1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | 14, 66m | |
7 | ||
8 | ||
9 | 15, 66m | |
10 | ||
11 | 12, 63m | |
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | 11, 63m | |
14 | 6, 66m | |
15 | 9, 66m | |
16 |
1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | 15, 80m | |
7 | 14, 85m | |
8 | ||
9 | ||
10 | ||
11 | ||
BENCH | ||
---|---|---|
12 | ||
14 | 7, 85m | |
15 | 6, 80m | |
16 | ||
17 | ||
MANAGEMENT | ||
M | 7, 85m |
Berko will point to their own list of absentees, which totalled four, as a contributory factor. Perhaps had they had two of their leading scorers in Lawrence Bunker or Aaron Usmani they might have fared better, as they certainly had their share of chances, especially in the first half.
An even start saw little in the way of goalmouth action inside the first ten minutes. A couple of dangerous balls into the box from the home side had to be cleared away, whilst at the other end Field threatened when he raced on to Barnett’s long clearance but was pushed too wide having got past the keeper and couldn’t screw the ball back.
The Comrades gained the upper hand in terms of efforts at goal when a vicious inswinging corner, the first of a number, was hacked off the line when it looked to be heading in, before a great cross from the right by Welling was headed over by Gallagher seconds later.
Another chance came and went as an awful clearance from Aylesbury presented Welling with a free shot on the edge of the box, but he skied his effort.
Despite Berko having the best of the openings, United still looked lively in attack, particularly on the counter attack, and from one such move they won their first corner kick of the game.
It was from the set play which Aylesbury took the lead, albeit against the general run of play. There was an element of good fortune about the goal, the ball ricocheting off referee Mr Panconi’s chest in the build up, but Berkhamsted also played a big part in their own downfall by failing to clear the ball at least twice. Acheampong’s neat footwork eventually resulted in it dropping to Silvestri who struck home from inside the box. 1-0 Aylesbury
The match continued in similar direction to before without the home side making the most of their attacking positions. One break did see a good ball into the box find Matt Wardle unattended whose shot on the turn drifted wide across the goalmouth.
Another corner kick was scrambled off the line which resulted in a quick Aylesbury counter, Field’s cross at the other end being cleared behind, and from the corner kick Acheampong’s header was tipped wide by Farmer.
Four minutes later and it was Berko’s turn to counter an Aylesbury corner as the action became fast and frantic, the ball being swept behind by the dominant King, who had a great game filling in at centre back.
Yet again, another killer corner kick delivery was cleared away near the goal line en route to an equaliser. There were then nervy moments in first half stoppage time when Tyler Hatherly lined up a free-kick right on the edge of the box, his effort going through the wall but Sillitoe did just enough to keep it out, and the Ducks held on to their slim advantage.
Half-time: Berkhamsted 0-1 Aylesbury
If there was a best possible scenario to United’s second half start then it would have been scoring a quick goal, and that’s exactly what they got with a second less than five minutes in. Acheampong raced onto a long ball forward before teeing up Field to produce a measured finish that rolled past Farmer into the net. 2-0 Aylesbury
Berkhamsted hit back with two good chances to score as firstly former United man O’Farrell headed a good crossfield pass wide. Then, a hanging free-kick was just begging to be put away, but once more the home side lacked the cutting edge in front of goal with no-one there to net.
On 52 minutes came the game’s big talking point. Defender Jim Carmichael slid in for a hard looking challenge on Jack Wood, which the referee viewed to be over the top and had no hesitation showing a straight red card.
The home bench were incredulous and unpleasant scenes followed as the management team, substitutes and dismissed player all joined in aggressively disputing the issue with anyone who didn’t share their viewpoint.
Once the dust had settled the home side had another great chance when Hatherly was released with ball over the defence, but Sillitoe was out smartly to make a good save and divert the ball wide of goal.
Aylesbury made the game safe in the 62nd minute with a third goal. Acheampong was the catalyst again with a surging run down the left before playing the ball infield for Garcia. His effort was blocked but came out to Hallford and from an impossible looking position on the byeline he managed to squeeze home a shot. 3-0 Aylesbury
Farmer made an unbelievably good save to keep the score down to three when Hallford drifted inside and curled an effort towards the top corner, only for Farmer to get across and superbly tip the ball onto the post.
Berko were dead and buried by this point as the Ducks played keep ball amongst themselves, but the home side’s nightmare evening took another turn for the worse when the second Carmichael brother – Jim – was stretchered from the field with a back injury leaving his team reduced to 9 men having made all of their substitutions.
Credit is due to the hosts for continuing to play right up until the final whistle though, and a good break down the left from Chamberlain saw him pick out fellow sub Clark in the area but he could only fire wide.
Late on, there was even time for manager Tony Joyce to come on for his first cameo of the season, and in the closing stages it became his show as he had a corner kick cleared off the line, a free-kick well tipped over the bar by Farmer, and another corner headed over from close range by Acheampong – who did everything on the night but score.
Sillitoe himself made a good save in stoppage time to deny Burnett’s deflected shot, before Rodrigoe ended the game by shooting over the bar with a free-kick.
It meant completion of an important win for Aylesbury after a difficult weekend, and whilst the home side debated long after the game the age old refereeing clichés of losing to ’13 men’ and the like, United were able to celebrate an excellent three points.
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