within ten minutes of the second half the Ducks should have had the game dead and buried. Firstly, Jones missed a gilt-edged chance when, with the whole goal to aim at, he fired wide of the near post having been set up by good work from Simpson and Garcia.
Then, a cross in towards Simpson was clearly and deliberately handled in the box by Hughes, who was lucky to only see yellow for his infringement. Up stepped the returning Edgeworth for the spot kick, and although it was well placed, Underwood made a stunning save. In the ensuing melee Tom Barnett slid in hard on the keeper, with Tring themselves then feeling aggrieved that the Aylesbury man hadn’t received more than his yellow card from Mr Panconi.
Although a powerful header from Simpson was well caught by Underwood, Tring were now well in the game – boosted by the bonus of Underwood’s penalty save.
They should have been level when Fields had a great chance as the ball dropped to him inside the box, but he could only blast over the bar.
Instead, Aylesbury doubled their lead against the run of play. Baines received the ball, spun sweetly past the first defender, then jinked past the second before firing a low shot across Underwood and into the far bottom corner. Magic. 2-0 Aylesbury
Tring were still well in the game, and both sides had chances to extend the scoring in the last quarter of the match. It took a saving challenge from Joliffe to prevent Baines getting a clear run at goal on the end of yet another Simpson flick.
Then at the other end a shot from Waite was deflected behind after former United man Danny Gray went down in the box, for what looked like a strong penalty shout.
Aylesbury had three shots in quick succession on the 85 minute mark when Simpson’s header was going just wide but retrieved by Mulholland on the byline. He tricked his way past a defender before teeing up Garcia whose effort was charged down. Substitute Craig Townsend then fired the rebound wide from 25-yards.
In the last minute the Ducks had a penalty left off of their own. Substitute Stewart King was bundled over by Mulholland, but Fields’ penalty crashed against the underside of the bar and back out. He had another chance with the follow up but skied it badly.
Four minutes into stoppage time, Enzo Silvestri was put clean through only to see his shot beaten away by Underwood, before the referee blew for time on another hugely satisfying result for the greens.
Tring Athletic
Aylesbury United
Berkhamsted
Hatfield Town
Biggleswade United
Stotfold
Broxbourne Borough
Hertford Town
Colney Heath
Dunstable Town
Hanwell Town
Haringey Borough
Harefield United
Holmer Green
London Tigers
Hillingdon Borough
Oxhey Jets
AFC Dunstable
Royston Town
St. Margaretsbury